Treat your loved one to a superb day out by the water fly fishing ...
with an unrivalled number of fly fishing locations to choose from.
Go fly fishing in the Yorkshire Dales, on the Chalkstreams, near London, in the Cotswolds ...
Go Fly Fishing UK provide guided days and fly fishing tuition based on the very best Cotswolds fly fishing river – the limestone River Coln. We have access to private estate water on the most scenic part of this river.
The Cotswolds is a picturesque area of limestone upland in southern England, less than 90 minutes travel time west from London. Its rivers have some similarities to the rich chalk streams of Hampshire and the River Coln (pictured above), provides notable dry fly and nymph fishing for Brown and Rainbow Trout as well as holding a good head of sometimes-large Grayling. It flows through the most perfect peaceful ‘picture postcard’ English countryside and quaint Cotswolds villages.
Go Fly Fishing UK have considerable experience in offering guided days on the River Coln as well as fly fishing tuition days for beginners and improvers. As well as providing challenging interesting sport for proficient fly fishers it has also proved to be a very successful location for beginners to learn the art of fly fishing. We have access to the very best beats on the river - situated around 7 miles east of the ancient town of Cirencester.
We also run full day private fly fishing lessons for beginners at a super lake Trout fly fishery in the Cotswolds situated between Swindon and Cirencester.
If you fancy making your fly fishing day part of a short-break in the Cotswolds then we can advise you on the best accommodation options. These including manor house hotels, country hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts, each within walking distance of superb fishing.
The game fish in the River Coln are wild and stocked Brown Trout, occasional escapee Rainbow Trout and wild Grayling. The Trout season runs from 1st April to 30th September with Grayling being in season from 16th June to 14th March. Thus the river is open for fly fishing for almost all of the year.
The River Coln is mostly a fairly narrow river although there are some wider sections. An 8’ 6” rod for a 5-weight floating line is perfect for the wider sections although an 8 foot rod for a 4-weight line would be better for the narrower sections. Polarized sunglasses help considerably with fish spotting.
The Coln is best fished by casting upstream from a position on the bank. Wading is not necessary. As with chalk streams stealth and observation combined with delicate accurate casts are the key to success. Dry fly fishing is very good from mid-April to late-June, during summer evenings and then again in the autumn. The River Coln has an excellent Danica Mayfly hatch which peaks in the late-May to mid-June period. In 2008 the hatch was very good and carried on into early-July. Nymph fishing is best in April and in the summer and autumn months and no matter how warm or bright the weather is the fishing is usually still very good to nymphs.
As well as providing a superb fly fishing guide service our guides will also loan all the required fly fishing tackle, waders, flies, etc. – or you can bring your own - and can provide a railway station collection/return service for fishers. This would be from Swindon station (almost exactly 60 minutes from London Paddington).
River Coln beat costs are very reasonable when compared to those of the chalk stream rivers Test and Itchen. Day rates, excluding guiding charges, are around £60 per person in the Trout season and £30 in the Grayling season (1st October onwards). Our guide charges start at just £130 for a mid-week day for one person in the autumn/winter (up to 14th March) with the total cost depending on the number of fishers, the season and the date. Note that we do not provide just day rod beat access to fish without a guide/instructor. Our lake based fly fishing lessons are priced as per our 'Costs' web page. We only do full-day lessons at our Costwolds locations.
For more detailed information about the Cotswolds area please click here »
To book your fly fishing lesson or guided day in the Cotswolds with Go Fly Fishing UK or to ask for more information please telephone 01252 851397 or email us at dave@goflyfishinguk.com
"Hello dave. Here are some pictures from our wonderful fly fishing trip to the Cotswolds. We had a great time with you Dave. Hope to see you again."
Christer & Simon (Sweden) - Guided/Tuition days, River Coln, 24th/25th April 2007.
Steve Rhodes and Dave Martin the proprietors of Go Fly Fishing UK are Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guides.
Steve Rhodes is chairman of the Grayling Society