Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Fly Tying => Topic started by: danbruce on 20/01/2013 at 15:47
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Well with this rubbish weather keeping me indoors i decided to start re-stocking my river fly boxes.
Still got along way to go but i thought i would share a few of my flies/patterns with you all:
Spiders (used these for the majority of my fishing last season)
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2n16szp.jpg)
Nymphs (Never fished nymphs on the river before so thought i had better give it a go)
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2en3wd3.jpg)
Sorry about the poor photos. :z4
cheers,
Dan
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Perfect for the Browns Dan,
Nicely done
Iain
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top stuff Dan :z16
could you please tell me what the two top left spider's barbless hooks are ?
they look nice and heavier-wired than most.
cheers,
marc
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Cheers Iain and Marc,
The spider in the top left is tied on a size 14 veniard wet fly hook.
http://www.veniard.com/product2448/section181/ (http://www.veniard.com/product2448/section181/)
Cheers,
Dan
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thanks a lot, Dan ! :z16
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Going through the same process. My daughter bought me one of those "brown trout" coloured fly boxes so its slowly getting filled with river patterns.
One side is done with Czech Nymphs, Shrimp and caddis patterns, the other side is quarter filled with tiny spiders.
My god does it take a while!
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Spiders (used these for the majority of my fishing last season)
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2n16szp.jpg)
Thanks for sharing these flies. Could you tell me how to fishing these Spider flies, please? Should I cast it upstream, then drift it or cast cross the river and drift it. I tried a lot last year, but couldn't contact the fish. I guess I did something wrong, :z8 Cheers. :z14
Regars,
Mark
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No problem Mark,
I had a bit of success fishing these across and down, square to the river and down and upstream and dead drifted down. I wouldn't say i found one method more effective than another but i am sure some would disagree.
Hopefully some of the more experienced guys on here will give their views on this.
Cheers,
Dan
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Thanks for sharing these flies. Could you tell me how to fishing these Spider flies, please? Should I cast it upstream, then drift it or cast cross the river and drift it. I tried a lot last year, but couldn't contact the fish. I guess I did something wrong, :z8 Cheers. :z14
Hi Mark,
Way more experienced "spidermen" on here than me but as a reformed "swinger" (of the wet fly !) I can share a couple of ideas. Firstly, all methods upstream, across and down even the "dangle" ( :shock) will all work......yes I once took a 1.5 lb wild brownie from the Fife Leven on the dangle and a few taken on the retrieve whilst getting ready to recast :oops
What I like to think about is the context eg. how the fish are feeding or not, and what they are feeding on too ! If trout are bulging to emergers then upstream would be my choice - here you want your spiders to fish almost like dries, in the surface film or no more than a couple of inches below the surface. You will see the fish take and you tighten. You could use a short sight indicator, but most folks don't. Short line tactics are preferable and this may mean wading (which rules out some stretches). Ideally only fish one or two rod lengths and raise the rod/let it drift past you over your shoulder as the spiders drift back towards you (others may not do this). If the trout are giving splashy rises to Duns then same tactic should work but you can also try fishing across stream (at a slight upstream angle) and let the flies drift drag free.
If you turn up and no fish are showing/not feeding on surface then you could fish 'across and down' as a searching method. Here the spiders can be manipulated to fish deeper with multiple mends, so you can really control the depth they fish (a bead head nymph on point can help). The crucial bit is often "the swing" where the belly of the line pulls round from 45 degrees down stream from you to directly below you. This causes the flies, which will be fishing deeper, to 'lift' through the water column and is often when a fish will grab one. With this method the fish often hook themselves but try to fish as short a line as you can to limit how many you drop - this takes discipline as you can really empty your reel with this method when giving line to mend etc. The skill with this method ( yes, there is some !) is in knowing where fish will be lying by reading the water, and of course fishing your flies through that area in the correct part of the water column.
Hopefully one of the guys that really know what they are doing will pitch in too.
Lindsay
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Hopefully one of the guys that really know what they are doing will pitch in too.
Don't think there is much need, you have it in a nutshell :z16 I fish mine to suit the conditions, almost exactly as Lindsay describes, anything else is just a quirk :z18
Sandy
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hi Mark,
to add to Lindsay's excellent response here's a little piece i wrote a while back but more importantly an Oliver Edwards video showing how to fish wets upstream and across.
as him, i'll mostly fish up or across and rarely downstream for the reasons he mentions (and not at all from any tradition-minded approach but like Olly says, bugs do rise from the bottom towards the top but they don't do this against the current) however i'll gladly fish downstream on slow glides... :wink)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
cheers,
marc
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As Marc say's Ollies vid is definitely worth checking out for Spiders (though he is more successful fishing to rising fish as I recall ??). For an alternative view I'd highly recommend the DVD by FishOn Productions "Early Season Trout" - more of the 'across and down' searching method demonstrated there ( and very sucessfully too !). I swear at one point Dean Andrews catches one on the dangle ! John Tyzack always has a very sound tactical slant to his approaches which I like - guess that is why he is the 'best' river fisher in the UK !
