Fly Fishing Can Be Cheap and it's Easier Than You Think!

Fly fishing needs to more participants and I want to get rid of the expensive and complicated image it has. It can be amazing for mental health as well as the joy of being immersed in the countryside. This isn't a technical how to video for fly fishing but I hope it will encourage those thinking of giving it a go to reach out to their local fly fishing club. I know access to trout rivers isn't easy or cheap everywhere and I think that is wrong, however where there are reasonable clubs, get in touch to see if they can help introduce you to the sport.
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[@peterlaidler3895]

Hi, I doff my cap to you for making this video. Any attempt to encourage young people to the sport is worthwhile in my view. The Wild Trout Trust, River fly partnership etcetera should be right up there for Government support as far as I'm concerned in an age where youngsters are being encouraged to protect the environment. My club in North Yorkshire holds summer and winter events with visits to the river to teach youngsters about fly life and other nature interests and holds fly tying classes. Excellent video

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thank you Peter. We are both very lucky to have access to rivers and one of my biggest frustrations is how expensive this can be for most, it's a huge barrier for our pastime. It's a great way for people to connect with nature and fantastic for mental health. Here's hoping the average age of fly anglers can be lowered! Thanks again

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

mate - so great that somebody is doing this! I'm sure many are put off by the mystique that surrounds fly fishing. I use Shakespeare agility rods, cheap reels from car boot sales, and recently I've used max catch lines. I'd bet that a basic kit costs much less than a coarse fishing set up (by the time you've bought seat boxes, wheel barrows, bite alarms etc etc !!!) I tried to do a utube fly fish introduction vid , showing budget kit, casting, methods etc but it fell on stony ground, many utube viewers seemingly wanting to see you hauling fish rather than explaining how to!! anyway, for what it's worth, it's "fly fishing for beginners" by soul trader 57. I'd paste the link if I knew how to 🤣

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks for watching and for the encouragement! We do need to demystify the sport to encourage more to give it a go. I’ll go and take a look at your video. Thanks again for your kind words

[@karlnoonan5597]

Great video, well done and thank you for encouraging others. Fly fishing is a wholesome experience; great for the soul.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thank you Karl. Im a big believer in the benefits to our mental health through fishing. Thanks for watching

[@markhensel1843]

Good video! - thanks for encouraging new people! Totally agree - Fly Fishing is about being in the ‘now’ Doesn't take a high level of skill nor knowledge - that misconception kept me from trying it - happy I eventually just got out there and tried !

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Mark and I was exactly the same. I had been wanting to try for a few years and when I did I was met with some who did have that prestigious image that make the sport seem expensive and complicated. Shame really as they are the ones that should be doing the opposite! Fortunately I’m stubborn and seem to enjoy not conforming! Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience 👍

[@darrenscott5960]

Brilliant video bud 👌and to anyone who is started up and not having any luck keep at it as the reward in the end is well worth it tight lines folks 🎣🎣

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Darren, it’s definitely about fishing and not catching 😀!

[@darrenscott5960]

@@WestCountryAngler definitely 😅it does get easier through time learning where they lie and spotting hatches and so on 🎣🎣

[@injones3683]

Nice one 😊

[@-fishingvideos-liorben-hai2447]

Great fly fishing video

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate your feedback

[@brianinsole9911]

Great video as usual you explain and encourage all . Well done . Wish I lived nearer to come join you . ! Can you please tell me what fly floating powder you use. Thanks Brian

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Brain, thanks for the kind words and for watching. I use Weatherbys Dry Fly, the link is in the video description

[@oreilly6365]

I love fly fishing, it will always be a healthy part of my life. I also made up a rule.. I can only catch a fish on a fly ive made myself, another nice side hobby.. Its good for the soul, im 100% myself and at peace when im throwing a fly.. (apart from when im cursing the lost fish due to barbless hooks). Thanks for sharing and lovely trout you caught too!!! 👌😎

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi, that’s an amazing rule! I have made my own flies in the past but they were shocking, however they did catch! I love the surroundings, the fishing etc but my main joy is the benefit to my mental health, it’s great for the soul! Thanks for your comment and for watching.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Lovely water there. It's true-we get totally immersed in fly fishing. I love it. :-) Ilm Australian, and although it can be tricky to travel for good streams. they are at least nearly all open to us, as long as we don't trespass. But we have great fluctuations in weather and water conditions. but there is still a lot of lovely water to explore and get to know. I fish with minimal gear-way less than yours! Tight lines to you and I enjoy all your efforts. :-)

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Terry. Really appreciate you watching. The UK has terrible access to water in a lot of the country, everywhere is owned by someone! I love watching fly fishing in Australia and New Zealand, they would be my ultimate locations. I seem to be reducing my fishing gear and increasing my camera gear 🤦‍♂️. Thanks again for watching and for the comment

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

@@WestCountryAngler ​ @West Country Angler All good. New Zealand has trout in every possible stream. I hope to go there later in the year-I love tny streams. They have monsters as you know. but they don't really interest me-although I wouldn't really say 'no' to one if it took my fly by sheer chance. :-) Also. in NZ in many many paces you are given proper access to the water-it's the law! :-)

[@thomasburras]

Great video again, I have the same maxcatch outfit and the same line you reccomended to me before great set up for less than £80 and I got some £20 waders and a small cheap game bag I'm good to go 👍

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hey Thomas, thanks for watching and for your comment. This is exactly the comment I was hoping for! I understand people wanting to spend hundreds on a prestige rod but for those starting out, you get as much enjoyment from gear like Maxcatch. Thanks again!

