Instruction & Guides

By investing in some casting tuition whilst you are on a fishing trip to Deeside you can help improve your chances of success by covering taking fish more effectively and therefore maximise your enjoyment, suggests casting instructor Willie Banks. Those new to fishing, or with children/spouses etc, who wish to learn, often ask about the availability of suitable instruction. This can be provided in a number of different ways:

From beat ghillies

The ghillies on each beat are normally willing to give some instruction, but this will depend on the policy of the beat, the helpfulness of the ghillie and what his other responsibilities are for the day you are fishing. Always check with the ghillie beforehand to see what the situation is.

Third party instruction on beat

There is a number of qualified instructors in the area, who you can pay to join you on your beat. However, be sure to check with your ghillie that he is prepared to allow this, and if he does, use someone who he would recommend. Never turn up with an instructor without having cleared it first, as this might cause bad feeling with the ghillie which won't do much to help your trip.

Willie Banks, AAPGAI master casting instructor, reported: "Last season I was out to quite a few different beats to help visiting anglers brush up on their casting techniques. People were having problems getting a line out in the wind, wanting more distance, learn a different cast, or iron out faults that had crept in to their style of casting preventing them from reaching their potential and the salmon." On-site instruction is valuable because it deals with the very conditions and set-up that you are going to use during your visit, bringing obvious advantages.

Local instructors and schools with their own water

Some instructors and schools can offer tuition on their own water, either informally on request, or as part of formal courses. These are normally run on waters at off peak times, to save on the cost of fishing, but there are some exceptions to this.

Pre-visit courses outside the area

Some people prefer to receive tuition before they visit the Dee, so that they can take full advantage of the fishing they have booked. Ask your local tackle shop for suggestions.