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.
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.
