MY TOP 20 of DOs and DON’Ts

SUSTAINABLE fly-fishing is about respecting your quarry, wild life and the surrounding environment. It is about conservation, protection and appreciating the countryside.

OUR environment is a natural, precious resource……so take personal pride in looking after it and encourage others to do the same!

1. NEVER drop litter or discarded tackle, including nylon. ‘Leave behind only your footprints’!
2. RESPECT the environment and minimise disruption to waterside, wildlife and bankside.
3. DO NOT light fires.
4. DO NOT break down or damage trees, bankside vegetation or fences.
5. NEVER leave your rod unattended at bankside or in the water.
6. OBSERVE strict personal hygiene, covering cuts, washing hands etc
7. REPORT any serious pollution to the Environment Agency, fishing club or fisheries’ owner.
8. ALWAYS park your vehicle considerately.
9. RESPECT other anglers and water users.
10. CONSIDER the peace and enjoyment of others.
11. BE AWARE of disturbance caused by mobile phones, radios or other equipment sound emitting.
12. AVOID handling fish and only do so with care.
13. ALWAYS carry a valid rod licence appropriate to the number of rods.
14. OBTAIN a fishing permit before starting to fish.
15. READ and understand Environment Agency rules and regulations.   
16. OBSERVE fishery rules and signage.                  
17. NEVER, never, never fish or cast under, over, or adjacent to power cables – LOOK UP!
18. ALWAYS wear a life-jacket or buoyancy aid when fishing from a boat.
19. USE barbless or reduced barbed hooks.
20. ALWAYS wear glasses whilst fly fishing. (‘no glasses, no fishing’!)

They say good knots are the cheapest and lightest part of the fly fishers outfit…yet potentially the most expensive part when they go wrong!

Investing time to learn how to tie the half dozen or so knots that are most useful in fly fishing is time well spent.

Many books are written on the subject, ranging from huge volumes to bankside pocket guides and leaflets. All agree that what matters is that you appreciate the fact that the weakest link in any rig is your knot.

So my message is learn to tie them well. Practise, practise and then, practise again. Learn to tie them in the dark, in the wet, during windy conditions and when it’s biting cold because ……….yes you got it, that’s precisely when you will need to bring your skills to the fore and tie one!

Start BIG to start with using large string to practise, moving down to finer line as you become more proficient.

Both knowledge and memory of the different knots lie in your ‘finger’s mind’.

Rather than repeat previous great works on the subject of knots, click on the link below to see a step-by-step, animated instruction on how to tie the most common knots used in fly fishing.

Essential knot tying is covered in all my coaching lessons.

I reckon I can help you.

WHY NOT GIVE ME A CALL?