New to UK Fly Fishing

[T.P.]

Hi,

I've just moved back to the UK after living in the Florida Keys for 3 years. I started to fly fish over there and would like to try it over here for trout and salmon.

I'm currently living in Slough and have a house in South Wales, is there anyone near me who might be able to point me in the right direction. I only have an 8wt rod at the moment.

Thanks

Jo

[JCT]

Hi Princess (sounds like a cheesy chat up line doesn't it....)


Having a house in S Wales opens up all sorts of opportunities - far more than Slough anyway.

As a first start i would head over to another forum that is dedicated to Welsh seatrout (sewin) fishing - at seatroutfishing.proboards34.com/index.cgi . They're all extremely friendly and free with advice. You should look to do what I am doing for the first time this year and join a local fishing association. The Welsh ones seem to have stayed truest to the original ideals and can often provide season-long access to miles and miles of prime salmon and sewin water - for less than the price of of a day's fishing on a chalkstream.

Its not too far from Slough to some of the most celebrated (by some) and expensive trout fishing in the country on the chalkstreams. check out www.fishingbreaks.co.uk.

You could also try a day on the River Coln at Fairford - cheap day tickets are available at the Bull Hotel. Would take you between 1-2 hours to get there I reckon. Its a delightful little river - not unlike a chalkstream but not actually a chalkstream.

There are probably some stillwaters near you but I'm not the guy to help you here i'm afraid.

As for tackle - again, there are plenty more qualified than me on this forum to help. However, while an 8 weight will be fine for summer salmon and seatrout it will be a bit much for wild trout. Probably a 5 weight will be better suited.


Hope this helps and good luck

James

[MJB]

Jo,

Dont neglect the saltwater opportunities either. Your #8 set up will be ideal for this. I see you have registered over on the UKSWFF forum , so you will find loads of useful information there.

Martin

[RichardB]

Apart from two ponds around Maidenhead , there's very little in the Slough area , with transport , there's quite a good selection within an hour, hour and a halfs drive, from grayling on the Test (50 mins from Slough) to the likes of Eyebrook, Grafham etc I've sent you a pm if you need any help
RichardB

[ACW]

I should mention that I do some rather fun Grayling outings on some wee streams around Hungerford thru the winter months ,Julia the Wich fisher has joined us with her distiguished fly tying partner Roy Christie several times ,even Chris has appeared ,sadly dressed as most UK anglers do .Also I have a party of Anglers fishing the Cumbrian Derwent for salmon in October ,thet one is a good intro to budget salmon fishing .
BTW I make diddly from these trips ,Just for the craic as my Irish friends would put it !!!

[rad]

If your stuck for somewhere to fish try www.therodsquad.com

Rad

[FlyBri]

I can vouch for Andy's grayling trips - a great day out and a nice way to be introduced to chalk stream grayling fishing is it's your first time.

Bri

[FlyBri]

Should also mention that throughout the year there are socials where we get together around a fishing venue.
Is fun to put a face to the names and share a boat or bank for the day. I think the next ones are bound to be in the next month or two - keep an eye out for a post in the General area on the forum. There is one planned for Scotland in early spring (still to be firmed up on location and dates) and I would put money on Chris organising a trip to one of the reservoirs some time soon (Leicester being a favourite as it's a good comprimise on location for many forum members).

Cheers
Bri

[Chris]

FlyBri said:

There is one planned for Scotland in early spring (still to be firmed up on location and dates) and I would put money on Chris organising a trip to one of the reservoirs some time soon (Leicester being a favourite as it's a good comprimise on location for many forum members).

Brian,
I had heard a rumour that you were about to organise one ;D

[Charlie]

I work in Maidenhead and have occasionally visited Sheephouse in the summer evening.

www.sheephousetroutfishery.co.uk/home.html

It's quite pretty and relatively easy. An eight weight would be fine there. You just need a floater and an intermediate.

Charlie

[T.P.]

Charlie

Sounds like £15.00 for a summer evening fishing is a lot better value than spending it down the pub.

Let me know when you're going and maybe I can tag along.

Thanks Jo

[Charlie]

Sure. Need to wait till the clocks go back then it makes a nice interlude before the drive home.

Charlie

[lakefisher]

Hi Jo

When you are in south Wales - you may not be far away from Alltrodyn lake which I run as a C&R fishery (just a hobby) Have a look at the address below, you will find all details (with map) on the web site.

Tighter Lines...Tony