Perhaps best of all is another offering, though less well known : "Wet Fly Fishing" by Johan Klingberg - Klingberg shadows Paul Procter on the Wharfe and it is very informative as to how he fishes traditional spiders. Some great clips of Paul fishing very Don-like stretches and casting to rising fish 'up and across'. Interestingly Paul does not rule out the across and down, swing, induced-take method and neither does Klingberg who fishes that way on the day and freely admits many of his best fish are caught this way !
It all comes down to aesthetics I guess, but water conditions and the fishes behaviour play a part too.
Cheers,
Lindsay
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hi Lindsay,
Johan and i talked a lot about his wets approach. he's very open-minded and eager to to try any method. it was an enlightening discussion. i particularly like his upstream/across and downstream all on the same drift ! :z13 (it's in the film)
as you might have seen by my recent grayling fly, i have no ethics so that's not my issue with downstream... :z4 :grin :z4
what i forgot to mention on the previous post is i've noticed fishing them downstream on clear waters is often a good way to put the fish on a higher alert level. they're maybe not spooked enough to run away but they're often no longer in a playing mood.
generally speaking (because there's always exceptions) this phenomenon occurs much less or not at all on the tannin-rich rivers as can be found in the northern climes i've experienced such as Scotland or Sweden.
so, water clarity is another factor to consider.
cheers,
marc
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I prefer to fish them upstream and just sub-surface whenever I can, the fishing is so much more visual when the trout are higher in the water ..... but time and time again, the Don trout are not so willing to show themselves and down and across is far more effective.
When I first started fishing the Don, I must confess that I was surprised to see so many anglers fishing their trout flies just like salmon flies, but a couple of years down the line I realised that this was possibly the most productive method on the river :oops
Drowned dries swung like wets can be very productive too :wink
Best wishes
Mike
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Cheers Iain and Marc,
The spider in the top left is tied on a size 14 veniard wet fly hook.
http://www.veniard.com/product2448/section181/ (http://www.veniard.com/product2448/section181/)
Cheers,
Dan
Nice flies Dan, I'm restocking my own boxes with flies tied on Veniard Ospreys for this season. Will also be using the saltwater hooks, very similar to Tiemco 811s but less than half the price.
Cheers
Ben
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Drowned dries swung like wets can be very productive too :wink
Yup, a CDC and Elk Size 12 swinging subsurface netted me a 3 lb BT and ST in 2011 :oops I honestly think fish take a submerged CDC and Elk as a Minnow (as well as Caddis) and sma' ones will snap at it on the retrieve (for all you competition anglers that might get desperate !). However, aesthetically it is like playing a violin with a cheesegrater compared with the dolce tones of upstream spidering/dries !
Of, course I am strictly upstream dry fly now you understand ! No offence taken Marc, afterall I am a reformed 'swinger' these days :wink The boy Johann's vids are very good IMO, the stuff in Sweden and Norway is pretty cool :z16
On a typical early Spring Don day with no fish showing you either sit out waiting for a hatch ( as I did last season) or you drown wets and nymphs and search (me this season) !
L
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On a typical early Spring Don day with no fish showing you either sit out waiting for a hatch ( as I did last season) or you drown wets and nymphs and search (me this season) !
:z4 :z4 :z4
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I've been at it this afternoon as well.
With thoughts of summer evenings keeping me warm, i've started to fill my sea-trout/summer salmon box.
Some of my favourites to start, Medicine, Black Grouse, Thunder and Lightning.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/2a6pb87.jpg)
Once i add a few Stoats in Various guises i should be set :z16
Sandy
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Very nice Sandy! :z16
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Cracking flies Sandy! :z16
Best wishes
Mike
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Nice sparse flies there, they should be ideal for low water during the summer.
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Thanks guys
The flies are actually sparser than they look in the pictures.
Being grouped together seems to make them look heavier.
Still I'm happy to have my vice set up again :z16
They are size 12 and 14 VMC doubles :z16
Sandy
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it's the grey foam that makes them look denser, Sandy. regardless, they're loverly ! :z16
cheers,
marc
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Continuing to fill my boxes for the start of the season, this time it is some tubes....
