My dry fly setup

As I say in the video I've tended to stay clear of the whole tackle talk stuff because there are just so many variables. If you're fishing a large river making 20 yard casts with 20 foot leaders than how can I advise you? Similarly if you are fortunate enough to fish with a hand made split cane rod or top quality Sage then again I have no experience of that standard of tackle and therefore can"t really comment. So my overriding advise would be to use the tackle you can afford and that suits your style of fishing and as long as your enjoying yourself don"t worry too much about whether or not convention deems it to be "incorrect".
Howard Croston video
• River fishing : Leader...

[@brianreed1451]

thats the most sensible advice that i have heard anyone mentioned in 65 years fishing. if you are enjoying your fishing it is already right. just brilliant.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Thank you Brian, sometimes it can be hard to convey things, none of this stuff is scripted and an awful lot goes in the bin, but that bit does sum it up for me. It's why I go fishing anyway, if I ever get to the point where its not enjoyable I'll stop.

[@brianreed1451]

Just keep them coming. I passed Crediton on unday evening after a weekend Woking my dogs on dartmoor. Wish I lived closer

[@WestCountryAngler]

Great advice Chris. Simplicity is definitely the key and the fish have a split second to see our fly, not hours to admire our rods or reels

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Cheers Paul, looks like the weather is finally starting to behave, could be some Mayfly about soon. Hopefully the wading will be a bit less sketchy for you on the Exe next time out👍

[@PAULOatham]

These days will be back soon!! Awesome video Chris

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

More wind and rain on the way Paul, but maybe signs of something drier next week? I'm away on business, though, so it might be the end of April. Holy shit!!

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

Nice work Chris, makes a change from having to watch you empty those rivers🤣 Seriously, good info there. I must be some sort of retro dinosaur, using a needle knot and tapered mono leader! Hope you've enjoyed your season! 👍

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Nothing wrong with a needle knot, mate. Mind you, the furled leader goes back to the days of horse hair, so maybe I'm the dinosaur 🙂

[@wildfisher]

Great info Chris, but as you say he most important advice of all is enjoy your fishing. 😊😊

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I shall also be enjoying a nice wildfisher video this evening (once the TV is free) 👍👍

[@peterlaidler3895]

A good fisherman will always take something away from a piece such as this. To quote Max Bygraves " I wanna tell you a story". Who hasn't seen Last of the summer wine? In the late 70's I was introduced to an old countryman whose poaching antics were tolerated by the local landowner because, when he had guests staying with him and they wanted to fish, said countryman would obligingly take them out and guarantee they had a good day. It was quid pro quo. This old man was actually a friend of a friends father who had left the city during the War and moved his family to the country. He was a dentist. Said father and countryman became firm friends. I digress. So, I turn up with my tackle, quite modern but certainly not all bells and whistles and old Bob turns up with an 8ft cane rod bought from Woolworths. old wellingtons patched up to the hilt, an old tweed jacket and trilby and a tin of flies that were no more than a few turns of thread on a hook. He fished upstream wet. This was HIS spate river, his territory. I caught two trout around 11 inches, when we assembled after a couple of hours for a break, he returned with 18 fish in his haversack and not one under a pound. Wouldn't happen now I'm pleased to say, but what Bob didn't eat he exchanged at the local butchers shop and small store for other goods. The moral: You don't need to buy expensive gear, don't be seduced by the rhetoric, it's your skill and rivercraft that fools the fish. Trial and error and you'll find what's best for you. One thing I do say is, that I agree that for dry fly certainly, the furled leader is a boon. Cheers Chris

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Hi Peter, yep "it's not what you fish but the way that you fish it" is an old axiom but a true one. My father used to fish with a school teacher who's eyesight was pretty poor (macula degeneration I believe) he used massive size 10 pheasant tail dry flies literally just off the rod tip. He caught plenty and good ones at that.

[@thetattooedangler]

Was out on the river today, and didn't catch a bloody thing. There was a huge hatch of everything that you could think of, the water was perfect, the sun was just peeking out from behind the clouds, and the wind was behind me the whole time. In a mile of river, I saw maybe 4 fish rise. It was deeply frustrating. I use a 7'6 4wt, with a 12ft 5x tapered leader, and then a single dry fly. I've tried all sorts of variations of lines, leaders and tippets, with teams of flies, both wets and dries, but this suits me best. I tried a 3wt, but I occasionally catch a hefty sea trout, and the 3wt just couldn't deal with it, so the 4 is better. The reel is whichever one I can afford at the time.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I suppose it's what keeps us coming back isn't it, sometimes it just makes no fuc#ing sense at all.

