My introduction to fly fishing was last Autumn after my wife bid for a charity rod on the River Itchen as an early 50th birthday present for me. My host was a seasoned fly fisherman whom I'll simply call "Ian" to spare his embarrassment. He kitted me out, taught me to cast on his lawn, then took me off to get started on an idyllic private stretch of the Itchen. Ian's friend Steve also gave me some help in the water.
At the end of the day, I hadn't caught a single fish, but I'd stalked several fish with a dry fly and had one strike although I immediately lost it. However, I was well and truly hooked, mainly due to Ian's enormous encouragement.
Ian summed up: "Not much surface activity" and "Difficult fish". Who can blame them?
I left happy and relaxed, but wondering if I'd been spoiled by fishing such a lovely stretch of river.
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