(http://i46.tinypic.com/abs301.jpg)
All 1.5" brass tubes
Top: Gold Bodied Willie Gunn
Middle: Ice Maiden
Bottom: Black and Yellow
Just need to to make some slightly smaller ones and also add some Black and Yellow tubes but with Sliver bodies and i am ready to go get me a springer. :z4
Dan
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I really like those bare doubles Sandy, absolutely cracking - might have to do a few wee ones like that myself ! Good tying Dan, hope you connect with that Springer dude ! :z16
L
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Yup, a CDC and Elk Size 12 swinging subsurface netted me a 3 lb BT and ST in 2011 :oops I honestly think fish take a submerged CDC and Elk as a Minnow (as well as Caddis) and sma' ones will snap at it on the retrieve (for all you competition anglers that might get desperate !). However, aesthetically it is like playing a violin with a cheesegrater compared with the dolce tones of upstream spidering/dries !
Of, course I am strictly upstream dry fly now you understand ! No offence taken Marc, afterall I am a reformed 'swinger' these days :wink The boy Johann's vids are very good IMO, the stuff in Sweden and Norway is pretty cool :z16
On a typical early Spring Don day with no fish showing you either sit out waiting for a hatch ( as I did last season) or you drown wets and nymphs and search (me this season) !
L
Bob Wyatt's Dirty Duster deadly as a mixed dry / swinging wet when required. DHE not bad in fast water, a good wee minor tactic is to hit the water hard to drown it and run it through just sub surface, especially if you've turned a fish on it previously. Sorry if i'm giving it how to suck eggs btw. :oops
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PS Cracking looking flees Sandy, would work a treat on the Spey i bet.
Oh and another wee minor tactic with the DHE, if some fish are coming but shying away, whilst others are still taking well (especially during early hatch stages) then NZ style with another DHE on the tail, only clip the wing right down to a stump, or rip it off leaving a few wee sparse hairs in place. Fish will often take it this way as an emerging nymph.
Sometimes works if a fish isn't playing ball and giving you the run arouns as well. For me if this dosen't work then i just lob in a boulder and move onto the next target. :z4 :z4
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Thanks for your help. I think it's time to :z2 and catch the :z15. Can't wait the season to start. Thanks again. :z18
Regards,
Mark
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... then NZ style with another DHE on the tail, only clip the wing right down to a stump, or rip it off leaving a few wee sparse hairs in place. Fish will often take it this way as an emerging nymph.
I notice in his new tome Wyatt has a Wee Hair Emerger which sounds like just the ticket for that tactic Allan (and to save blootering those 'sometimes hard to get right' upright Deer Hair Emerger wings) ! He also mentions the Don Brown Trout Fishing with absolute reverance calling it a "technical river" ! His prefered killing fly for the Don is a size 10 DHS to ape a March Brown Dun/Emerger (never tried that tactic, but will now !).
But you will know this anyway as you have the book, hopefully of interest to others !
Lindsay
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Some cracking sparse doubles and heavy tubes. :z16
I need to get the vise out.
The clock is ticking
Iain
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Well that's me started stocking up for the new season, planning to try using
the Duo as explained by John Tyzack in his Early Season Trout DVD
(http://i50.tinypic.com/34dsc5i.jpg)
Balloon Caddis (Tan - 14s & Fiery Brown 12s).
(http://i49.tinypic.com/egss2r.jpg)
Starting Big (Size 16 Pearly Spiders)
(http://i46.tinypic.com/10yfgxs.jpg)
Bit rough but getting better, been too long since I tied flies
Tungsten Bead PTN's & Sparse Spiders next on my list.
Alex
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(http://i46.tinypic.com/2w1sab7.jpg)
Starting to look a lot better now - Size 18 Pearly Spider
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They'll work Alex :z16
Cheers
Mike
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The rougher the better Alex i like the look of those spiders it can be deadly. :z16
Try just the one or two turns max on the hackle, also tie the lurex in at the head, wind down and then back up again then tie off and then give it a very thin coat of superglue, then a thin coat of varnish over this. Gives a slim but very shiny body, helps the fly sink quickly and protects it from marauding troots teeth. Takes a wee bit longer, but offers a wee bit different. Worth having both tying styles in the flybox btw as essentially is can make a difference when fishing. :z16
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Thanks Alan will give that a go. :z16
Also plan to tie up some JT Olives but waiting on size 17 & 19 Tiemco 103BL hooks to arrive.
