Walking into a tackle shop for the first time can be bewildering. Walls of rods, dozens of reels, lines in every colour and hundreds of flies. The good news is that for stillwater trout fishing at a lake like Felix Farm, a beginner needs surprisingly little. This guide covers exactly what to buy, what to skip, and how to try it all before you spend a penny.
Try before you buy
If you have never cast a fly before, don’t buy anything yet. Our Beginner Starter Pack (£80) includes an hour of tuition, tackle hire and a 2 Fish Day Ticket, so you can find out whether you enjoy it and learn what feels right in your hand. Tackle hire is also available on its own for £20 per visit (plus a £25 deposit). See Tickets & Availability for details.
1. The rod: 9ft 6-weight or 7-weight
For an 8-acre stillwater stocked with rainbows from 2lb to 10lb, a 9ft rod rated for a #6 or #7 line is the ideal all-rounder. It is long enough to cast comfortably from the bank or a boat, and has enough backbone to land a double-figure fish without exhausting it.
- Action: a medium or medium-fast action is the most forgiving for beginners.
- Pieces: four-piece rods pack down small enough for a car boot or rucksack and cast just as well as two-piece rods.
- Budget: an entry-level rod from a reputable brand will serve you for years. Many anglers start with a rod, reel and line “outfit” sold as a matched set, which removes the guesswork.
2. The reel: simple and matched to the rod
On a stillwater the reel mostly stores line, but with bigger rainbows a smooth disc drag helps. Choose a reel labelled for #5–7 or #6–8 lines, and make sure it has backing (a thin braided line underneath the fly line) in case a big fish runs.
3. The fly line: start with a floating line
A weight-forward floating line (marked WF6F or WF7F) is the one line every stillwater angler owns. Later you may add an intermediate or sinking line to reach fish holding deeper. Felix Farm ranges from 3ft to around 30ft deep, but a floater will catch fish all year.
4. Leader and tippet
You’ll need a tapered leader or a spool of fluorocarbon tippet in roughly 6–8lb breaking strain. Our rules allow a single fly only (no droppers, no bite indicators), which keeps the set-up simple: one length of leader, one fly.
5. A small box of flies
You don’t need hundreds. A dozen patterns in a couple of sizes will cover most days. Check the Recommended Flies section on our homepage and the monthly “What’s Catching” updates for what is working right now, and read our guide to stillwater trout flies.
6. The essential extras
- Polarised sunglasses: protective glasses are mandatory at Felix Farm, and polarised lenses let you see fish through the surface glare.
- A hat or cap: headwear is also mandatory. It protects you from a mis-timed cast.
- Landing net: a rubber-mesh net is kinder to fish, especially if you’re doing catch and release.
- Priest: if you’re taking fish home, to dispatch them quickly and humanely.
- Forceps or disgorger: for removing hooks cleanly.
- Nippers: small clippers for trimming line.
- Floatant and sinkant: to make dry flies float or leaders sink.
- A bag or waistcoat: to carry it all.
7. Don’t forget your rod licence
Everyone aged 13 or over needs an Environment Agency rod fishing licence, even on a private lake. Junior licences (13–16) are free. Read our rod licence guide for details.
What you can skip (for now)
- Waders: Felix Farm is fished from the meadow bank, wooded platforms or our Cormorant boats, so waders aren’t needed.
- Multiple rods: one good 9ft #6/7 will do everything here.
- Expensive reels: spend your money on the line and the rod first.
Beginner checklist
- 9ft #6 or #7 rod (or a matched outfit)
- Reel with backing
- WF floating line
- 6–8lb fluorocarbon leader/tippet
- A dozen proven stillwater flies
- Polarised glasses and a hat (mandatory)
- Landing net, priest, forceps, nippers
- EA rod licence
Ready to give it a go? Call us on 07962 355019 or see Tickets & Availability to book a lesson or a day on the lake.