During the last few years we have held several courses and events where we have strictly limited the number of participants to ensure that everyone has gained maximum benefit. These courses were very popular with the people taking part and during 2012 we intend to expand on this and hope to run the following :
- Beginners Fly Casting
- Improvers Fly Casting
- Fly Casting Faults & Fixes
- River Fishing Fly Casting & Presentation Casts
- Stillwater Dry Fly & Emerger Fishing
- Ladies Fly Fishing
- Carp Fly Fishing
Dates & Venues along with prices which will be kept as low as possible will be announced on this site and on the Fly Fishing Forum at http://www.flyforums.co.uk where you will find us on the section for GAIA Fishing Guides & Instructors (Game Angling Instructors England). The courses will be very much hands on and will be great fun.
Course Details
BEGINNERS FLY CASTING 3 hours - maximum 6 participants
We are running a course for people who want to learn fly casting or for anglers who have limited casting experience. This course is likely to held in early April so people start off the season with the correct techniques. Venue and prices will be published on here soon.
Purpose
To introduce beginners to fly casting with single handed rods and to get them proficient in roll and overhead casts
Course Content
The course will commence with a safety briefing and introduction to the session
Introduction to balanced fly fishing equipment and how it works
Overhead Cast
grip and stance
demonstration with explanation of mechanics
pantomiming cast followed by practice of basic cast
false casting and shooting line
Roll Cast
grip and stance
demonstration with explanation of mechanics
practice roll cast until proficient at basic cast
This course will be of immense value to anyone hoping to take up fly fishing or who has just taken it up because if they can`t cast the fly onto the water then its impossible to fly fish.
By the end of the session participants should have mastered the basic overhead and roll casts to enable them to start fly fishing with some confidence on their own.
All equipment will be provided at no extra cost and also participants will be given a set of notes to take away which will emphasise the main points to remember when fly casting
IMPROVERS FLY CASTING 3 hours - maximum participants 6
Purpose
To improve the casting prowess for anglers who already have basic knowledge of casting
Course Content
The course will commence with a safety briefing and introduction to the session
Check out and tuning of casting abilities
Overhead Cast
extending line
changes of casting direction
coping with wind from all directions
single and double hauling
distance casting
Roll Cast
changes of casting direction
coping with wind from all directions
shooting line
This course should enhance your fishing enjoyment because by the end you should have confidence to fish in a large variety of weather conditions and be able to reach longer distances to reach the far off fish. Importantly you will find that you only need one or two false casts to achieve this. Remember that only when you have the fly on or in the water can you possibly catch a fish.
All equipment will be provided at no extra cost if required and also participants will be given a set of notes to take away which will emphasise the main points to achieve effortless casting
FLY CASTING FAULTS AND FIXES 3 hours - maximum participants 6
Purpose
The session is aimed at improvers and intermediate casters who have casting issues such as catching the bank behind, getting wind knots, lack of distance, too much false casting etc etc
Course Content
The course will commence with a safety briefing and introduction to the session
Overhead Cast
Demonstration and explanation of the correct mechanics and purpose of the overhead cast showing false casting, shooting line, single and double haul, distance casting and coping with wind from all directions
Roll Cast
Demonstration and explanation of the correct mechanics and purposes of the roll cast including shooting line and coping with wind from all directions
Casting Faults
Common faults which many anglers have or may not even be aware that they have will be demonstrated and their causes explained. Importantly you will be shown how to avoid the faults which will include :
tailing loops (wind knots)
too much false casting
casting with overuse of wrist
lack of definite stops on back and forward casts
catching vegetation on back cast
lack of distance
line does not straighten
rod creep
Participants will be given practice time and will be helped to improve their casting techniques and will be given plenty of assistance to try and cure any problems.
