Traditionally, fly fishing has been seen as the preserve of the middle/upper class male but that is all changing.

Theses days though, fly fishing is gaining in popularity across the board and prime time TV is showing it to be more accessible and less rigid than it once was.

 

Years ago, the buffoonery of Whitehouse and Mortimer would not have been tolerated by most clubs but now these same clubs are falling over themselves to invite them onto their waters.

Of course, there are still those ‘traditional‘ clubs that have a rule book as thick as a telephone directory but most clubs no longer require their members to be clad in tweed in order to gain access to the rivers they control.

Of particular interest has been the growth of ladies fly fishing. There are now several high profile ladies getting a lot of airtime but the participation of female flyfishers is by no means a new phenomenon.

My partner Chiara, is well known to these pages as she often ends up as the days ‘top rod’.
It has also been my pleasure to fish with the likes of Hilary Langan, erstwhile Hon. Secretary of Cressbrook & Litton Fly Fishers and Irene Osbourne, current Hon. Secretary of Leek and District Fly Fishers Association.

Recently, these two ladies invited us to again fish the hallowed LADFFA waters and even though I was to be hideously outnumbered, I accepted immediately.

 

The LADFFA waters are challenging. Great care is needed when casting to avoid the lush vegetation and the hundreds of tourists who flock to the famous stepping stones of its most popular beat.

However, just a little further up river there is no public access and as a result, it is a fly fishing paradise!

 

Hilary, Chiara and myself all opted for traditional 8ft rods but Irene obviously felt that it wasn’t already challenging enough so she went for an 11ft Tenkara outfit.

I’m pleased to say that even though conditions were slightly tougher than expected, we all caught fish and it was a fabulous day. I think it’s also fair to say that I consumed slightly more tea and cake on this outing than I usually do. Can’t think why!