Top 5 Fly Fishing Tips

This entry was posted on 5th March, 2021 by Anna Cooper

Many anglers will overlook fly fishing for being too difficult or too expensive, which, we, here at Angling Direct want to change your mind on.

Spring brings a perfect time to get into Fly Fishing. It is an awesome way to spend a few hours targeting a whole host of species, from salmon to rainbow trout! In relation to modern carp fishing, fly angling certainly is not as expensive.

Why not check out the fly fishing section of the Angling Direct website as well as our following top tips for fishing on the fly.

1) Fly Casting

Fly casting is integral to not only your success but also your enjoyment when fly angling. There are many ways to help you be more proficient and improve your fly casting. You could try...

• Self-teaching from Youtube clips
• Practice casting in your garden before a trip
• Book a day at a fishery with an instructor

The best way for many anglers is to just pick up your fly rod, head over to a small body of water, and simply casting just the line, without a fly. Slowly increase your distance of casting before attaching a mono leader and fly.

For more distance casting tips, check out Angling Direct's very own Terry Edmond's guide here.

As with all fishing, fly casting is about presentation, (the flay landing in front of the fly line or turnover) rather than distance. Make sure to give this a go before heading out for a fly fishing session. Just practice, practice, practice. You’ll find it easier to cast, and, if you feel you need to, there’s always the option of a day with an instructor, which are available at most fisheries.

2) Your Choice of Flies

There are so many flies to use when it comes to fly angler that choosing the right one can be a daunting task. It really does not have to be though!

You should aim to have a selection of;

A. Surface flies: Designed to float on the surface, these flies mayfly imitation, daddy long legs imitation, and a sedge fly.

B. Buzzers, Nymphs & Emerging Patterns: These flies are for fish under the surface eating hatching flies.

C. Bright Attractor Flies: These flies aim to attract fish into eating them, but don’t imitate anything natural... such as an orange blob!

Try to stick to these popular patterns and you won’t go wrong. As with every type of fishing, the bigger the selection, the harder the choice.

3) What Species can you catch with Fly Fishing Tactics?

When fly angling it is possible to catch roach, perch, trout, salmon and carp, but the limit is your imagination! Oh, and what’s in your fly box...

Roach on the River: Try using flies such as hare ear nymphs and pheasant take nymphs 

Carp on the Top: Try deer hair trimmed into squares a

Once you break the stereotype and start branching out you will see how enjoyable and awesome fly fishing is.

4) Travel Light for Fly Fishing

For fly angling, all really need to take to the bank is:

• A fly fishing rod
• A fly fishing reel
• A fly fishing net
• Some mono or fluorocarbon as a leader
• A selection of Flies

It’s is important to travel as light as possible whilst you are hunting fish. With fly angling, you will be moving around, up and down the river so keeping light and mobile will help.

5) Kit out your Fly Angling Wardrobe

In addition to your fly tackle remember to always wear a cap and polarised glasses. Both are good for protection from the sun and help you to locate fish, cast to them, and see their response.

Don’t just stick to the angling you do day in day out; get out there and sample something new! Fly Fishing offers a whole different side to angling.

Fly fishing is so different and such a great way to break up a fishing season. It is a technique that once mastered means you have the skill to target so many fish in such a dynamic and vital way. 

We hope these tips were helpful but for further fly fishing content, check out our video below when the AD team were joined by Fly angling superstar, and Angling Trust Ambassador, Marina Gibson for a days fly fishing.