Alex
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A few more tied up ready for the box
(http://i48.tinypic.com/2uruz2w.jpg)
(http://i45.tinypic.com/14llftv.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/33w5qwo.jpg)
(http://i49.tinypic.com/ztiqrp.jpg)
Last one seemed like a good idea in my head!!!! :oops
Alex
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Looks like a good idea in my head also :z18
Bonny wee flies Alex, But barbs.................. come on :z4 :z4 :z4
Cheers
Sandy
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Waiting on Tiemco barbless hooks, should be at home when I get there 103BL's !!!
Had to work with what I had. :oops
They will all be de-barbed before I go fishing :wink...de-barbing pliers at home also!!!!!! :oops
Alex
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Nice, Alex.
Still tying in bulk I see, those balloon caddis will last you a decade - unless you are handing them out that is :roll
Iain
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My wee drying bridge takes 12 at a time!!!! what can I say... it's easier by the Dozen!!! :wink
Always someone looking to borrow on a long term basis!!! :X2 :z4 :z4 :z4
Alex
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I've been lax at the vise Alex but even though I should be tying tubes I'm really looking forward to fishing some new nimpffs
(http://i50.tinypic.com/23jkbnt.jpg)
(http://i47.tinypic.com/e5lnbp.jpg)
Iain
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Also plan to tie up some JT Olives but waiting on size 17 & 19 Tiemco 103BL hooks to arrive.
:z4 :z4 They don't work, totally rubbish I have been lying :wink
Grip 11011BL's are also good Alex, possibly better but are in "even" sizes
Ean yoor flies are better than your attempts at graphic humour ! :z7
Lindsay
PS you WILL need Frog's Fanny for the JT's.......unless you want to ruin them with Oil or Gel :z7
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PS you WILL need Frog's Fanny for the JT's.......unless you want to ruin them with Oil or Gel :z7
:z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
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Aye Iain
I like the look of the second one...
I'm planning on doing Tungsten beaded PTNs on BARBLESS hooks by the Dozen soon
unfortunately work has got in the way of full on tying :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
At least I have JT's "Small Stream Trout Fishing" & "Early Season Trout Fishing" DVDs
to keep me going.
Alex
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Managed to (finally) get some Golden Plover skins so Hare's Lug and Plover size 12 ala March Brown (with a touch of pearly tinsel on butt) - not a great pic :roll. Really liking the Partridge Spider hooks :z16
(http://i48.tinypic.com/2zyerk0.jpg)
L
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Nice Spiders Lindz,
On the topic of MB's.....
(http://i48.tinypic.com/346ouv9.jpg)
(http://i47.tinypic.com/wjv46.jpg)
Iain
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Very tidy Iain, nice looking flee! Is that wee puff of cdc meant to keep it afloat?
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Hi Baz :z16
With a drop of CDC Gel this puppy will float bo problem.
Without going back through all the CDC Gel/Oil stuff............I used to tie all CDC flies with 5 feathers due to my infuriation with CDC flies drowning, now it's 3 for 95% of the time and 4 if a particularly heavy hook or dressing.
Iain
Note: was referring to general early season Olive/ upwing patterns with the 3 feathers reference, smaller patterns e.g. F flies imitating smaller olives can have 2 or a single feather.
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What hook are you using in thon foto??
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super-nice one, Iain ! :z16
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Well I've made a start to Tying up some Tungsten Nymphs.
@Spiderman - Yes they are Barbless :wink
@Goolager - I have only tied up 8 of each instead of 12's. :z4
(http://i46.tinypic.com/iqx6ow.jpg)
Alex
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Great MB cripple Iain, is that a tested pattern for you or a prospective one. I reckon a size 12 JT Olive would work too ? Have been working on my MB nymphs, a few possibly needing a haircut but happy with size and profile ! Carp pic again, dunno what is happening..
(http://i49.tinypic.com/2ywy5qh.jpg)
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Lindz,
enough already with the pages from 'A pictorial Guide to British Ephemeroptera' By Craig Macadam & Cyril Bennett
very nice flies though :z16 , I take it you're splitting your thread for 'dubbing' the CDC legs? only I can't tell because you are concentrating more on featuring the picture of the nymph as displayed in the publication 'A pictorial Guide to British Ephemeroptera' By Craig Macadam & Cyril Bennett :z7
What's the body material?
Are you using oiler puffs for the thorax/legs combo?
Alex,
Nice weighted nymphs there :z16, you will have to do some small ones, which I have found handy for when the rivers down to it's bones.
