UK Fly Fishing on Dartmoor - West Dart, Wistman's Wood

A very unexpected fly fishing trip to Dartmoor to fly fish on the West Dart River. I am planning a wild camping and fly fishing trip to Dartmoor but today I had a free day so decided to spend it exploring the West Dart, fly fishing for the Wild Brown Trout.
I love Dartmoor and the West Dart is a stunning little river where it passes Wistman's Wood.
THANKS FOR WATCHING, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND HIT THE BELL TO BE NOTIFIED OF MY NEXT VIDEO
Recommended Dry Fly Floatant
www.dryflypowder.com
Follow me on Instagram for photos of my fishing, hiking and wild camping:
/ westcountryangler
My Facebook Page:
/ westcountryangler
My website which is a collection of photos and videos:
www.westcountryangler.co.uk
Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates of my next videos!
Music: A Himitsu - Easier to Fade (feat. Madi Larson)
#flyfishinguk #flyfishing #browntrout

[@MrPartzz]

Another great video. Beautiful life your having.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thank you, it's been too long since I was on Dartmoor, I need to make firm plans and get back there soon. Thanks for watching

[@Tjk186]

Another brill video, thanks...a lovely place to be... a great way to fly fish (short range euro-dry :) for hungry wild brownies...thanks for sharing the buzz and your happy memories from our great UK outdoors.

[@bernardprice8316]

Dont forget the riffle before a glide that is normally a stone or boulder in the water very small area, i actually made my cast with a wet fly, in the rough water, it looks so shallow that you would think there would be nothing there but i put my dad onto the biggest we ever had on the west dart ( 3/4 lb brownie stunning fish) by doing so the takes were quite savage.

[@Gangstergardener1]

Fantastic video again. Cheers for the email recently in regards to your club l plan to your river this season on a day ticket.

[@markhensel1843]

Thanks for making these videos! Very enjoyable particularly in viewed mid winter and needing lift. Enjoy your style

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Mark. I really liked that stretch of the West Dart. I need to start planning my next trips. Thanks for watching

[@KB-jr5nj]

Having decided to go up on the moor next week, I have to say that your wee vids have been first class - got me really excited. And I must add, your honest, straightforward commentary and observations mirror exactly how I think I think and react on the river. Thanks so much. Keep up your passion :-)

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Kurt. It’s a beautiful place and it amazes me how those trout survive. Thanks for watching

[@gordonmillsjr.1957]

Very nice vid. Next time try fishing a “Klink & dink” duo - klinkhammer (similar to the fly you were using), with a small nymph (pheasant tail / hares ear) tied off the hook shank 18” behind it. This is the standard rig for all the small rivers on Dartmoor. Tight lines!

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Gordon for watching and for your suggestion. I just can't bring myself to use the duo method as I only use a dry fly. This is because I used to do a lot of coarse fishing that was sub surface so I love to see the rise of the trout. I'm not adverse to others using the duo method, it's just not for me. Thanks again

[@gordonmillsjr.1957]

Fair enough! Please keep filming 👍

[@joebowsher1917]

Great video and thanks for all the fly fishing content

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Joe. I’ve had two more great fly fishing evenings that I’m hoping will have decent content in once I’ve edited them 👍

[@ewanmacfarlane9195]

I like the barbless hooks.If i loose a fish could be 2 inch could be a prize i just curse abit then laugh and say hes outsmarted me again or lives to fight another day.In truth i just want a quick look at suck a beautiful creature and then return is very quickly.

[@WestCountryAngler]

I completely agree! It's just about being there. I think most of us have been fishing for so many years that the size really doesn't matter anymore. Thanks for watching

[@ascot1049]

Another great video, thanks.

[@WestCountryAngler]

As always, thanks for watching Ascot 104, I appreciate it

[@ianrobertson9744]

Hi wca try Luke Bannister furled leaders , I fish a small river and they are perfect if you look on his videos he shows you how to set them up, just found your videos good angling nice to see some one doing honest fishing warts and all. Regards Ian Robertson N W England.

