Fly Fishing Knowledge Base
How do I read stillwater to find trout?
Reading stillwater is one of the most valuable skills a fly angler can develop. Unlike rivers, where current naturally dictates where fish hold, tr...
Why should I fish the margins on stillwaters, and how do I do it successfully?
Many anglers arrive at a stillwater and immediately cast as far as possible. However, some of the most productive water can often be found only a f...
How do I fish successfully from a boat on a stillwater?
Fishing from a boat opens up far more water than is available to the bank angler and provides access to areas that may otherwise be impossible to r...
How does the wind affect trout, and how can I use it to catch more fish?
The wind is one of the most important factors in stillwater fly fishing. While many anglers see a strong wind as something to battle against, exper...
How do I fish successfully from the bank on a stillwater?
Bank fishing is the most accessible way to fly fish a stillwater and, on many venues, can be every bit as productive as fishing from a boat. Succes...
What is stillwater fly fishing for trout, and how do I get started?
Stillwater fly fishing for trout is one of the most popular forms of fly fishing in the UK. Whether you are fishing a small commercial trout fisher...
How do I fish low, clear rivers for trout and grayling?
Low, clear water is one of the most demanding conditions for river fly fishing. Trout and grayling can see far more of what is happening above and ...
What is chalkstream fly fishing for trout and grayling, and how is it different from other river fishing?
Chalkstream fly fishing is one of the most distinctive forms of river fishing in the UK. Chalkstreams are fed by groundwater filtered through chalk...
What is rain-fed river fly fishing for trout and grayling, and how is it different from chalkstream fishing?
Rain-fed river fly fishing, often also called freestone river fishing, takes place on rivers primarily fed by rainfall, surface run-off and smaller...
How do I fish high or coloured rivers for trout and grayling?
High or coloured water changes how trout and grayling use a river. The increased flow carries more food downstream, but it also creates stronger cu...
How do I read river water to find trout and grayling?
Reading river water means identifying the places where trout and grayling can feed efficiently without wasting energy fighting the strongest curren...
What is sight fishing for trout and grayling, and how do I do it successfully?
Sight fishing is the practice of locating an individual trout or grayling, watching its behaviour and presenting a fly specifically to that fish. I...