Iain
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What you calling small Mr G? :wink
Alex
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size 18 with a 1.5mm tungsten bead and I have gone down to size 20 (fished duo method) with a 1mm (if memory serves me well) tungsten bead, but 18 defo.
Iain
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Bonny Spiders and catchy nymphs Dan!!
Thanks for sharing the pics and the info about the barbless Veniard hooks!!
Gonna try to get some too!
Gr
Jan
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Cheers Iain,
I was planning on #16's with a 2mm bead next but will grab some 1.5mm beads & go down to #18's.
Alex
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very nice flies though :z16 , I take it you're splitting your thread for 'dubbing' the CDC legs? Are you using oiler puffs for the thorax/legs combo?
Hook: Size 12 FO Curved Barbless Standard
Weight: Orvis fine lead, two layers at thorax and flattened in vice
Body :Pheasant Tail
Tail: Coq de Leon Achonada....Anchovy or something
Rib: Fine Gold Wire
Wing Case: Brown Scudback
Thorax: Hare Fur
Legs: CDC Puffs (split thread)
It is basically JT's :oops MB Nymph but using your oiler puffs (maybe you should tell JT ? :wink).
Book used just to show scale and profile :wink Will try a better in the vice pic tomorrow in sunlight.
BTW "Jingler" as in the Tweed/Clyde dry fly thingy, not an adapter dry - nae idea whit that is ! :z8
L
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Yeah, 16's too Alex.
Last season, I'll not go into great detail but on 3 occasions I watched pods of Trout in low clear water inspecting my emergers, spiders and nymphs (14's) really interesting but infuriating. After exhausting the usual suspects I trolled my fly box for anything suitably small and unobtrusive. Nil Joy, until rifling through my waistcoat I came across a hook box with some wee nymphs size 20, basically a Hares Ear with an orange collar. Threw the fly out and 1st cast................nowt happened :z7 but either second or third cast a fish took, splashed about and was off.
No point after that as they had all vanished but at least I got a fish to take, may have been the pattern but I'm convinced that size was more important.
Be prepared dib dib dib
Iain
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not an adapter dry - nae idea whit that is !
And I'll no be telling you either.
FO :roll mind's gone blank, help me out, what make?
Iain
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And I'll no be telling you either.
FO :roll mind's gone blank, help me out, what make?
Only if you tell me what an adapter dry is first !
L
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Thanks for sharing the pics and the info about the barbless Veniard hooks!!
No problem Jan, have also been using Knapek barbless hooks, very similar to the Veniard ones, only thing to watch out for on the Knapek ones is that the hook eye isn't always the best finish. But nothing a pair of pliers won't fix.
Iain, Alex and Lindsay,
Thats some awesome tying :z16, March brown patterns and small nymphs (16 to 20) is not something i have many of in my boxes, better get tying again.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
I was assuming that Knapeks have changed/ improved in the last few years. The wire on the eyes didn't mate very and I've had an experience with a soft one :shock
I've quite a few that I'll not use, if you want them.
Iain
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Hi Iain,
The Knapek hooks that i have seem pretty strong when tying on them in the vice, not had the chance to try them on too many fish though. Will drop you a PM about your ones.
Cheers,
Dan
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1st go at copying the nymph from your preferred handbook Lindz, & not a JT in sight
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2ecq5o6.jpg)
off to work on the body and wing case.
Iain
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Iain
That a better size for you? not as good as your one above but I think they might catch fish.
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2ztk375.jpg)
Alex
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1st go at copying the nymph from your preferred handbook Lindz, & not a JT in sight
off to work on the body and wing case.
Nice effort Iain :z16 I tied a few with bead heads but felt they just didn't look right (to me) so stuck with the superglued wire and flattening the thorax in the vice. You know, JT's flies are first rate, easy and quick to tie, robust and catch loadsa fish. I fished only a JT Olive and DHE all last season and high confidence over surface feeding fish. I reckon his MB nymphs will be killer too.
Have had a total mofo of a day so nae pics o' mine. Will try later after shopping !
L
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Iain (Mr G)
That's the Duo box looking a lot better now:
(http://i47.tinypic.com/153vc6u.jpg)
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2qu67og.jpg)
Wonder what's on the menu for tomorrow?
(http://i46.tinypic.com/j7zxa8.jpg)
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2nd attempt at something I'd cover with a PTN anyway
(http://i48.tinypic.com/ief8tv.jpg)
Hi Alex,
Nice flies but if I may be so bold I'd loose 3/4 of the tail density? maybe someone else has a different opinion? what do you think yourself?
keep em coming though :z16
Iain
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Actually Alex, after seeing them in the box I'd only loose 1/3 of the tail fibres :z16 nice!
