Q. I'm having trouble tying a loop at the end of a fluorcarbon leader. Can you help? More...

Q. Why are there no patterns with the buzzer in a kind of 'S' shape with head at bottom? More...

Could you tell me the pros and cons of a midge tip line? I am a beginner sticking to floating lines. Don Pritchett

Rio makes the midge tip line which is a weight forward floating line with a one meter long clear intermediate tip. It is reckoned to be good for fishing in the top 12 inches of water, around shallow shorelines and over weed beds. There are many far better things to do that will get you fish on the bank without going to the expense of buying such a specialist line. Terry Lawton

I have recently started to use fluorocarbon leaders and have had trouble when tying a loop on the end to connect to my leader loop. I am using the same knot as I have always done but when given a gentle pull it snaps at the knot. Is this a common problem with fluoro' or is it me. Is there a reason it has to be a loop on the end of the leader or could I just join it using the same knot that I use to tie my flies to my leader. Dave Cook

Changing leader material seems to cause problems for almost everyone when it comes to tying knots! Choose and stick to just one or two knots that you know you can tie easily and, just as important, consistently. Most knots should be tightened smoothly and carefully. To prevent friction from weakening the mono as you draw it tight, moisten the knot with some spit. Practice tying these knots at home when a failure won't result in a lost fish. There is no necessity to tie a loop in the end of your leader but it does have the advantage that you can use it to make a loop-to-loop connection to a loop on the end of your fly line, or to attach your tippet. You can knot your leader to your line if you wish. A knot that I like, the Trilene knot, is ideal for tying-on your fly and can also be used to attach a leader to a braided loop. You can find this knot and many others on the site. If everything fails, you could try using something like Fishin' Glue or Loon UV Knot Sense which are designed to strengthen knots. Terry Lawton

I am only in my first year so please forgive my naivety. I have been watching buzzers in an outdoor tank. They swim backwards to the surface, head at the bottom. Why are there no patterns with the buzzer in a kind of 'S' shape with head at bottom? I do appreciate they are easier to tie with head just below hook eye but it has been puzzling me everything else seems to have been copied. Don

I think that the buzzers you have been watching were probably mosquito larvae which thrash about on their way to the surface. Buzzers go more or less straight to the top. If you have a suitable tank, I am sure that you will find it very worthwhile to watch nymphs etc that you find when fishing, to see how they swim and what they turn into. I can recommend a book called A Guide To Aquatic Trout Food, by Dave Whitlock, published in the UK by Swan Hill Press. If it is not available from a bookshop, try Coch-y-Bonddu Books at www.anglebooks.com Terry Lawton

I have just accumulated all the reasonable amount of tackle I think I need to start fly fishing. The only item I have had trouble obtaining, is a bass bag. After watching a video by a well known fly fishing instructor, who recommended a bass bag for keeping trout fresh, he unfortunately did not give an alternative to keeping fresh caught fish in good condition if a bass bag was unavailable. Could you please inform me of the alternatives to keeping fish in good condition until they can be taken home. David Baines

You can get bass bags from Sportfish one of Fish & Fly's sponsors. Failing that, any cotton bag - perhaps a shopping bag - can be used. The idea is that you soak the bag and keep it wet so that it keeps your fish cool and damp. Although I still use plastic supermarket bags, they are not good on a hot day. If it is hot, keep your fish in the water, or hide them under grass or vegetation - and hope there is not a mink about! Terry Lawton

I have just been bitten with the fly-fishing bug and have a question for you:- Where or who do you ask for permission to fish a river? Often as I travel in England, I see a river, no signs saying no fishing or private, but how do I find out if I can fish there? I live in Sheffield and am close to the River Don. Some stretches now have both brown and rainbow trout and I would like to find out if I can fish for them. Peter.

There is very little public water in England where there is free fishing. It is safest to assume that all rivers and fishing rights are owned by someone somewhere. Just because there is no sign saying Private Fishing, it does not mean that anyone can fish there. To find out who owns the fishing on a river or stream, you could start by asking farmers through whose land the river flows, local pubs, hotels (which often own fishing rights) and local fishing tackle shops. The local Environment Agency office may also be able to help. Terry Lawton