What Fly?

[Pross]

OK, having decided to have a crack at fly fishing again 20 years after my last efforts I am trying to get everything I need together. I have a 9 1/2 foot 7/8 wt rod and reel with 7 wf floating line, landing net, pair of chesties but when I dug my old fly fishing bag out of my parents garage a few weeks back unsurprisingly the flies I had in there were a bit on the sparse side to say the least. So, my question is, what flies would you recommend I get to restart my collection? I am looking for flies that will be suitable for small stillwaters and my local river and would probably get a total of about 30 flies to start me off. These would presumably be a mixture of nymphs, dries and small lures and would include multiples of some in different weights, sizes and colours. It may be asking the impossible but some advice would be gratefully received. Better still if anyone knows where I can purchase a fly box complete with a range of suitable flies. Also, will I be ables to get by with just a spool of floating line for now and use long leaders and heavier flies to get down to the required depth? I was hoping to spend what cash I've got available on a smaller rod and reel (7 or 8 ft 4/5 wt) for the river fishing as my local river is a bit small. Advice on any other bits and pieces I might need would also be welcome. Thanks guys.

[A fluff chucker]

Hi Pross,

Sounds like you're making a wise decision after being wayward for 20yrs

Your rod etc sounds good, if your floating fly line is 20yrs old it might not float and the exterior coating will probably crack very quickly.

We fish a 32 acre lake/reservoir close to Llanelli. Currently and all winter we've been catching trout on size 10 boobies, tied in black, orange, green and coral. To fish these you do need a sinking line. I use Di 7 and Doreen uses Di 5 - doesn't seem to make any real difference. The tip is to start off with just an 18" leader ( yes 18" ) of 6lb good quality flourocarbon, give plenty of time for the line to reach the bottom and then retrieve veeeery veeeery sloooowly.

Fish are starting to be caught on floating lines with a long leader. Currently a bead or chainhead fly ( try olive marabou damsel/ black tadpole style or cats whisker), this will help to sink your leader etc. Then on the first dropper a diawl bach/ gold ribbed hare's ear or montana and perhaps an orange or black nymph or buzzer on the top dropper.

The above is only my advice of how I reccomend to fish our local water !

But I would keep away from the tackle shop box of selection to catch all. If you go to the water with the above flies and perhaps an invicta, a pheasant tail nymph you're in with a good chance of 'catching'. Then you can chat to others fluffing/catching and discuss techniques and flies etc. The local fly fishing shop should be able to give some guidance on flies. I reccommend to start with a few flies and gradually build up your stock on the basis of what is catching fish on the waters you fish.



Smoothy is far more knowledgeable and probably will give you lots of additional tips & info.

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Pross,

Well mate where do I begin…………………..

Flies:

If I were starting out again I would certainly fish with the following selection:

Fly Pattern Size

Gold Ribbed Hares Ear 12,14,16
Gold head Hares Ear 10,12,14
Pheasant Tail Nymph 12,14
Gold head Pheasant Tail Nymph 12,14
Black Buzzer (orange cheeks) 12,14,16
Red Buzzer (Orange Cheeks) 12,14,16
Damsel Nymph 10,12,14
Diawl Bach 12,14

Lures

Montana 10,12
Gold head Montana 10,12
Viva 10,12
Orange Marabou Gold head 10,12
Cats Whisker 10,12
White & Green Marabou Gold head 10,12
Boobies , Coral, Black, White, Fritz 12,14

Dry Flies

(Lake)

Black Hopper 12,14,16
Ginger Hopper 12,14,16
Daddy Longlegs 12,14
"F" Fly black, red, green 12,14

(River)

Dry Olive 14,16,18
Hares Ear Smutt Natural 16,18,20
Hares Ear Smutt Black 16,18,20

There are more dry flies, but would need to know what is hatching on the river really to be more accurate.

These should see you ok on most stillwaters. The Nymphs can also be used on rivers as well as lakes.

You can certainly fish deeper water with a floating line and goldhead, plus use a poly tip that will help you get deeper down.

As for other bits and pieces you should have:

Sun Glasses
Cap
Waistcoat
Priest
Landing Net
Spare Leader Material
Artery Forceps
Spare Line (Sinking)
Spare Line (Intermediate)
Degreasing Fullers Earth
Gink for dry flies
Spare nylon loops

Large Bank account!

I will PM you with some more info and don't worry too much about searching for suitable flies and fly boxes, I will sort you out. Also when you want to purchase a 4/5 weight rod I will sort that out as well.

[Pross]

Thanks you two. Knew I could rely on you for some help. Don't worry Fluff, the floating line (as well as the road and reel) were bought last year for me to try saltwater fly fishing. Looks like I've got a few bits and pieces to get over the next few weeks. I've had a quick look at the catch reports in my local rag and the flies catching at the moment appear to be Montanas, Buzzers and Damsels. When I've got a few hours to spare I'll pop into Sweets of Usk and pick up a few flies from her, hope to make my own in time but my hands aren't the best at these delicate things. One more question, is it a good idea for me to use teams of flies or should I concentrate on getting used to casting one fly again first?

[A fluff chucker]

Hi Pross,

Glad to hear you've already got new rod, reel, line etc - you're nearly there.

I was amazed after reading Smoothies posting how many of the flies I suggested were also on his list - must be the best flies to get

I would go with one fly till I'd got back into the rythym of casting again; especially if it's windy! Then go with one dropper and so on.

Wow - I used to go into Sweets 40 yrs ago, very good service then and Mrs Sweet was very helpful. Good to hear some of these old style tackle shops are around.

I've heard that the salmon fishermen on the Usk are paying a lot of money to practice their fly fishing - there being no salmon to catch

[Miles]

Hello Pross

Smoothy has pretty much covered it, but I've found that if you fish a particular water regularly, and they sell flies 'on site', this is often a good place to start and the other anglers on the water of course (maybe go and recce a venue/water and ask a few regulars first, before going shopping).

Amongst the thousands of 'known' fly patterns (and their variants), you'd think that there would be some consensus as to what suited a particular time of year, or a particular species of fish. However, my (very) personal opinion is that angler confidence and a lot of luck has more to do with it ! I've fished damsel nymphs in a cloud of dragonflies and not had a touch. Put on an orange fritz and got a take, for example.

On another day, or with another angler the situation could be very different. I think you need to be prepared to fish a range of fly types: Buzzers and Nymphs, Floating/Neutral/Sinking Lures, maybe the odd dry if they're taking off the top, but if the fly looks 'buggy', 'fishy' or 'interesting' you stand a good chance. Adding goldheads help it to sink, foam makes if float etc., and I think location in the water (i.e. floating, just 'sub-surface', slowly sinking through the depths or 'popped up' off the bottom) may well be more critical than 'matching a hatch'.

To this end, might I suggest one or more sinking lines to go with the floating one, before investing in a new weight set-up ? Don't get me wrong, lighter weight tackle can be a real joy to fish with (on Skinhead's advice I bought a 3 weight a while ago and line trouble aside its added a new presentation dimension to my fishing) but, on many days, usually (but not always) when it gets hotter, colder, brighter, calmer, you can't see any fish activity signs, on goes the sinker and you're in with a bit more of a chance. Without a sinker (Di3 a good start - depends on the depths of course) - but with a good selection of flies - I'd be sunk. Other way 'round (i.e. with only a few flies and a sinking line) I'd perhaps (have the confidence to) catch.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, you no doubt already know what its like, but welcome anyway to a fascinating approach to angling. Hope you have a good season.