Author name: Rob Fletcher

Ask ten fly fishers about the best month to fish in the UK and you’ll probably get ten different answers. That said, after spending enough cold mornings on riverbanks and enough warm evenings watching rises, I reckon May edges ahead of the pack for most of us. Gear Used in This Article View on Amazon […]

There’s something properly special about fishing the Yorkshire Dales. Maybe it’s the way the rivers tumble down limestone valleys, or how you can walk for miles without seeing another angler. Whatever it is, this corner of northern England remains one of our most underrated fly fishing destinations. Gear Used in This Article View on Amazon

If you’ve never cast a fly line across a Lake District tarn at dawn, with mist rolling off the fells and not another soul for miles, you’re missing out on something special. This corner of Cumbria offers some of the finest wild fly fishing in England, though it’ll make you work for every fish. Gear

The River Test has earned its reputation as one of England’s finest chalk streams, and after spending countless days on its banks, I can tell you the hype is absolutely justified. This Hampshire treasure has been kicking out trout to selective anglers for centuries, and it still manages to humble even the most experienced fishers

I’ll be honest, for years I walked straight past perch swims on my local rivers, eyes fixed on likely trout lies or chub holes. What a muppet I was. British perch on the fly is absolutely brilliant sport, and I’m frankly amazed more fly anglers don’t target them deliberately. Gear Used in This Article View

There’s something properly addictive about watching a pike absolutely nail your fly. I’m not talking about the gentle sips we’re used to with trout. I mean that violent, explosive take that nearly rips the rod out of your hands. If you’ve only ever caught pike on deadbaits or lures, you’re missing out on what might

There’s something brilliantly perverse about fly fishing in winter. While most sensible anglers have packed away their gear until spring, those of us chasing grayling are wading into freezing rivers, watching our breath hang in the air, and having some of the best sport of the year. Gear Used in This Article View on Amazon

I’ve spent enough wet mornings on Derbyshire streams and Scottish lochs to know that your fly line matters more than most anglers think. While we obsess over which size 18 CDC dun to tie on, we’re often fishing with a line that’s completely wrong for the conditions. The truth is, having the right fly line

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched a decent fish slip away at the net. Sometimes it’s because I’ve rushed it, sometimes the hook just falls out at the worst moment, but more often than not, it’s down to using the wrong net or no net at all. After thirty-odd years fishing rivers

I’ve spent enough mornings stood thigh-deep in the River Usk to know that cheap waders are a false economy. The first pair I bought lasted three trips before springing a leak right in the crotch seam. Not ideal when you’re two miles upstream and the water temperature is hovering around eight degrees. Gear Used in