[@DaviekFlyFishing]

Hi Chris, great info. I gave up my 9 and 10 ft 8 weight rods as I could never cast great with a fast action rod on lochs and reservoirs. Just love small rivers and streams using an 8ft 6 4 weight rod with a medium action, nothing gets too complicated and not too many tangles! Will be using a furled leader soon for the first time. Tight lines

[@paulbryan1094]

Excellent advice there. Use what is appropriate for your water and enjoy

[@fieldsman3307]

hi Chris, my set up is just the same as yours and yesterday it did the business with best day ever, huge hatch of flies of all sorts fish going for anything so put big mayfly on and had one 3lb, two 2lb and two 12oz then got busted by a really big one. Went back today and just a few tiddler grayling rising so blanked , what a difference a day makes !! Don't see me having a day that good again anytime soon. Look forward to next video as they are always good especially on Dartmoor. ATB mike

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Nicely done Mike, isn't strange how the reaction of the fish can flip from day to day. Busted by a really big one with a 3lber in the net already!!!! I would keep that river secret 👍 Off to Dartmoor tomorrow evening after work, trying to catch the bluebells for this year, a lot of walking required.

[@marklamude2355]

If you enjoy it it’s already right…. Wise words.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

It's what it's all about Mark isn't it, I might swear and curse a few times and have a moan about this or that but deep down I'm having a great time👍

[@richardjackson3939]

I still have one of your furled leaders, excellent they are too!

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Praise indeed Richard, not everyone's cup of tea I know but they work for me 👍

[@jimbutler6925]

Great tip about the tapered furled leaders, I've seen a few people use them without treating and then just stop using them because they sink.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Yes Jim, properly treated they should float for a good 3 to 4 hours which is my standard session. Over the years I've given a few away for people to try and the most important piece of advice is treat they whilst they're dry. Sadly it often fell on deaf ears.

[@gordonmillsjr.1957]

Bang on Chris. I’m currently spending a week on the Upper Teign and it’s just blissful. Got 4 on the Wickhams Fancy this afternoon. Keep it up mate - loving your vids. 👌

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Many thanks Gordon, yes the Teign is a special place and will always be my "first love" even though its not the same now as when I first learnt to fish there all those years ago. Well done getting a few fish in these conditions and on the Whickhams 👍 140 years of catching shows there must be something about the pattern! I hope you find some alternative entertainment for today (Friday 14th)) were getting some "proper" rain atm.

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Very interesting

[@eyeintheskiesdavid9277]

Great video chris thanks for the tips on the setup your using id say it presents the fly nicely on the water. i like to use wychwood truefly 4lb 0.165mm fluorocarbon for dry fly fishing its works great in any river i fish

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Cheers David, I must say it wasn't my intention to advise on tackle because as I say I don't think there is a right or wrong way, but people were asking so it's there for those who might want to try it. I've tried all sorts for my tippet material and have settled (for now) on trouthunter evo nylon. Not a single mishap so far, I just wish it didn't float so well. I know they advertise that as an advantage and many top anglers want their tippet to float but I've always treated the last foot or so with fullers earth to make it sink. Perhaps I'll have another look at flourocarbon as that does sink doesn't it 👍

[@eyeintheskiesdavid9277]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 yeah I find the fluorocarbon works great for me try Drennan sub surface green 4bl with o.20mm works great sinks nice used it yesterday and hooked up with every cast 🎣👍

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I used to use the drennen sub surface green years ago, I can't remember why I stopped now? I suspect I was hoodwinked by thinner and thinner diameter stuff. The trouthunter evo is pretty good though.

[@eyeintheskiesdavid9277]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 yeah I'm going to pick up a spool of trouthunter tippet line and give it a try myself thanks for sharing Chris. I will let you know how I get on and tight line's and take care chris 🎣🤝

[@fieldsman3307]

hi Chris, yesterday and today back to normal with lovely weather and nothing rising however two lads that have been spinning on our water (grrr)have put videos on here so look up MN fishing UK and you will see the waters and some of the big uns

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

When you say spinners Mike I assume you mean the imago stage of our upwing species😁 no seriously I'll take a look👍 very hard going on the little moorland stream this evening and I missed the best light on the bluebells but cest la vie , still better than working. Strange because the conditions looked perfect, what an odd year we are having?

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I've just watched one Mike, looks like a lovely river and what fish!! A little bit depressing though to see two youngsters catching far bigger wbt than I've managed in 40 years of fishing in Devon😠 not that I'm jealous or anything ! Now where are those jerk baits??

[@carlhughes9584]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 Sorry to drop in on this conversation, but what you are saying is kind of where I was coming from when I said previously that I was getting a little tired of catching small trout. I'm a bit younger than you, but I've also been fly-fishing a while, and like you would consider myself to be a good flyangler, but I've never had a wild trout over about 2 and a half pounds. Yet you see people who only just started on some rivers in UK using streamers, lures etc and getting 4 pounders etc !!

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

@@carlhughes9584 I totally understand Carl, doesn't seem fair does it, I musk speak to the wife again about my long overdue fishing holiday to NZ.

[@carlhughes9584]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 Ha.....well just a holiday to south Wales will do if you want a big one! Don't no if you follow a guy called Dale Pearson? Every single week without fail, he seems to put up a pic of a 4 or 5 pound wild trout. Unbelievable.

