Flyfishing - The Basic Essentials

Sue casting a fly on the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park

Having provided fly fishing tuition since 1981, we have learned a great deal about the real needs of people taking up fly fishing or wanting to improve their casting and fly-fishing skills. Now we are sharing this experience, online, entirely Free of Charge!

The advice and guidance you will receive her on the First Nature website is based on 50 years of experience fishing for salmon, trout, sea trout (sewin) and grayling on rivers and lakes - mostly in Wales, England and Scotland, but also in Portugal, France, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, the USA, Argentina, Russia and Iceland.

The emphasis is on getting tackle, techniques and tactics right for the particular water conditions; on reading the river to select the best places to fish; and on choosing and using the flies most likely to succeed.

In other words our guidance is practical rather than heavily theoretical - although we do also want to help you to work out, in a variety of situations, answers to the many questions why, what, when, where and how of fly fishing.

Rod Licences

Anyone who fishes in England or Wales is required to carry a valid rod licence. Registered disabled people and juniors between 12 and 16 receive a 50% concession, and children under 12 do not require a rod licence. Short-term licences are also available at modest cost. Rod licences can be purchased at any Post Office or via the Environment Agency's website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish

Tactics to suit the Terrain

There are pages on flyfishing techniques and tactics for Trout and Grayling Fishing, Sea Trout Fishing and Salmon Fishing. Another very popular section is our Great Venue and How to Fish there. Our local River Teifi is one of Britain's very best all-round trout, sea trout and salmon rivers, and if you plan on fishing this river we have all the information you will need. Similar for a selection of world-famous rivers elsewhere in Britain, Ireland, mainland Europe, the USA, Iceland, Russia or Argentina - there's a wealth of experience on tap, online 24/7.

Casting Coaching in Comfort

Sue giving a casting demonstration

Casting is a skill. It's a myth that you can't teach yourself, but as professional instructors we would definitely recommend lessons with a top-class instructor. In the meantime, however, take a look at the casting guidance and demonstration pictures and video clips here. There are separate pages explaining and illustrating the very different casting techniques required for trout, salmon and sea-trout fishing.

Tackle Tips

Tackle is also covered under the separate headings of trout, salmon and sea-trout fishing, because different tackle setups and types of rods and lines are usually required for each discipline.

You will not have to spend time on topics you are already familiar with, but if you need answers to any aspect of fly fishing then we will be pleased to help you - for example on particular casting techniques such as the roll cast, double haul, single spey and double spey casts, or the snake roll. Tackle, accessories, waders, knots are also covered.

Everyone's needs are individual, and as far as is practically possible we want you to enjoy tuition that is just right for you.

Your Online Flyfishing Instructors

PatSue

Pat O'Reilly and Sue Parker are well known in the game fishing world. Pat, an APGAI qualified instructor, is the author of ten books on fly fishing, fly tying, angling entomology and river and lake fisheries; he has published several hundred articles in the UK and overseas as well as appearing many times on radio and television. Sue, who holds STANIC qualifications in trout and salmon tuition has also published several fishing articles and has not only been on radio and television but also in instructivion video films about fly fishing techniques. In spring 2004 Pat and Sue designed and wrote for the Salmon & Trout Association an illustrated Guide to Trout and Grayling Fishing followed by a Guide to Salmon and Sea Trout fishing.Copies of thee handy little guides are available online here via the links at the top of this page.

If you are new to the sport of flyfishing we aim to make your learning process as simple as possible by explaining the various aspects of flyfishing in plain, jargon-free English.

Thank you for visiting our website. We hope that you find the information useful and that the online tuition helps you to get more fish on your line. Above all - have fun!

Footnote

Fly fishing, fly-fishing, or flyfishing - however you prefer to write it, our online tuition can help you to become a more proficient and successful fisher and to enjoy your sport all the more as a result.