What's next?
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JT's flies are first rate, easy and quick to tie
JT this JT that! ZX2
2 separate stages of tied in lead wire? supergluin' and flattening?
Tie a PTN and use up the saved time to read up on CDC Gel :z7 :X2
Iain
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You mean you canna guess from the picture I posted? "JT Olives"
Yes agree have a habbit of tying with 4 or 5 Pheasant fibres when I should use 3 :oops
and Hare's Ear I am worse I think.
Think it's because I tie up a big size first then when I drop 2 or 3 sizes I am still grabbing
the same amount of tail material... :oops
"Note to self" "Must do better"
Thanks for the feedback Iain.
Alex
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I see the 103's arrived Alex, F-Flies per chance?
Iain
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JT Olives? not you as well Alex :X1
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JT Olives? not you as well Alex :X1
:z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
JT's flies are first rate, easy and quick to tie :wink :X2
Alex
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JT this JT that! ZX2
2 separate stages of tied in lead wire? supergluin' and flattening?
Tie a PTN and use up the saved time to read up on CDC Gel :z7 :X2
@ Iain, ah, but the flattening gives the nymph some scope as a Hepta as well, and takes no time really ! Also, curved hook looks better to me for some reason - maybe even works as a scud/shrimp thingy. If it is all the same, I will take 7 times English River Champion as gospel :wink Your nymph is excellent though :z16
@ Alex, cheeky boy, now that you are also a 'believer' your CDC is the 'wrong' colour for a JT Olive, tsk tsk ! :wink :z4
Lindsay Tierack ( Chairman of JT Fanclub Scottish Branch).
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If Carlsberg made flies, then it'd be this one:
(http://i50.tinypic.com/25zt4co.jpg)
The jury is out on this one though, certainly for Don:
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2zxqz5l.jpg)
Crap pic of my MB nymph ala JT et Iain Goolager:
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2611zcw.jpg)
Just got my PTN's and larger DHE's to do and all set for early season !
Lindsay
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If it is all the same, I will take 7 times English River Champion as gospel
LT :z4 :z4 you make me laugh, you rascal you!
by the way, my tungsten beaded, lead wrapped thoraxed MB nymph is heavier so is therefore a better 'stoneclinger' than yours :z7
Iain
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Yep, yours defo a bit heavier, but the "double wrapped" one (lead on abdo and then thorax x2) is actually pretty heavy but certainly no depth charge.
Actually looking at "my" JT Olive with reference to your excellent MB cripple I have had a kind of epiphany :shock I always thought the forward sloping wing on a JT was really unrepresentative of a Dun (with its backward sloping wings) but it has never seemed to bother the fish ! But I wonder in the effectiveness (efficacy ?) of this fly is due to it's vulnerability ? With no collar hackle it rides low in the water or even in the surface (the moleskin soaks water) and the forward sloping wings might be representative of a cripple ? Either way it seems a "generalist" pattern.
Just been reading my Bob Wyatt stuff and this certainly echoes his philosophy of triggers and vulnerablity and what equates as "easy" trout food. I'm gonna tie some JT's in 12's maybe 10's OMG :shock to test this theory during a MB hatch. I reckon my big JT could do the same job as a cripple/emerger pattern. Maybe.
Nice One.
Linzer
PS I am going to carry my CDC Gel so if I bump in to on the river you can prep a JT for me ! That said, fake FF from USA has turned up and looks the Sh1t from what I can tell.....and loads of it !
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If Carlsberg made flies, then it'd be this one:
...
The jury is out on this one though, certainly for Don:
...
Crap pic of my MB nymph ala JT et Iain Goolager:
...
Just got my PTN's and larger DHE's to do and all set for early season !
all very nice flies, Mr TieRack. Like the light catching the fibres on the legs of the nymph.
Middle one... you can always tweak it (cripple it?!) by snipping off all the hackle beneath the shank... eeek!
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Middle one... you can always tweak it (cripple it?!) by snipping off all the hackle beneath the shank... eeek!
Yes Iain, was thinking clipped hackle myself just looking at it earlier ! I think (?) the Clyde/Tweed guys will often tease the hackle in to an almost spent spinner type arrangement but vertical rather horizontal. It sure looks good on the water but I wonder if it is just too big a target for our Don trutta ?
Any of you guys tried a size 10 (!) DHS ala Bob W for a MB Dun ? He says it works well on the Don, so I guess it works !
L
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@ Alex, cheeky boy, now that you are also a 'believer' your CDC is the 'wrong' colour for a JT Olive, tsk tsk ! :wink :z4
Lindsay Tierack ( Chairman of JT Fanclub Scottish Branch).
