Currently viewing ……….. TROUT FLIES FOR THE RIVER DON ( PAGE 2 OF 3 )
CONTENTS
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TACKLE SHOP
BARRIO TACKLE
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THE LOCHS
INTRODUCTION
HADDO FISHERY
DELGATIE CASTLE
MILL OF ELRICK
PITFOUR LAKE
MIDMAR FISHERY
ARTLOCH FISHERY
LOCHTER FISHERY
RAEMOIR FISHERY
LOCH INSCH
GLEN TANAR LOCH
BRAESIDE FISHERY
MOSSAT FISHERY
RIVER DON
INTRODUCTION
FISHING BEATS
TROUT TACTICS
TROUT FLIES
WHERE TO STAY
OPENING MARCH
FISH HATCHERY
CASTLE FORBES
MONYMUSK
COLQUHONNIE
GLENKINDIE
ARDHUNCART
TACKLE & PERMITS
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MIKE BARRIO
Orange Spinner
This is a vital fly to carry on summer evenings, especially just as dusk is falling. The trout really do key into these flies for a small period of time and nothing else will work. A sherry spinner or orange quill is also suitable, but I find this CDC pattern the most effective as it sits in the surface film. Just like the real fly.
Hook: 14-18 Dry fly ( Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread : Hot orange
Tail: A few fibres of white antron
Body: A rusty red CDC feather tied in at the tip and twisted into a rope then wound on
Rib: The finest copper wire
Hackle: A dirty white natural CDC feather spun in a dubbing loop, which should be fairly sparse.
Wickhams Fancy
A dry fly yes, but more of a general attractor type. It may represent many of the winged insects skittering about the river surface but I fancy it for a sedge. As a wet fly it is also pretty good.
Hook: 12-16 Wet fly (Kamasan B170)
Thread: Black
Tail: Red game cock hackle
Body: Gold tinsel
Rib: Gold wire
Hackle: Red game palmered, Another for the collar
Wing: Starling wing or similar
Black spider
This is perhaps the best fly of all and it can be used confidently all season in many sizes. It represents almost anything and the trout love it.
Hook: 12-20 dry fly ( Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread: Brown or black silk
Hackle: Starling back feather wound with silk through the first 1/3 of the fly
Greenwells Glory
A devastatingly effective fly for Don trout and one most locals never have off their leader. Good as a dry and a wet, but best fished spider style.
Hook: 10-16 Dry fly ( Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread: Well waxed pearsalls #5 yellow silk
Body: Thread as above
Rib: Gold wire
Wing: Rolled blackbird wing or similar, tied up at an angle as shown
Hackle: 2 turns of Cochybondhu hen hackle
Hares Ear Soft Hackle
Many versions of this are popular. Tied with hackles of plover, partridge, woodcock and grouse. The Plover one is perhaps the most effective all rounder, but the others can have their days too.
Hook: 10-16 dry fly ( Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread: Yellow
Body: Lightly dubbed Hares ear
Hackle: Golden plover back feather
Snipe and Purple
A good dark olive and iron blue imitation, this is yet another spider that fishes well most of the season. Especially on the top dropper.
Hook: 14-16 Dry fly ) Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread: Purple silk
Body: Purple silk
Hackle: Outer covert of a snipe's wing
Stewarts Red Spider
A borders fly that works very well mid season for trout on the river. The original used Landrail for the hackle. A few substitutes are available but I have found the lightly barred rusty red feather from the lesser coverts of a blue jay wing are an excellent alternative.
Hook: 14-16 Dry fly ( Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread: Well waxed Yellow silk
Body: Silk as above
Hackle: Rusty red barred feather from a Jay wing
Waterhen Bloa
This is a brilliant large olive imitation and in the smaller sizes it is also a good blue winged olive imitation.
Hook: 12-16 Dry fly ( Partridge SLD barbless )
Thread: Yellow silk
Body: Lightly dubbed mole or muskrat fur
Hackle: The pale grey from the inside of a moorhens wing
Black Buzzer
The Don is full of black buzzers and the trout feed on them voraciously. If there are no upwings or sedges about, or even if there are, the rising trout are often taking buzzers. Try in the slower sections of river. A size 12/14 duckfly can do some damage during the summer. Not sure why though.
Hook: 12-18 Grub ( Kamasan B100 )
Thread: Black
Body: Black feather fibre (pheasant or similar)
Rib: Silver tinsel
Thorax: Peacock herl or glister
Optional: White feather breathers