Birmingham Anglers Association

I think the advice to try to learn the basics on a Stillwater is good advice - you've got to have your casting skills sorted and know how to play a fish on light gear. I consider myself pretty competent on still waters - I fish Draycote and catch some nice fish, I've been fly fishing on still waters for 35 years but when I tried the Teme last year I really struggled. Main challenges were knowing which fly to use, my reservoir gear was too heavy and clumsy, and ability to present the fly naturally in the flow was a whole new level of skill. It was really challenging but I can see that it would be really rewarding when you land a fish. I had a couple of rises from about 100 casts. I was in the river with chest waders - there was no way you could cast from the banks - too overgrown. As it was I spent half my time recovering my flies from trees. But being in the water during the close season was really fun and I was learning by trial and error - just need to buddy up with someone who knows what they are doing. I'll try again in May when the Mayflies as hatching - 'duffers fortnight' might see me land a fish. Strangely though there were plenty of Duns hatching (see attached) but they weren't taking them. So if anyone has some tips on fly patterns - dries and nymphs - to use on the Teme in May, that would be very much appreciated.