Tip of the month for young anglers: My 2020 vision!

Fishing for Schools fly fishing expert Bob Goble gives us his top tips for fishing this January

A happy new year to you all! So much rain has fallen and my goodness it has certainly made up for the summer past. What will the new year bring? Let's hope for more time fishing. This could be your New Year's resolution.

I hope to see more people, young and old, taking up the pastime in 2020. As a fly fishing and casting instructor I noticed last year that many more ladies wanted to have a go and they enjoyed every minute. What could be healthier than being out in the fresh air and enjoying the countryside and environment, if not fishing then enjoying a walk?

Again, I can recommend Bewl Water, Lamberhurst, Kent for both activities. There are so many places to walk, enjoying the winter sun and all wrapped up warm with a good pair of boots.

If you walk the main dam area, look out across and down to Hook Strait and the nature reserve and across to ferry point and Bewl Strait. It is a vista you would think has always been there but was built in the seventies.

If you are into bird life there cannot be a finer place to spot them, with all manner of winter birds around, especially the great flocks of geese – greylags, Canada and Brent – and a mixture of all sorts of other waterfowl.

During the summer the water level was quite a way down and it was interesting to see the lay of the land, the hollows and dips and depressions. As a fisherman this was good homework and now that the level is back to 100%, if you can remember where those topographical areas are you will understand where trout can be.

The fishing can be surprisingly good at this time. Trout will be close into the banks, so up your leader or tippet strength. You have been warned!

Another trout water to try, if you are in Kent like me, is Tenterden trout fisheries. It is not far from the town with its historic steam railway, with billowing smoke and hissing steam in the distance. The fishing isn't bad either! A warm welcome awaits from Gaynor and Richard, not forgetting mum Audrey. There is a warm and cosy newly built lodge with hot drinks at your disposal for when the weather turns a little too cold.

One thing I like is how you can retain your catch with their unique basket system and at the end of the day select the fish you would like to take and return the others. Of course, you can also catch and release as you go along.

Springhill trout waters is a favourite of mine as well, with its rolling wooded hills above the lakes. It too has a warm lodge to escape any harsh weather, with hot and cold drinks and Lee and Jane will welcome you warmly.

The main lake has wooden platforms around it to fish from for your comfort. Lee is very much into encouraging nature and flora and fauna abounds. There are also three smaller lakes that are purely brown trout. The main lake holds rainbows as well.

Lee runs a tagged fish system, there are usually several swimming around. Catch one of these and you could be £100 better off and they do come out regularly. To have a try for the tagged fish will cost you just £2, so it's worth the crack.

These are just three fisheries to try in 2020. They could be on your bucket list, so go on, give them a try.

At this time of the year trout can be down in the depths, so use intermediate fly lines as well as full sinking lines. Leader length does not have to be long - about the length of your rod will suffice, 7-8 Ibs breaking strength and line tapered. This will help with turnover of your fly. It's best not to go lighter as you could be broken off.

When casting, try short casting into the immediate area in front of you as the trout can be under your feet. Don't forget to be stealthy, so no stomping around otherwise the fish will pick up your vibrations and disappear away from the noise.

Try casting fan style (if you have the room), from left to right and at differing depths. You may have to wait a short while for your fly to get deep but be patient, then retrieve your fly back.

Retrieve can be slow, quick, quick, slow, stop (it sounds like a dance!) but best of all mix it up. If no pulls after half an hour move and try again. There is no point in being lead-booted. You need to find the fish. The fish won't find you!

If the weather looks promising, by all means try a floating line with your chosen offering on the end. It could do the business. That's the beauty of this sport, it means you are always thinking ahead. What depth? How fast the retrieve? And so on. Be open minded.

Flies to try, include all the usual suspects – cat's whiskers, vivas, Montanas, minkies, humungouses, boobys and blobs, not forgetting the buzzers - yes it can happen, even in the coldest of days.

That's all for now. Be safe, keep warm and most of all have fun, Bob G.