River
Fly fishing for me is one of the most exciting and challenging aspects
of our sport. If you haven’t tried it yet you really should. For me
the peace and tranquillity of wading up a river cannot be unsurpassed.
Many people as I thought are put off by the perceived expense or as when
starting still water fishing the fear of appearing a complete novice
surrounded by lots of people. Rivers are surprisingly not heavily
fished. Regularly, especially during the week day you would be lucky to
see anyone at the bank side. This gives the novice time to practice
casts and get the ‘feel’ of river fishing in peace.
With
fishing with really light tackle you feel as though you become part of
your tackle and the river environment. To become successful all of your
senses must be alert. Judging likely holding areas for fish proves
dividends. You will start to really read water, each nerve ending
tingling in anticipation for the rise to the dry fly. No longer will you
just be thrashing water in the hope that a stocky will grab your huge
lure. You will be selecting flies to match the hatch and all the pre
perceived boring entomology books will now come to the fore, gleaming
the insights this knowledge can give you. With time accuracy will be
improved due to the trout’s window of vision giving a sense of
accomplishment that is difficult to explain.
Imaginative
casting now comes into the equation as vegetation, undercuts and trees
attract your fly more than the fly attracts the fish! As frustrating as
this can become over time these casts become second nature, judging the
back cast perfectly to out manoeuvre obstacles yet still get that fly on
target with gentle presentation. The old adage ‘there is more to
fishing than catching fish’ comes to mind.
As soon as the fly lands it is engulfed in the flow
of the river and starts to move. Mending lines up and down stream combats
any drag and the fly flows downstream naturally. Suddenly a splash, the
heart jumps out of no where and the battle is on. The fish is netted and
one of the most beautiful sights nature can offer is there in your hand. A
brown trout with glorious spots and butter sides. You slip the fish back
into the water with both parties leaving with a little more respect for
one another.
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