By the end of the session many of your casting problems should be cured and you should be casting using much less effort to gain greater distances
All equipment if required will be provided at no extra cost and also participants will be given a set of notes to take away covering many of the common casting problems and faults
RIVER FISHING AND PRESENTATION CASTS 3 hours – maximum participants 6
Purpose
To prepare anglers wishing to fish rivers to have knowledge of various casts needed to cope with flowing water, different current speeds etc in order to give maximum drag free presentations. To get the most from this more advanced casting session it is suggested that participants should already be reasonably proficient at undertaking basic overhead and roll casts
Course Content
The course will commence with a safety briefing and introduction to the session
Demonstrations will be given showing the following casts and explanations given when to use them to give you good river fishing without spooking fish
Casts to be covered include :
overhead Cast
varying loop size
reach cast
reach mend
wiggle cast
parachute cast
casting accuracy
Roll Cast
dealing with current and wind
casting off opposite shoulder
combination cast (roll pickup)
There will be ample practice time for the casts and by the end of the session participants should be able to perform the tasks and know the situations when to utilise them.
All equipment will be provided if needed at no extra cost and also participants will be given a set of notes to take away.
After the casts have been mastered we recommend a one to one river fishing session where you will have the opportunity to put the casts into practice in a variety of situations, learn river craft, safe wading, fishing wet fly, dry fly (upstream and downstream), nymphing including Czech and Polish methods and fishing the duo. In addition you will be shown some of the basic food that fish eat in the rivers.
STILLWATER DRY FLY & EMERGER FISHING TECHNIQUES 3 hours - maximum no of participants 6
Purpose
This session is aimed at anglers who want to learn how to fish emergers and dry flies and they should be able to cast reasonably well without disturbing the water
Course Content
The course will begin with a safety briefing and introduction to the session
Introduction to what fish eat – we will undertake bug hunting and identify the food
Imitative patterns to use
Identifying rise forms and how to present the fly
Choice of artificial flies depending on the type of rise
leader make up including knots & droppers
Striking the fish
Once we have looked at the above the course will end with a practical fishing session where you will have the opportunity to try out the methods and maybe even hook a fish or two.
By the end of the session you should have the basic knowledge to undertake this type of fishing which is very exciting when the fish take your fly. Its totally visual and you will be hooked.
All equipment is provided if needed at no extra cost and also participants will be given a set of notes on emerger and dry fly fishing.
LADIES FLY FISHING 5 hours - maximum participants 6
Purpose
This course is aimed specifically at Lady anglers who wish to take up fly fishing or who have limited experience. It will be lead by Vera . It will be undertaken in a very relaxed manner and will be great fun. Naturally there will be decent toilet facilities and an on site restaurant.
Course Content
The course will commence with a relaxing cup of tea or coffee when the session plan will be explained and the safety briefing given
The equipment and assembly will be explained
3 knots needed for fly fishing will be demonstrated and practice time given
Roll and overhead casts will be demonstrated and then practised – great fun and you should quickly learn this
Bug hunting and matching artificial flies
Line retrieval and bite detection will be demonstrated and practised – this is good fun
There will be a break for lunch which will be provided
After lunch the fun begins and the afternoon will be spent putting into practice what you have learned in the morning with the intention of hooking a fish or two
By the end of the session you should know the basics of fly fishing equipment and fly fishing and have the confidence to go it alone on small still waters with a good chance of catching.
We provide all equipment at no extra cost and you just need wellies, waterproof clothing, cap and polarised glasses and a great sense of humour. We will give you a set of notes to take away to help you remember what to do.
Carp Fly Fishing - 3 hours – Maximum 3 Participants
Purpose
This course is to introduce participants into the exciting world of catching Carp on the fly
Course Content
The Fish
Equipment needed
Enticing carp into the swim and getting them to feed
Hooking, Playing and landing Carp
Safe unhooking
Photography
You will almost certainly hook several Carp upto double figures on this course which is highly visual and very exciting as its all done at the surface. This course is run only during the Summer months when carp are feeding close to the surface.
We can provide all the equipment needed in the costs if required. The cost of the instruction including the fishing permit is £60 for one person or for two or more persons it is £50 per person. We do not have specific dates for the carp fishing , just contact us and we will sort a suitable date. This instruction will be mid week to avoid overcrowding at weekends.
Please note that anyone aged 12 years or over who handles a fishing rod near water needs an Environment Agency rod licence and we will provide details. 