[@thomasburras]

@@WestCountryAngler that combination af maxcatch 4 wt rod and the teal line casts very nice for me and I am basically a newbie - occasional fly Angler 👍

[@bjornbartlett9458]

Nice video again, lovely trout at the end there! As an Exeter resident, am I able to fish any of the Tiverton Fly Fishing Association’s beats? I currently mainly fish the Upper Teign around Fingle Bridge which comes under the Upper Teign Fishing Association.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Bjorn. Unfortunately you live outside the 7 mile radius so you can’t join the Tiverton Fly Fishing Association. You can fish the River Exe with the fish the exe scheme. I’ve never used it but I think you can fish near Bickleigh. Thanks for watching and really appreciate the comment

[@MrPartzz]

You are living my dream. I've fished lakes but always wanted to fish in a shallow stream like that. What weight rid and line are you using? I have three 7 weight rods for stocked lakes, but figure a 2 or 3 would suffice for the environment you are fishing in? For me the biggest block is knowing where it's ok to fish with just an EA rod license and where additional permits/club membership is required. Its not always so easy to find out if a stretch is 'owned'. I would love to do this on the upper tidal stretch of the plym, but would hate to get into trouble.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Clive. Thanks for watching. I use a 10’ 3weight rod with a 4 weight line. I am lucky where I live for the fishing. If you don’t mind travelling, take a look at Dartmoor as there are some amazing places for fly fishing there with a day ticket

[@MrPartzz]

@@WestCountryAngler Thanks for the reply. I've been looking at day tickets for the Cad (upper plym) but need to downscale my current set up - i've previously used a 7 wt 10' rod but just as my timing and casting got sorted on the stocked lakes i moved and hadn't fished for a long time. My casting is now dismal!... A bit of time in the park is needed before i hit any water I think 🙂

[@jameshodges4960]

I love the way you approach the sport, so many over complicate and befuddle any newcomers. It's not just a day ticket sport for bankers choppering in from London for a dabble on the Test. There are plenty of clubs with affordable access to amazing waters, my local Salisbury and district

[@jameshodges4960]

Is a great example

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks James. It’s a shame that so many of our premium waters are out of reach for most of us and geographically there is a lot of the country that doesn’t have trout streams. When I drive around the Salisbury area I’m always looking at the streams and rivers that I’m passing, it’s a beautiful area. Thanks again for watching and for your comment

[@darrenrodd.]

Never fancied fly fishing don't think I'd be able to cast it looks to complicated to me lol, great video thou 👍🎣

[@WestCountryAngler]

haha, that's a fair comment Darren. The casting is pretty easy unless you want to cast 50 yards with nice loops. Thanks for watching and never say never!

[@lukepitts5774]

Darren you should give it a go you don't need to cast far to catch fish and its addictive I fished on rivers in Scotland for a week this year and I booked for 2 weeks next year 🤣 hopefully the other half doesn't read this🤦🤣

[@Followthepath89]

Start off on small waters and cast in the house … stick bit of string try and smack a target 🎯 that’s what I did as a kid it’s the same Principle floating line bit of leader 1 fly you’ll still catch fish 😎👍

[@lukepitts5774]

Fly fishing can be as cheap or as expensive as you want you don't need high end kit to catch fish. What i would say is I would get decent leaders just found it helped my turn over there for helping my presentation. I use mainly shakespeare rods and reels and maxcatch and John norris line and Hardy leaders(£6 each) and the vast majority of flies are from ebay the rest my dad ties. Fly fishing is my favourite hobby especially on rivers where I can wade.

[@WestCountryAngler]

The is Luke. I agree, for me I love being in the river and part of the environment. I also like tradition but the only way to increase participation is by removing the expensive image it has. I absolutely agree though that at the leader, tippet and fly, that’s where it matters. Fish aren’t snobbish about Maxcatch 😀. Thanks for watching and for your comment

[@poppyfields2]

Great video. I’d love to join your club, however it seems I have to live in a particular post code. Is that correct?

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Neil. Unfortunately our club has a distance restriction of 7 miles from Tiverton. When we were given access to our waters, many years ago, it was for the use of the men who worked in the factories of Tiverton. We have had to keep that condition but we have been able to expand it slightly. However I don’t believe Crediton or Dulverton clubs have the same restrictions

[@ianmiller1879]

great vid. am freshwater as you might remember but i cant go fly fishing due to problems, but i dont think people understand how cheap fly fishing is compaired to freshwater, cheap as chips.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Ian. I do remember and I am very grateful that you watch my videos and comment. You’re right, people don’t realise how cheap it can be, I think that’s an image of the sport. The biggest problem is the cost of fishing some locations. It’s a postcode lottery as to whether there is affordable fly fishing nearby. Thanks again 👍

[@oliveremson9642]

I started out with a maxcatch extreme combo 9ft 5 weight loved that rod and would still use it if I hadn't lost it. I now 6 maxcatch rods..You will hear some anglers demonising maxcatch and Chinese companies in general for unethical employment laws. Competition drives innovation, ill buy the best product I can for the best price I can find.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Oliver, I agree. Those same people often make the same comments on their phones and laptops manufactured in the very same country 😉. Thanks for watching and I really appreciate your comment