No just a bad photo, here is one taken today in daylight.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/mvm7nm.jpg)
Olive on the left Olive Dun on the right. :wink
Alex
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Nice CdC Alex. I use 'Dark Brown' Swiss (which looks dark brown) and River Academy Cdc for JT Olive. Looks wrong in the hand but right on the water ! I reckon Dun would work too....
L
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My plan Lindsay is to tie up 1 doz of each on size 17 & 19 103BL hooks & see what the fish prefer.
I feel it will depend on the hatch & the light conditions at the time. :wink
No doubt Iain (Mr G) will be telling me I am tying in bulk again :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
Alex
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My plan Lindsay is to tie up 1 doz of each on size 17 & 19 103BL hooks & see what the fish prefer.
I feel it will depend on the hatch & the light conditions at the time. :wink
No doubt Iain (Mr G) will be telling me I am tying in bulk again :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
These are quick as hell to tie so yes by the dozen for me too ! 17 good for LDO (but 19 too), 21 for BWO etc in summer :z16
L
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Another "must have" Bob Wyatt's DHE size 14 long wing version, tied the "neat" way eg. butts not trimmed on exterior. Outfishes Klink (for me) but not as useful for Duo. Great prospecting fly too.
(http://i49.tinypic.com/ajy0dz.jpg)
Lindsay
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Another "must have" Bob Wyatt's DHE size 14 long wing version, tied the "neat" way eg. butts not trimmed on exterior. Outfishes Klink (for me) but not as useful for Duo. Great prospecting fly too.
(http://i49.tinypic.com/ajy0dz.jpg)
Lindsay
Nice, very nice! :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Another "must have" Bob Wyatt's DHE size 14 long wing version, tied the "neat" way eg. butts not trimmed on exterior. Outfishes Klink (for me) but not as useful for Duo. Great prospecting fly too.
Lindsay
Lindsay
You let the secret out :X1 That is the only dry fly you need on the Don until the end of May. After that a parachute Adams and an elk hair caddis will do fine. Dump all those CdeC things. Ian doesn't really use them, he just posts photographs of them on the forum to confuse the opposition :wink
Irvine
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In a size 14 have you tried using snowshoe hare foot as a wing Lindsay? Finer and better floating IMHO, I think Bob Wyatt uses it in some flies now
Peter
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@ Irvine Ssshhh, of course there are other flies that work on the Don early season ! :wink Tbh I had other flies that outfished the DHE at times last season :roll It is also a fly folk find difficult to tie and also to fish with out cocking, apparently. So my advice, STAY AWAY unless you are a professional :z4 Re Goolager, I spent (limited) time on the bank with him early season and can confirm he does not fish a DHE, but he has all kinds of stuff in his fly box ! Iain definitely fishes CdC patterns extensively as it then fully justifies his Veniards CDC Gel 'habit' :z4
@ Peter, yes have tried the SHE, in fact there must be loads of two legged Hares going about judging by how many I have in my FT bag ( I do hope they are sustainable). However, at size 14 I still prefer Deer Hair, as I can gauge the clump better and know to remove the underfur with a wee comb - I find the SHE harder to tie, as it is difficult to get the right bulk to tie in eg. how much underfur to remove. Shame someone that knows what they are doing couldn't show me how - even Bobs vid doesn't help much in this respect ! I will be using it more this season though. :z16
Cheers,
Lindsay
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DHE is my go to dry and has been for some years now, since Bob's first script on it in FFFT.
Deadly fly that's a lot more versatile than a straight forward dry.
DH version good in sizes down to 14 (below that the deer hair is a bit too bulky and you can't get the shape right)
Snowshoe is good for the smaller sizes, but i prefer switching to the Dirty Duster (another of Bob's) which offers both an excellent dry as well as quite a handy spider.
DHE:
S12 Olive or Nat HE; Deadly early season especially when LDO's, Olive Uprights and MB's are the trout's quarry of choice.
Outstanding as a searching pattern especially in rough water or when nothing much is happening.
However it's brilliant on upland streams through the season where trout are generally 'looking up.'
It is also brilliant in fast water through the season.
It is versatile in the sense that it can be fished successfully as a nymph or just sub-surface emerging pattern as well, crippled ones fished 'Duo' style are deadly, especially when you fish the two dry set up i tend to use. (I've even been known to pull the wings off, leaving a wee stump in order to present a fly that sits literally just below the surface, but in truth all you really need do is stick a few chewed ones into the corner of the box)
Again in fast water, especially if you've turned a fish or covered one to no response, simply spit on the fly and pitch it (no drying false cast or just hit the water hard to drown it if you don't fancy gobbing on the fly :z4) so it fishes through as a wet, dead run first couple casts then fig 8 retrieve if that dosen't work. Hold in tight.
