Fishing Instruction in West Wales

Flyfishing tuition
Flyfishing is difficult to learn by 'trial and error'. It can also be dangerous, and you really need proper guidance and written notes. For that reason, many people prefer to have lessons - a few hours or even a two or three day course - with a qualified instructor.

In an hour or two you will learn to put your tackle together, attach a fly to the line, and cast safely and reasonably well. Proficient casting will probably require two or three lessons. (An hour at a time is quite enough, and half an hour is recommended for children).

A flyfishing course will cover much more than casting. Safety, tackle selection, matching the hatch, flyfishing tactics and watercraft (as well as guided practice in catching fish) are essential elements of a good course. Ask to see the course objectives and the timetable so that you can choose a course that suits your needs. And do make sure that the instructors are professionally qualified and properly insured.

Make sure that you are going to receive written notes as part of your lesson or course; it may be difficult to remember all of the points without having a permanent record to look back on. Flyfishing books cannot teach you to cast, but they often contain lots of helpful hints that can make your fishing more enjoyable. And more successful!

Qualifications and Insurance
Inclusion on this page is no guarantee that instructors/guides are professionally qualified and insured. Please check before choosing a tutor or guide that they are properly insured for Public Liability and Professional Indemnity.

Basic qualifications for game angling instructors are being reviewed, but in the meantime the qualifications that most instructors hold are as follows:

STANIC Instructor, formerly administered by the Salmon and Trout Association, Fishmongers' Hall, London Bridge, London EC4R 9EL, is being replaced by new qualifications the details of which are as yet unclear to us.

WSTAA Coach, administered by the Welsh Salmon & Trout Angling Association.

Advanced qualifications for game angling instructors (who must already hold the STANIC qualification) are APGAI and REFFIS.

APGAI is administered by the Game Angling Instructors Association.

REFFIS, administered by the Register of Experienced Flyfishing Instructors.

Sea trout fishing courses are also organised in Wales by:

• Orvis Co. Ltd, Vermont House, Unit 30A, North Way, Andover, Hants SP10 5RW

Double Dragons Sea Trout Guide Service

If you are interested in catching sea trout on the River Teifi and want to know the best pools and which flies to use, ring:

Dean Leask: 01559 363270 Day or 07989 908148 Mobile;

or

William Mains: 01559 363700 Day or 07773 159943 Mobile.

Group bookings can be accepted.

Coarse Fishing Tuition
Former World Champion coarse angler Ian Heaps has established a fishery in West Wales, where there is an opportunity to learn from one of the very best of coarse anglers. Ian's fishery is at Holgan Farm Fishery, Llawhaden, Narberth (tel: 01437 541285) near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, and day tickets, angling holidays and tuition are available.

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