22/07/2025 - A RETURN TO FLY FISHING FOR TROUT Robin Smith

I started fishing about 60 years ago when I was 9 years old. Fishing in local ponds where we lived on the Fylde Coast and then in my teens progressing to fishing local rivers like the Ribble and the Lune.

I was self-taught as neither my Father nor any relatives fished but I had been given some old books on fly fishing so I did manage to learn to fly fish well enough to catch a few fish over the years but I am by no means an expert fly fisherman.

Since then I’ve fished in England and Scotland, Canada for salmon and sturgeon, Mauritius and the Caribbean for Marlin, Tuna, Barracuda, Dorado and Wahoo. I have a stretch of the River Wyre at St Michael’s on Wyre also a lake at home where I take my children and latterly grandsons coarse fishing, over the years.

The last time I went fly fishing for trout was 35 years ago, at the end of the day I managed to break the rod tip in the Range Rover tail gate, since then all my single-handed fly rods and reels have been left to gather dust.

Yesterday, Martin invited myself and my friend Andrew Lanigan to fish the Ribble with him.

We met Martin at about 10.30am then went down to the river. Martin set up Andrew’s gear, Martin then came to look at my fly fishing gear. He told me what a state it was in, after lying dormant for 35 years.

He matched the reels and line that I had to a rod the best he could and then meticulously stretched and cleaned the line, fitted a leader then provided a suitable fly.

The line was slightly light for the rod but he assured me I would manage.

We walked down to the river and Martin said he would stay with me so all the time I was dreading starting again in case I made a mess of it.

Martin and I checked how Andrew was going on then moved down to the pool below. I received Martin’s expert advice on how to proceed. After a bit of a dubious start, the casting started coming back to me, despite the light line, I was able to cast well enough to tempt a fish. Martin left me to it.

In the next couple of hours I had two or three knocks on the fly which was a gold bead Mayfly nymph which looked very good in the water so I was optimistic. I then hooked a small fish and lost it.

I decided to go back up to the top of the first pool which I though looked good and six casts later I hooked a lovely brown trout of around 2 lbs. The fish put up a good fight for its size and with great excitement and satisfaction I netted the fish, quickly took a picture and returned it to fight another day.

I’d forgotten how enjoyable fly fishing for trout can be, I‘m very grateful for Martins kind invitation, help and advice and this morning I have reorganised all my rods and tackle and cleaned the line on another reel I have that goes with another rod that I had forgotten I had so I am looking forward to another

Back to the News List