[@maxinesmyth3183]

Hi there Great video as I watched I thought how funny it is there you are coming over to Dartmoor from Tiverton to fish and then there is me doing the opposite any how, a very good site to look at is Onstream guide very good for river/stream fishing you can also buy furled leaders, flies and other stuff.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Maxine. Where did you fish near Tiverton? I’ll take a look at Onstream. Thanks for watching, you’ve been here a while 😀

[@paulhoughland8505]

Great video

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks for watching and I really appreciate your comment 👍

[@fieldsman3307]

hi, lovely video and I envy you being close enough to go there, Wistmans wood is quite famous and was featured on a beautiful programme calle the earth pilgrim.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Michael. Thanks for watching. I’m hoping to be back there soon after the 4th July for more wild camping and maybe fishing. It is stunning there! Thanks for watching

[@fieldsman3307]

@@WestCountryAngler If you want somewhere different try the east lyn river on exmoor, watersmeet and glenthorne fishery, there is also a wow NTrust cafe for coffee andd the wonderful Rockford Inn for lunch.........heaven

[@matthilsdon9710]

Great video and I like your honesty. I’m new to fly fishing so what is that you brush on the fly? Thanks

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Matt. Thanks for watching. I show the good and the bad 😀. I use Weatherby’s Dry Fly Floatant. There’s a link in the description. If you have any other questions please do ask and I’ll try to answer 👍

[@chrismckeown5115]

Hi from northern Ireland the agility 2 is a cracking wee rod

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Chris, I agree, it’s a fantastic rod. I’m not at the level where a £500 rod would make me a better angler or help me enjoy it any more than I do. For the money the agility 2 is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for watching

[@wingman2646]

Really enjoying your videos. Please excuse a beginners question - why do you dry-fly fish small streams and pools? Would wet-fly work just as well? If not, why not? Thanks!

[@WestCountryAngler]

You can use nymphs and buzzers. I only use dry fly as I used to do a lot of coarse fishing where everything was sub surface, except for surface fishing for carp. I love the visual aspect of using a dry fly and seeing the rise. Thanks for your question

[@wingman2646]

@@WestCountryAngler Thanks

[@marklamude2355]

Furled leaders are awesome in my opinion, not cheap but worth it. Check out Bannister rods on you tube and hes your man. LB furled leaders is the name of them.

[@WestCountryAngler]

Thanks Mark. I’ll take a look

[@proskipper1]

Have you got studs on your waders - I tryed wet wading and slipped like hell!

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi. Yes. I have felt soles boots and I’ve put studs in to give that extra grip. The studs make a lot of difference in the River and on grass

[@richardbailey9314]

Great film from 2 years ago. In previous videos you have also used a 6' #3 rod, would you use that on a river such as this size or would you still favour a 10' #3 as used?

[@WestCountryAngler]

I preferred the 10' #3 as it gives me greater reach to the pools without my lumbering body being visible to the fish, I can get a better presentation. Thanks for watching

[@clivenewton7609]

Richard, I’ve just bought a 6’ #2 specially to fish these types of waterways 🙂😂 regards from deepest Dorset 👍

[@richardbailey9314]

@@clivenewton7609 nice, I ended up with an Agility2 6' #3, but not fished in anger with it yet

[@devonangler3781]

What net do you use

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi. Thanks for watching. It’s a cheap rubber net I bought on eBay I think. I’ve had it a few years

[@krzysztofberkowicz7041]

hi is it free water?

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi. It’s £12 a day. You can buy a permit from various outlets dartaa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/dartmoor1.pdf

[@gabrielcollins2895]

hi mate, I understand the water is owned by West Country angling but I was wandering if you knew wether it is fly only or if I would be allowed to lure fish. Thanks :)

[@WestCountryAngler]

Hi Gabriel. As far as I know it fly only. Thanks for watching 👍

[@gabrielcollins2895]

West Country Angler ah alright thanks, I have a 4 weight, slightly heavy but Im only just starting fly fishing where as I’m pretty into lure fishing, Definitely looks a lot of fun on the fly tho

[@WestCountryAngler]

A 4 weight will be ok there. I’ve been getting into lure fishing, just started last October for pike

[@gabrielcollins2895]

West Country Angler yeah it’s so much fun, I started on holiday about 5 years ago but I love every species you can catch on lures here, couldn’t pick a favourite

[@gordonmillsjr.1957]

The Duchy beats (East & West Dart) are all fly only - available on the fish pass app, and very reasonable. If you want to fish with lures or bait for trout on Dartmoor I would recommend Venford resevoir (quite near where this was filmed). It’s free to fish, all methods allowed and has a good amount of nice sized brownies - in beautiful surroundings. Meldon is also free to fish.