Fly fishing is a technique for catching fish like brown trout, rainbow trout, salmon, grayling, pike or saltwater species where the fly fishing ‘bait’ is artificial made usually of synthetics, fur and feather. The hand tied fishing fly may look like an invertebrate (bug), a fly landing on the water or lure or attractant designed to stimulate the target fish into biting the fly and hooking itself. We try to make the hand tied fly appear to a fish like a bug or invertebrate below the waters surface or a real fly has landed on the top of the water as if it belongs there as part of the natural ecosystem. Unlike other fishing techniques fishing with flies is an art form with key components, tying the artificial fly, matching the hatch and reading the water to calculate where fish will be. This is very different to other fishing methods where a bait from maggots to pellets are cast out, and presented to the fish below the water. The basic concepts and techniques involved with fly fishing using artificial flies is very different to bait or lure fishing. Often there is no weight in the fly as the fly line's energy is actually used in the cast to move the fly to the place we want on the water unlike other forms of fishing where the weight is in a float, sinker or the bait itself. Most important however for the fly fishermen is that they match the hatch. What does that mean in reality? We will eat food grown artificially out of season and fly it half way around the world to eat for example strawberries at Christmas. A fish on the other hand will eat what is in season. As an example Daddy long legs or craneflies are not prevelant in March so there is limited point trying that fly then as it will almost certainly be ignored. A good fly fisherman can be an amateur entomologist, reading the river to see where fish may be waiting for prey and often a fly tyer making their own artificial fishing flies from hooks, threads, synthetics, furs and feathers.
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We love fishing for different species of trout ranging worldwide from cutthroat or brookies to uk trout fishing either in a chalkstream, stocked reservoir or stillwater fishing for rainbow trout, brownies or blues. Different species and destinations demand different tackle and fishing flies and you will find all you need from us here at The Essential Fly. On a small brook you may be using a 3 weight trout rod with size 18 flies on a 1lb tapered leader, however on a large reservoirs you may be casting an 8 weight fly rod with ghost tip fly line or boat fishing using a competition drogue to stop your drift. So you want to learn the incredible sport of fly fishing? Wonderful! Trout fishing is a fun and amazing sport and hobby. It gets you up close and personal with the serenity and peace of nature, yet provides the sporting challenge of out smarting the fish.Tackle, Flies & Fly Tying
Stillwater or rivers, salmon, trout & grayling we have the gear and advice to help you really enjoy your hobby. UK stockists of fly tying materials to tie your flies & the rods, reels, lines and flies if you don't tie you own and just want to get fishing quickly!
UK Fly Fishing Specialists For Flies, Fly Fishing Tackle & Fly Tying
A leading UK supplier of gear for fly fishermen, deadly fly patterns for rainbow & brown trout, pike, salmon flies and fly patterns for every species from our massive selection. We have fly tying materials and tools to satisfy every fly tyers needs. Our range of tackle from Greys to Wychwood, from fly rods, fly flines to waders, specialist luggage and all of the accessories needed by fly fishermen with advice as well.
