What sort of instruction or help do you want?

At Fly-fishuk, we can guide you to a number of fisheries and/or instructors around the UK each offering a variety of courses throughout the various seasons. Before choosing a course or instruction, do just take a few moments to consider what you are looking for, because they generally fall into five categories.

But before booking any instruction, do always enquire about the pupil/instructor ratio. On a beginners course there should really never be more than 4 or possibly 5 pupils per instructor, whereas on an improver day there might be anything between 6 and 10. If each person gets 10 minutes attention with the instructor and the ratio is 10:1 it will be an absolute minimum of 1hr 40min before you get any more attention. 10 minutes help every couple of hours if you are a complete novice will not be enough.

One to one tuition

Sounds good, though usually a very expensive way to learn. It can also be frustrating when you waste a lot of expensive teaching time just practicing something in front of the instructor. Better to have one to one tuition when you want a specific casting problem sorted out or merely need a brush up before a special day or trip. You wouldn’t normally get to fish at all during a one to one lesson.

A beginner or introductory course

These are generally one-day courses designed to introduce and enthuse novices and usually cover everything from tackle to tactics and give a good grounding on the basics of casting a fly rod. These courses are also generally run at a time of year when conditions are ideal and everyone catches a fish or two, all in a fun, controlled and undemanding environment.

Improver courses

The emphasis will be you going fishing whilst the instructor comes round to offer the occasional tip or reminder of the basics, or teaches you new skills to take you up to the next level. Please note: Even if you are an experienced angler, it is a mistake to start on one of these if you have never had any formal tuition. If you feel you need a course at all, you most probably need a lot more instruction than you would get on one of these.

A casting course

These are exactly what they say they are. Purely teaching casting techniques with no attempt to catch fish at all.

Guided fishing

This is when you pay a guide or boatman to take you out fishing for the day. Though guides are generally excellent casters themselves, they are not always good instructors and some will get quite irritated if you cannot cast proficiently to the fish they put you on. They are there because they know where the fish are and what are the best tactics are for the conditions.

Teaching kids

On some of our waters there are also special courses tailored for kids. A child’s first introduction to fishing of any kind is an important moment and should not be spoiled by bad weather, boredom or Dad merely showing off his own prowess.

On kids courses there will only be kids (with a parent or parents looking on of course) and the instructor(s). No, mums and dads, you do not get to fish as well! It is their treat and the emphasis is for them to have fun, learn a little and, above all, catch a fish. Kids courses are usually over a just half-day and only when the weather is nice and the fishing is as good as it gets.

A lot of parents ask “At what age should they start fly fishing?” Well it depends on the child, but in general I always suggest anywhere between 8 and 10 depending upon their general strength and levels of concentration or enthusiasm. But Kids of any age are welcome.

A good instructor will also have specially adapted rods and lines to suit small wrists – The Arrowhead Poacher rod and line was designed for just this purpose. click here to see one

Where can I find out course dates and prices?

To find the course you are looking for just click on the species of fish you want to catch and follow the links or you can telephone our head office at 01342 850765 or click on the link below.

For more details on course dates and prices Click here

back to top