EVERYTHING FOR FLY FISHING IN STILLWATER & FISHING POND

STILLWATER FLY FISHING – RODS, REELS – FLY LINES – FLY PATTERNS

Fly fishing is not limited to rivers and streams. Stillwaters such as mountain lakes, reservoirs, natural lakes and commercial trout fisheries also offer outstanding fly fishing opportunities. Whether you fish an idyllic alpine lake or a well-stocked trout fishery, all of these waters can be successfully fished with artificial flies.

Stillwaters offer several advantages: they are usually easy to reach, provide convenient access and often require only inexpensive permits. They are also home to a wide variety of species, including trout, char, perch, pike, pikeperch, carp and many others. As a result, lakes and ponds provide excellent fly fishing opportunities throughout much of the year, making them an ideal alternative during the closed season or throughout the winter months.

1. THE RIGHT FLY ROD – FLY REEL – FLY LINE FOR STILLWATER AND RESERVOIR FLY FISHING

For your first outings from the shore of a lake or reservoir, your standard fly fishing outfit will usually be sufficient. Before long, however, you'll realise that even on relatively small lakes and trout fisheries, long casts are often essential to reach feeding fish. Whether you're fishing from the bank, a boat or a belly boat, purpose-built Stillwater fly rods make casting noticeably easier and more efficient.

1.1. THE IDEAL FLY ROD FOR LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

The ideal Stillwater fly rod, whether fishing from the shore or a boat, measures around 10 feet in length. The additional length offers several important advantages, allowing you to:

• cast further,
• handle longer multi-fly rigs with greater ease,
• keep your fly line clear of bankside vegetation and other obstacles more effectively.

An ideal Stillwater fly rod is designed for #7/8 fly lines, as these slightly heavier lines make long-distance casting much easier. Equally important is a rod with plenty of backbone. It needs enough power to comfortably handle long, heavy fly lines while also giving you the control required to fight larger fish, which are commonly encountered in natural lakes, commercial trout fisheries and Put & Take lakes.

1.2. THE RIGHT FLY REEL FOR STILLWATER

If you are looking for a fly reel designed specifically for lakes and reservoirs, there are two key features you should prioritise:

• A large line capacity. Many fly lines designed for long-distance casting feature extended heads with a larger overall diameter, requiring additional space on the spool. Your reel should also carry ample backing, as powerful fish are always a realistic possibility when fishing lakes and trout fisheries.
• A smooth, reliable drag system. When connected to a large fish, you need complete confidence in your reel. The drag should engage progressively, operate consistently and start without hesitation or jerking, preventing unnecessary break-offs during the fight.

Cassette fly reels and reels with interchangeable spools are also highly practical, as different fly lines are regularly used on Stillwaters depending on water depth and fishing conditions.

1.3. FLY LINES FOR LONG-DISTANCE CASTING

To present your flies effectively at long range on lakes and reservoirs, specialised fly lines are essential. Virtually all Stillwater fly lines are WF (Weight Forward) designs, concentrating most of their weight in the front taper. These lines are also generally longer than standard fly lines and often exceed 40 metres in total length.

For maximum casting distance, your fly line should be perfectly matched to your fly rod, allowing the rod to load efficiently without becoming overloaded. This balance also depends on the casting technique used. When fishing from a boat, a belly boat or an open shoreline with plenty of room behind you, the traditional overhead cast works perfectly. In many situations, however, trees or other obstacles restrict your back cast. This is where the Froller or Froll Cast comes into its own, enabling effortless casts of 20–25 metres even with very limited space behind you. In our detailed blog article, we explain this highly effective casting technique step by step. To get the best out of the Froller, we recommend using fly lines specifically developed for this style of casting.

Water depth should also influence your fly line selection. In shallow water or close to the shoreline, a floating or intermediate fly line is usually the best choice. When fish are holding deeper, however, sinking fly lines become the more effective option.

