Tutors: Rob Doyle Weeks: 1 and 3
Fly Fishing
A country sport for the true individualist, fly fishing is like riding a bicycle. Once you have mastered the basics, you never forget. Casting, strategy and tactics, understanding the wily trout, landing a fish and tying knots are all covered in this fascinating course. Fishing on the Manningford Trout Fishery's lakes, you will become competent at a skilled sport that you can take up again at any stage of your life.
Course notes
This course is intended to give a beginner the confidence to be able to go fly fishing on still waters and small rivers by the end of the week. It also aims to extend the skills of more competent anglers.
Aims of the week
- To discover the sport of fly fishing
- To become confident in fly fishing
- To be a safe practitioner
- To understand something of the fish's world
- To have the opportunity to catch a fish
- To have FUN and enjoy your environment
Day One
- Tackle Talk - the basics - putting together your rod and reel
- Safety Check - how safe is fishing - how safe are you
- Casting Clinic - the overhead cast
- Waterside techniques - overhead casting on water - the different retrieves
Day Two
- Our Quarry - game fish - characteristics - what they eat and where
- Tackle Talk - lines and leaders
- Casting Clinic - the overhead cast (revisited) - playing and landing a fish
- Waterside techniques - the roll cast
Day Three
- Tackle Talk - different flies and when to use them
- Knots - tying the basics
- Casting Clinic - false casting
- Waterside Techniques - working the water
Day Four
- Tackle Talk - introduction to fly tying
- Casting Clinic - who needs help?
- Waterside techniques - finding and stalking fish
Day Five
- Fishing - help if needed
- Fish farming - a visit to the Manningford Trout farm
Clothing
It is essential that the following are brought to the course for safety reasons:
- Sunglasses, ideally polarised
- Peaked Cap
- Waterproof clothing
- Stout boots or Wellingtons
- Please ensure you wear trousers, not shorts
NB This course will take place at Manningford Trout Fisheries and will be taken via minibus from the college which takes around 30 minutes.
