fly fishing for coarse fish

[bigsean]

i've read a few articles on this recently, mostly by dominic garnett who has a book of the same title
i've never fly fished in my life, but as i do a lot lure fishing for pike, the idea of fly fishing for other coarse species really interests me ..... any ideas or thoughts on this subject will be gratefully received
also i have seen some starter kits with everything u need to get started, one by airflo, and one by matt hayes ....good idea or waste of money????

[barbelboi]

Originally Posted by bigsean

i've read a few articles on this recently, mostly by dominic garnett who has a book of the same title
i've never fly fished in my life, but as i do a lot lure fishing for pike, the idea of fly fishing for other coarse species really interests me ..... any ideas or thoughts on this subject will be gratefully received
also i have seen some starter kits with everything u need to get started, one by airflo, and one by matt hayes ....good idea or waste of money????

I enjoy fly fishing for coarse fish on streams with a brook rod, I have never fished for game fish this way but by trying to match the insect of the time to what the fish are having I've had some success with roach, dace and chub. IMO if you don't get a good match on some days when they're so pre-occupied with a certain insect you're on a hiding to nothing.
Jerry

[Paul Boote]

So...

... like me, you're a Coarse Angler, with built-in, on-board B.S. Detectors vis-a-vis anyone trying to sell you a load of, say, now, Flay...

They're out there.

And so are proper, sussed, Anglers like us - still, just.

Just follow your "native" instincts and don't get sold up a well-marketed pup.

[From someone who has done both sorts, rather to extremely well, to the very Top, since his own Year Dot. Geddit?]

[bennygesserit]

I quite fancy the idea of this I have had a lot of success surface fishing floating casters using a pole and a pole float,without shot, as a mini controller float, especially when there is an ant hatch on.

It can literally be a bite every few seconds.

Is the advice that you don't need to spend a fortune to start as a beginner, plenty of room to learn casting on some of my local canals.

[keora]

Yorks Game Angling offers various kits for fly fishing, a friend of mine once bought one and they are good value:




Yorkshire Game Angling Fly Fishing Outfits

Look at the complete ready to fish kit. I suggest a 9ft rod with a weight of AFTM 5/6 or 6/7 is a good all-round length

[nicepix]

For coarse fish other than pike I mainly use a 4 weight. Never had to go above a 5 weight.

[bigsean]

thanks for the advice nicepix, and keora .... and yes benny, i think it can be done without spending a fortune .... and personally i wouldnt spend a lot of money anyway, just in case u dont take to it ..... the mechanics of the cast is wot has put me off so far ..... and the space needed, as most of my local waters are tree lined .... and my local canals are usually busy with dog walkers and cyclists,

---------- Post added at 06:21 ---------- Previous post was at 06:13 ----------

i'd also like to hear peoples thoughts on venues for fly fishing in and around cities
i live in manchester .... lots of coarse fishing available, but not all with wide open spaces for fly casting from the bank ..... does that make fly fishing for either trout or coarse fish, not such a good idea unless i'm able to travel further afield?

[nicepix]

There are lots of urban rivers that get overlooked on the eastern side of the Pennines;- Dearne, Don, Calder, Colne, Rother to name a few. It may well be the same over your side of the hill. Look on Google Earth for small rivers and check them out or foot or by bike. I would think that there should be some free water that you can fish nearby.

If you can wade the rivers then you don't need as much bank room for casting. Also, when stalking chub in small rivers I very rarely use more than ten feet of fly line out of the tip ring. It's more about the visual hunt then casting a single fly right at the fish rather than searching the water with a long line out. larger coarse fish are often very shy takers of a fly and even the small ones only give a light tug and demand an instant strike.

On canals you don't have to fish straight across. By fishing down the near bank your back cast will go down the towpath over your shoulder. Perch tend to hug the banks and will provide good sport when you locate a shoal. Again, lots of canals don't get fished and are very quiet so casting shouldn't be a problem if you keep your eyes open for walkers and cyclists.

Same with lakes. Cast down the bank rather than towards mid water.

[bennygesserit]

Presumably the usual warnings about powerlines apply , what sort of fly would a perch take ? Now that really has got my attention.

[S-Kippy]

Perch are very partial to a Blackbird's Fancy.

Anything that looks like or moves like a small fish.Doesn't have to be a close copy.