subject: Do Something Different To Catch That Trout [print this page] I took up fly fishing some four years agoI 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!
I decided to investigate and go and look at a fly fishing water. I knew nothing about this branch of the sport, but I found the fishery manager to be very knowledgeable and spent a very pleasant afternoon talking to him and fellow fly fishers.
The place was so beautiful, full of wildlife and trees, that I decided to make this my fishing "home" for the foreseeable future, and this is the basis for my first bit of advice:
1. Fish somewhere pleasant.
You see, there will be times when you don't find the fish and catch nothing. However, if you are in a beautiful location it matters a lot less if you're not catching. Also, whether you catch or not, it's great casting practice!
You can also get very frustrated if you are finding casting difficult.
Tip 2. Get some casting tuition.
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.
My casting was coming on fine, but I had yet to catch a fish. This brings me to my third tip:
Tip 3. Chat to other fishers.
Don't be afraid to talk to the other fishers, particularly when you see someone taking a fish. Their advice is invaluable and you will learn a lot from them. Don't ever adopt a "know it all" demeanour, no matter how long you have fished for. There is always something new to learn!
Catching fish often depends on us just listening to others.
Even so, catching your first trout can take a while, so:
Tip 4. Never give up!
Never do this. No matter how many tangles and how many times you get caught in a tree behind you, just enjoy the day and keep at it. As you improve these things, whilst they will always happen, will not happen so often!
Finally, there is no right or wrong way to fly fish for trout, and this takes me to my final tip:
Tip 5. Change the way you do things.
Never be afraid to do things differently. Buy books and videos, increase your knowledge, then add your own twist if you can.
The perceived wisdom of fly fishing is not always appropriate. This is particularly true when fishing a lake for example, where the fish have probably seen a million flies in their time, and mostly cast out as far as possible - so try fishing the margins, close in where no one else ever fishes!
Never be afraid to be different in your fly fishing methods, as this can pay huge dividends.
