Cumbria is the best place for fly fishing in the North West and there are any amount of good lake and river fisheries throughout the county. Fly fishing is basically very simple - you put an artificial copy of something a trout likes to eat in front of it. But first you have to get it there. Learning how to do that is the tricky bit.....!

Practice, Practice, Practice....

Being able to deliver the fly to the fish is essential for success and it will pay huge dividends not to skimp on this first step. See if you can book three or four lessons to begin with. Some fisheries can arrange this for you or have a chat with any of the fishing guides listed in the relevant section. An hour or so's tuition at a time is enough, but between lessons, practice, practice and then practice some more!  It will feel awkward at first but at some point everything will click and you'll be on your way.

Choosing your tackle.....

You may be able to borrow tackle to start off with but sooner or later you will want to buy your own. There is plenty of good quality mid range gear around and for £100 to £120 you can get a perfectly adequate rod, line and reel. For your first rod go for a 9 foot rated for a # 5 or # 6 line. Most fly anglers are way over gunned so don't be persuaded you need a bigger rod to cast further - it simply is not true. This rod will easily cope with everything you want to do and will be versatile enough for a range of techniques and fisheries. Choose a floating, weight forward fly line of a good quality and expect to pay at least £30.00. The reel is less important, in fact most of the time it's simply a line holder. A landing net is very handy but again need not be expensive. Polaroid sunglasses are invaluable. Apart from protecting your eyes they'll help you develop the fascinating visual aspect of fly fishing.

Where to go ................

This is your next dilemma. Larger fisheries can be daunting and rivers completely mystifying so most people begin with the smaller stillwaters. Generally these are very well stocked and your chances of success will be high. You can find suitable ones through the 'where to fish' search. These are excellent places to build confidence and to try different methods but eventually you'll want to seek more challenging waters and discover what else the region has to offer.

What trout eat.......

One important skill that many anglers overlook is the need to develop an understanding of the trout's food, the type of insects they feed on and the times of year they are are present. The best anglers have a comprehensive knowledge of this subject and use it to their advantage on virtually every visit to the water. It's a subject well worth exploring and fascinating in it's own right. As your knowledge increases it may well lead you into the absorbing business of tying your own flies - a great winter pastime when the season is over.

Join a club.........

Your first season may well be spent on day permit fisheries where you pay each time you go. You may find that joining a club is much more convenient in the long run and gives you far more flexibility in when and where you go. Their annual fees are usually very good value and often no more than the cost of six or seven visits to other waters. There are contact details for nearly all the most popular clubs in the region in the angling club directory.