Fishing for Schools tip of the month for November - with Bob Goble

Fishing for Schools Kent instructor Bob Goble offers his top tips for great fishing this month.

November can be a time of plenty or not, it all depends on the weather and that affects not just coarse fishing but trout as well.

It can be very cold, wet and windy which can dampen our spirits, but as long as you wrap up with warm clothing and a waterproof jacket and trousers (don't forget good boots), you will be comfortable. Do have a flask of a hot drink with you – personally I find hot chocolate very welcome.

Most still water trout fisheries stay open all year round, so the trout fishing can be good. It's worth exploring different fisheries around you until you find one you like best. You will in time tune into to the differing atmospheres of different fisheries.

With shorter daylight hours it's best to fish a couple of hours either side of mid-day to get the best out of your fishing. I call it the premium time to be on the water.

As I've mentioned before, trout are cold water fish and are most active at this time of year, moving around trying to eat and fatten up to overcome the lean times ahead. But there is a limit. If it is too cold – and really do mean very cold - they will go deep, and be difficult to tempt. You can of course still catch and if your presentation is good you have every chance to connect with one of those brutes that have evaded capture for some time.

Methods for this time of year are much the same as those from last month. Keep trying the Minky zonker , blobs and boobys, but another fly to try this month is the humungus (see picture).

Try a humungus in hook sizes 10-8, with a marabou tail in black or white with either gold or silver tinsel running through either side of the tail, silver or gold fritz for the body and a few turns of grizzle hackle palmered around the body in open turns, then add a couple of bead chain eyes.

Try to use barbless hooks or flatten the barb with a pair of flat nosed pliers. I find barbs unnecessary. As long as you have tension between you and fish at all times you have every chance of landing that specimen. If you lose a fish it's usually down to a bad hook hold.

Fishing the humungus could not be simpler. Try using a sinking fly line to get down to the depths quicker, with a leader length of 7-8 feet tapered, in 8-9 Ibs breaking strain. Tie your fly on, cast out and let the whole line sink. When you think you're deep enough , start your retrieve. Be open minded as to what speed to retrieve and try different depths and speeds.

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