Stuck ferrules, River flies, Fly reel capacity, Salt water lines.

Stuck ferrules
River flies
Fly reel capacity
Salt water lines

Question: What’s the best way to release stuck ferrules?

Answer: This depends on the type of ferrule. For "normal" overfit type or for spiggoted types rubber gloves of the "sticky" type are good for increasing grip and if two people cross their hands on the rod so the they double the separation force this method usually works. A friend told me that leaving a stuck ferrule under a dripping tap also works but I have not tried that. For metal ferrules you must grip the ferrules and not the rod so that the section is not disengaged from the ferrule. Always take great care to avoid injury when separating rod parts, if your hand slips and engages with a rod ring you may be badly wounded.

Question: What flies would you recommend for trout in a small river?

Answer: Fly species vary throughout the season and the fisherman has to use patterns that look like the naturals. Common fly patterns include Greenwells Glory, Wickhams Fancy, Black Spider etc. There is an excellent little book called "Pocket Guide to Matching the Hatch" by Peter Lapsley and Cyril Bennet which I thoroughly recommend.

Question: Question how much line backing should I use when setting up my reel?

Answer: Use as much backing as much as space will allow to ensure that the fly line and backing together fill the reel to within 3mm of the drum capacity. Different backing types have different strengths, some of the modern gelspun types have very small diameters and consequently you can have lots of backing in a small space. This is useful for tarpon and bonefish etc but is generally not necessary for trout and salmon.

Question: Can I use my regular fly line in saltwater or do I need a special line due to the salt.

Answer: Yes you can use a regular line in salt water providing that you are not fishing in the tropics where a warm salt water line would be much better and a "normal" cold water line might melt! If fishing in salt water hose down or massively irrigate all your gear each night to help prevent corrosion. Easiest method is to shower with your fishing rod and reel!