Difficulty Catching That First Trout? Don’t Give Up!
I took up fly fishing some four years ago. I had always been a keen fisherman, mostly course fishing on rivers, but I wanted a change. I was getting bored for some reason, and as I get older feel less inclined to sit and wait for hours on end!
Fly fishing had always interested me, but I (wrongly) considered that it was a rich man’s game and that I couldn’t afford it. However, on visiting a local trout fishery which consists of two lakes, I found this was not the case.
I also found the lakes to be stunningly beautiful, and this, I believe, is important and the basis for my first tip:
1. Find somewhere that is pleasant to visit as a fishing venue.
Starting fly fishing can be frustrating at first as you master casting and the various types of flies etc. It may take a few visits before you make your first catch, but if you actually enjoy the venue it makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable, even if you spend some of your time untangling your line!
You can also get very frustrated if you are finding casting difficult.
Tip 2. Get yourself some lessons in casting.
Casting a fly line is completely different to any other type of casting. It’s not hard, but technique is everything. Bad casting can ruin your pleasure and even put you off altogether.
Once my casting had improved I found my general confidence improved too. After all, if you at least feel that you are casting correctly you won’t feel out of place amongst other fishers! Despite the improved level of my confidence, I still hadn’t caught a fish though.
Tip 3. Ask and listen!
One of the most important things you can do when learning to fly fish is to talk to other fishers. If you see someone catch a fish, go over to them and ask about their catch. Everyone is pleased when they catch, so just ask what sort of fly they were using and what sort of level in the water the fish seem to be lying.
This way you can learn what methods they use and try them for yourself.
This leads me to my fourth tip:
Tip 4. Persevere
Because I enjoyed the natural beauty of the fishery, I kept going which I might not have done if it was just a hole in the ground, which, let’s face it, some fisheries are.
By trying different things, changing fly, fishing depth or presentation, we increase our chances of catching, so:
Tip 5. Change the way you do things.
What I mean is this, by doing things differently you can reap big rewards. For example, most people think they have to cast out as far as possible to reach the fish, and a long cast is definitely an advantage for that reason. However, the opposite is also true. Instead of casting out to where everyone else casts, try fishing close in along the bank. This has paid dividends for me in the past as very few people fish close in.
My first trout was caught on a floating line with a short leader and a bright orange fritz fly. No problem with that, except that it was a freezing cold day, very overcast and dark, conditions which anyone will tell you suit a sinking line and long leader, and a dark fly!
Never be afraid to be different in your fly fishing methods, as this can pay huge dividends.
Zac has been a keen fly fisherman for many years, and enjoys passing on tips and techniques. When taking up fly fishing Zac recommends buying fly fishing combos. The great thing about fly fishing combos is that you get all the main elements, rod, line and reel at a discounted price.