Stuart Ingledew looks at the top 10 flies you need for successful winter trout fishing on stillwaters in the UK.
Stuart Ingledew
Based in Northumberland on the banks of the River Tyne, I’ve been fly fishing for over 40 years.
It was a fascination with fish in rock pools while on holiday as a kid that got me started.
Soon after, I worked my way to watching them in streams and quickly bought my first rod for £2.25, which I still have.
The all important first fish was a brown trout on a turmeric flavoured maggot from a little burn near home. I still remember the bite and exactly where it took to the square inch. I hammered that spot to death for weeks after.
The first fly caught rainbow was from Wylam Trout Fishery on a Jack Frost lure – after weeks and weeks of failure. The buzz when everything locked up was fantastic – I hadn’t thought about what happened when a fish took before this, but the take just made it better.
It is fly fishing on small waters and reservoirs for rainbows and browns that forms the day to day, but as soon as the river has salmon and sea trout, I’ll be after those as well – living so close to such a great river.
I am happy fishing any method and have no preference over dry fly, indicator, buzzers or sinking lines and lures. It's the variety that makes it so interesting, and I couldn’t split the visual methods with the feel methods. Both are still electrifying to this day.
I really think coarse fishing improves you as a fly fisher, and always have a few trips a year doing this as well. There is definite magic in watching a float, and it's a far more comfortable way to catch nothing.
Aside from a few competitions a year, I mainly fish for pleasure and thoroughly enjoy helping beginners out.
We’ve all been there, so if you see me on the bank, please ask if you’re struggling. I’ll be more than happy to help.
Stuart Ingledew continues his Beginners Series, this time he looks at what you need to do on your first trip on the bank.
Stuart Ingledew continues his beginners guide to fly fishing, this time looking at the non-essential items that make your time on the bank more...
Starting out in fly-fishing can be quite daunting for a beginner, here, Stuart Ingledew looks at some essential items all still water fly anglers...
Stuart Ingledew heads to Southeast Scotland for a magical day of trout fishing on the stunning Coldingham Loch.
Fly fishing in winter can be incredibly productive if you do it right, in this guide, Stuart takes a look at everything you need to know for success...
Winter is almost here, but just because it's colder outside doesn't mean you need to suffer and reduce your fishing, Stuart Ingledew looks at the...
Stuart Ingledew knows a thing or two about rods, in this blog he gives you his top tips for choosing the right Cadence CSM fly rod for the job.
With his wild brown fishing season over, Stuart Ingledew has found a few hours to write about wild brown trout fishing on one of his favourite wild...
When the weather is hot, fly fishing for trout can be hard. In this blog, Stuart Ingledew looks at the best areas and methods to catch a trout when...