Yorkshire - Instruction and guiding

Instruction and guiding

Most Yorkshire rivers are very varied in size and length. The topography of the land in the county leads to very varied fishing and access.

Unlike the famous Scottish rivers where beats have Ghillies or Boatmen, Yorkshire has Guides.

Yorkshire Fishing Guides and ghillies

What does a ghillie do?

Many salmon beats employ a ghillie of some sort. He may be part- or full-time and on larger beats there may be more than one (with one designated as the head ghillie). The ghillie's job is to show you the water when you arrive, advise you on likely spots where fish may lie and the best tackle to use. They will then visit you from time to time during the day to see how you are getting on.

On some beats, the ghillie may stay with you for some or all of the day and if boats are available he may row you if it will increase your chances of catching a fish. Ghillies are also responsible for making sure that you fish within the law and in compliance with relevant conservation agreements. Most can also assist with some casting tuition, but if this is required, please make sure you have spoken to the ghillie in advance.

Guides

Guiding and Instruction

 

Because a guide's next assignment is largely dependent upon how successful the last one turned out, their business and reputation are solely based on customer success. He is the trouble-shooter who arrives and turns a possible blank day into one filled with fishing memories.

Satisfied customers not only happily repeat their bookings but also tell their fishing pals about the great experience they had and the quality of the service that was provided.

A good fishing guide knows their business inside out. They are experts in their field and have an enviable track record in catching the sort of fish others only dream about.

They will demonstrate the correct techniques, supply correct fly patterns and readily provide advice on tactics ensuring you are in the right spot at the right time and will generally give 110% effort to get you the fish of your dreams.

A typical guide won't be clock watching looking forward to the end of the day and will most likely be offering to go without food and sleep to provide you with a trip to remember. They will earn every penny of the fee - but importantly - for all the right reasons.

It should be noted that guiding is a fact of fishing life all over the rest of the fishing world, especially in the Americas, where no self-respecting angler would travel for fishing without ensuring that a guide was waiting at the end destination.

For beginners

How do I organise a day's fishing

All you have to do is simply purchase the right to fish for the relevant number of rods and days on the beat of your choice. A 'rod' is a term we use to describe an angler, so taking two rods for a day entitles two individuals to fish. There are no other fishery licences required in Iceland, Norway, Russia or Scotland however in England and Wales you must be in possession of and Environment Agency Rod Licence and in Northern Ireland you must possess an department of Culture and Leisure Licence or a Loughs Agency Licence, depending on which rivers you are fishing

If there is a ghillie or fishery manager detailed on your booking confirmation you should ring them a few days before you are due to fish in order find out what tackle you will need to take with you, and then turn up at the appointed time and place.

What does a ghillie do?

Many beats employ a ghillie of some sort. He may be part- or full-time and on larger beats there may be more than one (with one designated as the head ghillie). The ghillie's job is to show you the water when you arrive, advise you on likely spots where fish may lie and the best tackle to use. You will then visit you from time to time during the day to see how you are getting on.

On some beats, the ghillie may stay with you for some or all of the day and if boats are available he may row you if it will increase your chances of catching a fish. Ghillies are also responsible for making sure that you fish within the law and in compliance with relevant conservation agreements. Most can also assist with some casting tuition, but if this is required, please make sure you have spoken to the ghillie in advance.

What is involved in a day's fishing?

When you arrive at the beat, the rods meet up, usually at the main hut at around 9am. If there is a ghillie he will help you set up your tackle and select a suitable fly. He will then show you where to start fishing and where to go for the rest of the morning. You will be expected to stop fishing for an hour at lunchtime, usually about 1pm, so please remember to take your own lunch!. He will then organise your afternoon session, often on a different part of the beat. At the end of the day, usually about 5pm, you meet again to tell him about any fish you may have caught and to find out how any other rods have got on.

I don't have any fishing tackle - what should I do?

Sometimes beats can lend you some items of tackle, however, you should not always rely on this. The best thing is to hire the appropriate equipment from a local tackle shop - these are listed on each river's 'Tackle advice' page. Tell the shop's proprietor where and when you are fishing and they should be able provide suitable equipment for you. The main problem will be how to pick up and return things before and after your fishing. Some shops may be able to deliver to your hotel for an extra charge.

What happens if the river floods or I have to cancel my fishing?

In line with general fishing practice, there are no refunds if the river floods. You still have the right to fish, although your ghillie may advise you that it is not worthwhile exercising this right. If he considers that it is not safe, he is entitled to refuse to take you out in a boat or to wade with you. Otherwise he is available to help as needed and will do his best to help get round the adverse conditions.

If you have to cancel your fishing, you do not get a refund, but FishPal can attempt to relet the fishings for you and, given sufficient time, can often achieve results. Please note that there is a charge for this. Alternatively, you can get a friend to fish for you.

New to Trout

The fish and the 'fly'

Wild brown trout are probably the easiest of all freshwater fish to catch. They can be caught by numerous methods including the use of the worm and spinner; the latter methods are permitted on some waters. On the whole anglers derive far more satisfaction from catching trout on an artificial fly. Fly fishing for trout has long been known as the 'gentle art' and this method of fishing is acceptable anywhere. Fly fishing is defined as the presentation (by means of casting a line) of a 'fly', usually the artificial imitation of an insect, designed to fool a fish. The advice on this page is aimed at the beginner seeking to learn to fly fish on stillwaters for either brown trout or stocked rainbow trout which are far more suitable than rivers for the inexperienced. In addition access to stillwaters is much more readily available.

Before you reach your destination

Read a basic book on trout fishing. Understanding the basic principles and practicalities of the sport will give you a head-start before you arrive. It is also an advantage to know two or three elementary fishing knots. Try and arrange some tuition in casting technique from a qualified instructor (this may well be available at your destination); even just a couple of hours should prove invaluable and enable the beginner to start fishing with a fair degree of both competence and confidence. Casting a fly is not difficult but proficiency will be attained much more quickly with the assistance of a professional instructor.

Tackle

Trout fishing requires far less equipment than most forms of angling. For stillwater fishing a rod of at least 9 ft (shorter for children), a suitable fly reel, a floating line (rated no more than AFTM 6; the rating should match that of the rod) and backing line, a landing net, a box of flies, leader material, a few relevant accessories (such as scissor pliers, clippers and priest) and a fishing bag. Complete outfits may be seen advertised for under £100. Tackle shops are ideally placed to advise. It may well be possible to hire equipment at your holiday destination.

There are countless fly patterns to choose from and it all depends whether you wish to imitate an actual insect or alternatively provoke aggression by using lures. You destination and / or local tackle shop would be able to advise on the most popular patterns depending on the time of year you are going fishing.