Wednesday 22 February 2012

Fly fishing in Derbyshire

The term ‘Fly Fishing’ is used when referring to that method of angling in which an artificial ‘fly’ is utilised in order to catch a fish. In ‘Fly Fishing’, the fly is cast using a fly rod, a reel as well as a specialized weighted line. The skills required to cast this nearly weightless fly (or lure) are significantly different from those required in more traditional forms of casting as the main difference between fly fishing and bait or spin fishing is that in fly fishing it is the weight of the line which carries the hook through the air whereas in spin and bait fishing, it is the weight of the sinker or lure at the end of the line, braided line or monofilament which provides the casting distance. In the practise of ‘Fly Fishing’, the fly line nowadays is almost always coated in plastic so that it is heavy enough so that the fisherman can send the fly to the target.

 There are several types of artificial flies that are used in ‘Fly Fishing’ with some imitating either a flying or swimming insect. These flies can be designed either to float or to sink and are available in a considerable range of sizes, ranging from as large as 30 cm long to as small as a few millimetres, however, the majority of them range from 1 to 5 cm in size.  Artificial flies are most commonly created by fastening feathers, fur, hair or other natural or synthetic materials onto a hook. Although natural materials were used in the manufacture of the first artificial flies, those made from synthetic materials are now more widely available and popular.

 Fly Fishing has been a popular pastime in Britain for centuries (but only really taking off during the nineteenth century with the development of specialist fly-fishing clubs) and despite only initially experiencing popularity in southern England, with the method being seen as the ‘only’ acceptable method of fishing in the clearer and slower rivers such as the River Test and also the other chalk streams concentrated in Dorset, Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey, the practice is now popular throughout the country. For example, Fly Fishing is now regularly practised in various counties throughout the midlands, such as Derbyshire and there are several travel ‘companies’ which are able to offer holiday packages in which one can participate in fly fishing in Derbyshire rivers, such as the River Wye.


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