Coarse on the Fly

Chub & Dace
Accurate placing and delicate presentation of the fly are much more important when fishing rivers than still water. Keep your distance to about 12 yards by stalking rising fish or possible holding lies before making a cast. For many years anglers have fly fished for Chub and Dace. Either dry or wet flies will catch these fish. With dry flies, casting obliquely upstream allows the fly to drift naturally i.e. drag free. Cast wet flies and nymphs across the flow, placing either type upstream of a Chub to allow the fly time to sink before it passes the fish.

Manor Farm at Biggleswade, www.manorfarmfishing.com has a stretch of the river Ivel. This is a fast flowing tributary of the Great Ouse. It is here that we can teach you to fly fish. If you are interested, please contact us for a discussion on your requirements.

Pike & Zander
Fly fishing for Pike and Zander has been popular for some years now, on the Midland reservoirs as shown by these fine specimens caught by Rob Edmunds at Grafham Water in 2008.

For this fly fishing the tackle has to be 'beefed up' as wire traces and fairly large flies and tubes are used. We have taught members of the Pike Anglers Club of GB and we can arrange a session for you on either the Midland reservoirs or the River Ivel which is best during the autumn and winter months.

The following report has been reproduced from Anglian Waters, Hooked magazine:- During the second week of October 2007 West Yorkshire anglers Ian Bradfield and Rick Varley fished Grafham Water. Tackling up with 9 weight rods, Di-7 fast sinking lines and baitfish fly patterns, the pair started to fish at 9am in overcast skies and very little breeze. Fifteen minutes later Ian had his first pull. Striking into the fish Ian knew he had a 'large lump of fish'. The fish stayed deep and whenever Ian gained a little line the fish lunged even deeper.

Eventually Ian started to gain a little line and both anglers could see the shadow of a really good fish. It was a monster Zander well into double figures. Rick netted the fish. On weighing the needle swung round and settled at 18lb 3oz. This is one of the biggest Zander caught on a fly line. We feel that Pike and Zander caught on the fly is an expanding interest in Fly Fishing, so please contact us now for more details.

Carp
Carp tend not to be very fussy about the type of fly used, so long as you can cast it close enough. Look for the fish that are either cruising just below or basking on the surface. Then try and land the fly so that it sinks slowly within about two feet of the intended victims nose. It seems that the carp will take the fly out of curiosity providing it does not have to change direction to reach it.

Fly fishing for carp, using imitation dog biscuits is also becoming very popular, particularly in high summer. We believe that this form of carp fishing has a great future. If you would like to try fly fishing for carp please contact us. As well as fly fisherman, we are keen carp anglers, catching plenty of fish by more conventional means.

For any more information or questions relating to any of our courses, please use our eForm by clicking here or telephone Peter directly on 07922-126154.

The School of Fishing, Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA) Fishcoach Licence No: 00693
Mobile: 07922 126154    Email: enquiries@schooloffishing.com