[@darrenjgreig]

Hi Chris, my local river, the leven in Fife has been the same. Fly life everywhere but only seen maybe 4 or 5 fish rising. Water was still pretty cold right enough. I'm def still in the beginners bracket and I'm always looking to learn, info like this is very useful. I've only ever used tapered mono leader but I scare more fish than not due to poor presentation. Ill give a furled leader a try. Is there different types that I should look for?

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Hi Darren, I definitely prefer the ones made of thread, the mono ones are good but I like the way the thread ones bend and fold with the current. For me it helps to eliminate drag and especially the "micro" drag as they call it that we can't see but the fish can. Mine are all 5' long, I have tried the shorter 3 1/2 foot ones but found the taper a bit too aggressive for my liking and I think you start to lose the benefits at that length. Lots of people use them though. I like furled leaders because I can make them at home which is fun in itself, they are great to cast with and give superior presentations on these small streams IMO. The one thing that drives me mad about them is their seemingly magnetic attraction to the rod blank, you will find yourself unwrapping them a fair bit, but I think the benefits outweigh this. If your looking for a recommendation then check out luke Bannister, Stuart crofts collection 4.5' thread furled leader. Luke has the furling boards from a chap called Rod Dibble who was a bit of a furled leader legend back in the day.

[@darrenjgreig]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 thanks for the recommendations. Ill have a wee look. Enjoyed the tackle video mate cheers

[@DaviekFlyFishing]

Small world Darren. The Leven is very local to me! Reasonably new to fly fishing too mate, enjoy, it's so rewarding!

[@carlhughes9584]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 Just use long tippet on a tapered leader......that will have all the slack. The thick tapered leader end is not intended to be subtle is it. At least with thick nylon its not opaque like a braided butt......

[@darrenjgreig]

​@@DaviekFlyFishingaww nice, small world lol what part of the river do you fish? I'm usually on the lower stretch kinda balgonie down. Never ventured past glenrothes

[@carlhughes9584]

I hate furled leaders. I think they are pointless. Not as good as turn over as a tapered leader. Nylon leaders for me. And I like long leader as possible. Long limp leader to not scare fish and reduce drag. Was that frogs fanny you were using? Tuats very overated in my opinion.....i just dont see the point. Its not a floatant and just dries the fly out ive found, which can just as easily be done by squeezing it in tissue or even a cotton shirt.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Hi Carl, it's a frogs fanny bottle but I bought a large tub of the stuff from fishtec I think and just refill it, will probably outlast me! I also use kitchen towel and find I tend to alternate throughout the day. Interesting your findings on the tapered leader, perhaps I should try them again, on the rare occasion I've used one the memory and stretch in them was a real deal breaker for me. Which type of furled leader have you used? Could I send you one of mine for comparison, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I'm sure if I fished bigger streams casting 20 yards or more I would have a different setup.

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

No, got my tecs mixed up, it was flytec.

[@carlhughes9584]

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 I see no.purpose in the frogs fanny powder. I can't understand all the fuss about. It's not a floatant is it, just dries the fly out and I can do that just as well with a tissue and a blow. Now Loshca floatant I rave about as it works on CDC but it's pricey..... I've actually used the braided leaders you mention. I just couldn't see the point in them either. Lots of faff having to treat them too and water spray. Ive noticed people who use braided leaders use very short tippets. People say they more supple than nylon leaders, but I just have a longer tippet to achieve this. As you know, in small streams when they are low, you want the flyline to land as far from fish as possible. ( I use long leaders and long rods even on small streams ). I guess it's just preference......some excellent dryfly anglers swear by braided leaders, and some excellent dryfly anglers ( Paul Proctor as example ) use tapered nylon leaders. Very kind offer, but I think I can't be converted to braided leaders now.

[@carlhughes9584]

PS.....are the fish in your river not as spooky as mine? It looks the same, yet I notice you will cast upstream nymph in pretty flat water. That would be a big no no on my local, as even a light flyline landing over them would empty the area. Anyway, I'm going to try this evening as there is a good mayfly hatch on. I said before I got a little demotivated, but I went other day and just sitting on a small river watching the natural world around me was sublime. Who cares if the trout are small, they are still beautiful and a challenge to catch, and there is always the odd big 15 incher to really excited us ay .

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

Sounds good to me Carl, a lovely evening to be out 👍 a number of our rivers carry a bit of colour so perhaps this allows me to get away with things a bit.

[@imherenow87]

This guy is so full of this or that extension, tippet this, fly leader that vs. just buying a leader (tapered) and putting the damn fly on

[@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724]

I'm not sure what you mean by "this or that extension " but the whole point of the video was to tell people that you should use whatever tackle YOU enjoy using. I'm sorry if this didn't come across as I intended. As I said in the video I've stayed clear of tackle talk over the three seasons of doing these videos but I was asked to outline my setup by a few viewers.