1.4. PERFECTLY MATCHED KIT – FLY ROD – FLY REEL – FLY LINE

Choosing equipment that works perfectly together can be challenging, especially if you're new to Stillwater fly fishing. To save you from costly mistakes, we've put together a perfectly matched fly fishing outfit including a fly rod, fly reel and fly line, giving you everything you need for successful days on both trout fisheries and natural lakes. The fly line and backing are already fitted to the reel, so your complete outfit arrives ready to fish.

1.5. POLYLEADERS, LEADERS AND TIPPETS

For Stillwater fly fishing, we strongly recommend using suitable Polyleaders. These specialised leaders feature a strong monofilament core with a tapered polymer coating, creating a smooth transition between the fly line and leader. This allows casting energy to transfer efficiently right through to the tippet. Multi-fly rigs are extremely common on Stillwaters, and they are best tied using fluorocarbon leader material because:

• it is far less visible underwater thanks to its refractive index, which is very close to that of water;
• it sinks faster than nylon due to its higher density, helping present flies just beneath the surface when fishing floating rigs;
• its greater stiffness allows leaders to straighten more effectively, keeping droppers well separated from the main leader.

In our comprehensive Stillwater fly fishing guide, you'll also learn how to build effective fluorocarbon leaders and discover the fly combinations that consistently produce the best results on lakes and trout fisheries.

2. SUCCESSFUL FLY PATTERNS

As a general rule, the flies you fish on natural lakes and trout fisheries should imitate the fish's natural food sources. In Stillwaters, these consist mainly of aquatic insects, fry, small baitfish and other prey such as leeches and snails. Consequently, dry flies, wet flies, nymphs and streamers can all be highly effective. Due to their outstanding importance in Stillwater fly fishing, Buzzers deserve a special mention, as they imitate the larvae and pupae of chironomids.

2.1. SPECIAL FLY PATTERNS FOR STILLWATERS AND TROUT FISHERIES

Alongside classic, realistic fly imitations, a range of specialised fly patterns has become firmly established, particularly on heavily pressured commercial trout fisheries and Put & Take lakes. Their bold appearance and distinctive movement often trigger takes from even the most cautious or inactive fish. These Stillwater fly patterns can be divided into the following categories:

• Boobies: Feature buoyant foam eyes tied in behind the hook eye, creating a highly animated swimming action during a slow retrieve.
• Blob: A compact, bushy pattern that stands out through its bright colours and specialised tying materials, making it one of the classic attractor flies for Stillwater fishing.
• FAB: A variation of the Blob featuring a buoyant foam body tied into the rear section of the fly.
• Fish Eggs & Paste: Tied using specialised materials that develop a soft, jelly-like consistency when wet, closely imitating trout paste or fish eggs.
• Streamers: Stillwater streamers are generally less heavily weighted and tied with highly mobile materials in bold or high-contrast colour combinations.

2.2. FLY SELECTIONS FOR LAKES AND TROUT FISHERIES

With so many different fly patterns, materials and applications available, choosing the right flies can quickly become confusing. That's why we've put together a carefully selected range of Stillwater fly selections, specifically designed for lakes and trout fisheries. These assortments are particularly helpful for beginners, but you'll also find fly selections tailored to specific rigs and presentation techniques.

3. USEFUL ACCESSORIES FOR STILLWATER FLY FISHING

A spacious tackle bag with a comfortable shoulder strap makes transporting all your equipment to the lake effortless, whether you're fishing from the bank, a boat or a belly boat. Ideally, the base should be water-repellent, allowing you to place the bag on wet grass, muddy ground or inside the boat while keeping your gear clean and dry.

A landing net with a telescopic handle and a generous net opening helps shorten the fight, reduces the risk of losing fish close to the bank and makes landing much easier. If you regularly fish multi-fly rigs, you'll quickly appreciate the advantages of a rubber mesh landing net, which significantly reduces tangles and simplifies hook removal.