Pass it on - Take someone fishing

There’s something undeniably special about fly fishing anywhere on the River Teign. Whether you're a purist and flicking a dry fly under the trees for a wild brown trout or watching the upcoming night’s weather forecast with a sea trout in mind, the Teign has a way of getting under your skin. It's peaceful, unpredictable, humbling – and often just what the doctor ordered after a week of emails, phone calls, errands, and that DIY project that never seems to end!

But here’s the thing. There’s no denying how good a solo day spent on the river is. However, that enjoyment is even better when shared. And no, I don’t mean sharing your favourite fishing spot on Instagram (although the digital natives amongst you just love this!). I mean, actually taking someone with you – a friend, a family member, a curious beginner, or even that angling buddy who hasn’t yet discovered the joys of a Teign trout taking a fly like it owes you money.

The River Teign - Stunning any time of year

Fishing - Always best served with company

Angling has always had a wonderful mix of solitude and camaraderie. But too often, we sometimes tend to lean a bit too heavily into the solitude, which is fine until you realise you’ve spent the past three weekends opening up and talking only to your landing net!

Taking someone fishing turns a day on the river into something more. There’s laughter (as long as they share your unique sense of dark humour!), storytelling, the odd bit of light-hearted competition, something along the lines of, ‘Did I really lose the big one, or did you just snag that sunken branch again?’, and the kind of memories that tend to be retold over pints for years to come – often with the fish getting bigger each time.

United from other sides of the planet through a love of piscatorial adventures on Dartmoor!

The joy of being a Wise Old River Wizard!

Let’s be honest here, there’s a real pleasure in being the one who knows what's what! It’s fair to say we all know a character like that. When you take a newcomer out, suddenly you are the expert. You're explaining knots (whilst trying to remember how to tie them in the moment), spotting fish, reading water, and more importantly, looking knowledgeable – even if you secretly haven’t caught anything in the last three outings and have developed a deep distrust of every fly you own or have tied.

You might even find yourself saying things like, ‘Ah yes, that riffle looks particularly fishy, there’s always a trout lurking in there!’ with such confidence that your companion believes you’ve got a sixth sense – instead of just having a good memory for where you lost your fly last week.

Our own White Wizard - Style is strong with this one!

Share the Magic & Save the Tradition

We all got started somewhere and were born fresh-faced and green into this fantastic pastime. For many of us, it was a parent, a grandparent, a mate or a kind stranger who first handed us a rod, pointed at a river and said, ‘Go on, give that a go!’.

And here’s the thing - Passing it on is part of what keeps fishing alive! It's not just about technique; it’s about teaching respect for the water, for the fish, for the wildlife and yes, for the unspoken rule that if you fall in, you fall in with style and you’re buying the first round!

By sharing this pastime and the joy that can be experienced, you’re building a future generation of anglers who care about the River, its fish, and its fragile ecosystem. And who knows? That newcomer might become your new regular fishing partner – or at the very least, someone to help untangle your leader when you get it stuck in an overhanging tree (again).

Sharing your favourite spots with others only helps to deepen a shared bond

It’s Not About Catching Fish*

*But Let’s Not Pretend It’s Not About Catching Fish!

Look, it’s pretty clear, we all know catching is better than not catching – we’re only human. But some of the best days fishing aren’t about numbers, or indeed even about catching a fish.

When you're fly fishing on this river, it doesn’t take long to realise that the real treasures often have nothing to do with fish or the fishing. The sudden flash of a kingfisher slicing through the air, a dipper bobbing like it’s trying to start a small moped, or the quiet rustle of a deer moving through the undergrowth at dawn or dusk — these are moments that make you stop and breathe it all in.

You might forget time passing as you marvel in the intricate dance of olives hatching from the water, or the dappled light playing across the surface like liquid gold. These sights, sounds, and stillnesses are reminders that you’re part of something bigger - something ancient and alive. In a world that’s always rushing away from us, the River Teign invites you to slow down, observe, and remember that sometimes, just being there is worth more than any amount of fish.

Or, there are the other moments, when you both sit on the bank with soggy sandwiches, soaked by a surprise moorland downpour, deep belly laughing because you forgot what time it was! Those are the days that stick. And those are the shared experiences that matter.

A perfect Upper Teign Wild Brown Trout

So, Who Will You Take?

I want you to be truly honest with yourself. Think about it. Someone you know has probably said, ‘I’ve always wanted to try fly fishing’ or ‘I used to fly fish, years ago.’ My advice remains the same: Take them. Invite them along. You don’t need to overplan it – a spare rod, a few flies, some all-important snacks, an EA rod license for the day, a day permit, and you’re off.

Maybe it’s your son or daughter, your neighbour, your old mate from school, or that new colleague who keeps asking about what you do at weekends and why you always come back to work on Monday looking fresher and younger! Give them a glimpse of the peace and thrill that comes with a day on the Teign. Teach them to fly cast. Teach them to tie flies. Laugh when they spook a fish and, more importantly, celebrate when they don’t.

Because at the end of the day, the River Teign has plenty to offer – but it offers even more when it's shared.

So this season, don’t just go fishing. Take someone fishing. You’ll be surprised at how much more you get from the river when you give a little bit of it away.