Fly fishing singles: dating on the river

What fly fishing is like

Fly fishing is casting a weighted line to deliver a nearly weightless artificial fly, made of feather, fur and thread, that imitates the insects and small fish that trout, grayling, salmon and sea trout eat. It's active fishing: you're casting, moving, wading and watching the water constantly, rather than sitting by a float.

It attracts people who love detail and quiet places. Many tie their own flies, read the river like a book, and will talk for longer than you might expect about what's hatching. They also tend to walk a lot, which suits a partner who likes the outdoors but doesn't fancy sitting still.

The fly fishing crowd

Fly anglers split roughly into stillwater, river and salmon anglers, and each spends weekends quite differently.

Reservoir and stillwater anglers

Big reservoirs and small stocked trout lakes are where most people in England and Wales learn. They fish from the bank or a boat, often with other anglers in sight, plus a lodge and car park. Sociable, accessible and good value.

River anglers

Wild brown trout and grayling on rivers and streams, from upland becks to lowland chalkstreams (clear, spring-fed rivers mostly found in southern England). River anglers wade, walk and stalk fish, and spend a lot of time crouching behind bushes. Some of the most famous chalkstream fishing is private and expensive; plenty of club water is not.

Salmon and sea trout anglers

Salmon fishing is its own world, often on Scotland's big rivers or rivers in Wales, Ireland and the north of England, sometimes with a ghillie (a local river guide). Sea trout anglers often fish at night in summer. Both can involve long trips, early starts and blank days, which is part of the appeal to those who love it.

Which water, at a glance

Words a fly angler will use

• Hatch: when insects emerge from the water in numbers, and fish start feeding on them.
• Rise: a fish taking an insect from the surface, leaving a ring on the water.
• Beat: a stretch of river let to a set number of anglers.
• Catch and release: returning fish to the water unharmed, required on many waters.
• Back cast: the part of the cast that travels behind you, which is why you never stand behind a fly angler.

Dates that suit fly anglers

Fly fishing is harder to share on a first date than float fishing, because casting takes practice, so the best dates take the pressure off.

• A casting lesson for two. Many fisheries offer taster sessions with a qualified instructor, and the Angling Trust lists licensed coaches. Neither of you has to be the teacher, and the beginner gets proper tuition. This is a good second or third date.
• A riverside walk. Rivers make lovely walks, and a fly angler will show you rising fish, mayflies and kingfishers you'd never have noticed.
• A stocked trout fishery with a café. A few hours on a small, well-stocked lake gives a beginner a real chance of a fish, with food and toilets on site.
• A fly-tying evening. Some clubs and shops run them. Fiddly, absorbing and good for conversation.

Keep remote rivers, deep wading and long trips to Scotland for later. Our guide to fishing as a first date has the safety basics for any date by the water, outdoor date ideas has options with no rod at all, and fishing holidays for couples covers bigger trips when you're ready.

What to wear for a fly fishing date

Dress for the bank, not the river: a newcomer doesn't need waders for a first go on a stillwater.

• Muted colours rather than bright ones, so you don't spook fish on clear water.
• Layers and a waterproof, because reservoirs and riversides are often windier than town.
• Sturdy shoes or walking boots with grip.
• A cap and glasses, ideally polarised sunglasses, which protect your eyes from hooks and cut the glare so you can see into the water.

Questions to ask a fly angler

A few early questions tell you how much of their year is spoken for. For example:

• "Do you mostly fish reservoirs, rivers, or both?"
• "Is there a regular trip away each year, and when?"
• "Do you fish at night for sea trout in summer?"
• "Would you like someone to learn, or is it your quiet time?"

Licences, permits and the Sunday rule

Fly anglers need a rod licence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a permit almost everywhere.

• England and Wales: anyone 13 or over needs a rod licence to fish for trout or salmon, and a permit or day ticket for the water. Close seasons for salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout on rivers are set by local byelaws, so they vary by region.
• Northern Ireland: you need a licence from DAERA or the Loughs Agency, depending on the water.
• Scotland: no rod licence, but you need a permit or permission for most waters, and fishing for salmon on a Sunday is banned.

Fisheries also set their own rules: fly-only, catch-and-release, bag limits, barbless hooks and the season. Read the permit before you fish.

Safety on the river

Wading is the main risk on a fly fishing trip, followed by hooks on the back cast.

• Use a wading staff on unfamiliar water, and wear a wading belt.
• Never wade where you can't see the bottom or the current is strong.
• Watch for rising water: some rivers rise quickly after rain upstream.
• Keep a newcomer on the bank, not in the river.
• Wear glasses and a cap, and keep a beginner well clear of your back cast.

Writing a fly angler's profile

Tell people where and how you fish. "Reservoir trout most weekends, a week on a Scottish salmon river every year, would love someone to learn to cast" is much more appealing than a list of fly patterns. Our profile tips for anglers will help, and if your best photo is with a fish, read our guide to posting a photo holding a fish first. The angling section compares fly anglers with coarse and sea anglers.