Heavy wing patterns good for duo, but agree Klinks are better, however if you fish the style with the DHE on a dropper it sits correctly and you can see it better.
Tie it with Orvis light blue comparadun DH for a crackin BWO pattern s14, great for late May through June, and again late August (upland waters) through September.
Dirty Duster is another excellent and very versatile fly. Again great as a straight forward dry, but also with the ability to be fished as a spider. Excellent for downstream work in a big wind when olives are being 'pushed' by the wind and 'drowned' by the wave action meaning fish are more responsive to 'swinging dries' (yes i know what the books say, but this really does work better in these conditions for all but the most sheltered , usually in the slack water margins, and 'locked on' fish)
Probably not as good for fooling 'Rod Benders' but great for general fishing.
That said i had two grilse last season in the space of a few casts fishing the DD wet, so you never know.
I wouldn't say it's an out and out spider, and traditional patterns probably much better if you're setting out to fish this style, what i am merely trying to highlight is the versatility of a pattern that allows you to try something different instantly when on the water.
Also try it with an underbody of pearly lurex with black dubbed body over in 12's 14's or 16's on lochs as it's a brilliant Buzzer Emerger patern for loch dry work. Not too bad as a Black Gnat imitation either.
There's no flies ever tied that cover all bases, however these two come pretty close.
If anyone's down at the GAC Open Event this coming weekend, give's a shout as i'll be trying these flies amongst others.
All that's left for me to say is a huge Thanks to Bob, changed my approach, simple is best.
Regards
Allan L
I'll follow this up with a couple of SBS on both. :z16
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I've never used DHE in anything bigger that size 14 so will maybe have to try a 12 ! :z16 Did use 16's a lot last year and managed with fine coastal DH, but tended to aim for a sparse, almost vertical wing and ginked liberally !
L
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I've never used DHE in anything bigger that size 14 so will maybe have to try a 12 !
L
Lindsay
You sure will. I only use size12 when LDOs and March browns are hatching. Maybe you have only little runts on the lower river but up above Alford they are big.
Irvine
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I agree Irvine, large fish were taken last season on big DHE's.
Iain
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I only use size12 when LDOs and March browns are hatching. Maybe you have only little runts on the lower river but up above Alford they are big.
No, no runts. I actually checked my fly box and I have 4 size 12's from last season...but they were unused ! My "dun" size for LDO is size 17 :shock It is rarely refused ! I use size 14 DHE as an all rounder. I have always been of the school use a size smaller than the natural and it is no bad thing but this talk of wallopers on size 12 and 10 DHE's might make me have a rethink. They do look 'obsence' though, sorta thing a Yank would toss at a troot ! :z4
Ofta buy some size 12 2200BL-B's !
Lindsay
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Funny that i'm thinking of fishing smaller. :shock
Still i might just have to continue to think like a Yank. :z4
If you think this is big, what about the 12 longshank Turk's Tri's for upland or rough stream prospecting, or size 8 sproat Veyatie Blacks ginked and aimed at Danica feeders on our big mayfly venues.
B100's and squash the barb on the vice Lindsay
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Funny that i'm thinking of fishing smaller. :shock...B100's and squash the barb on the vice Lindsay
Size 16 was my best DHE last season by a long way. Have ordered 12's in my preferred Varivas but also put down for some B100's and aye I always debarb.
Cheers,
Lindsay
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Might have just been me, but three rapid losses on trophies (rod benders) in two outings with the Vivaris hooks very quickly had them relegated back into the corner of the box and the B100's back off the subs bench.
Even the capture of a rod bender on the vivaris prior to the losses didn't sway it or even stay my hand, and with the way it was last year it wasn't long before another opportunity came along on the 100's.
Very probably coincidental, but once you've that wee doubt in there..................
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Must admit not had any real probs with Varivas 2200BL's so far except one that opened a bit on a 1 pounder - fish still landed ! The 3lb Broonies, 3 lb Sea Troots, no problems. :z8 I wonder if there are bad batches ? But you are right Allan, if you have any doubts bin them ! Same with tippet.
Lindsay
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I wonder if there are bad batches ?
oh yes, and when that happens it can be dozens/hundreds of thousands of hooks dispersed around the globe...
i've had straightening-out issues with some Varivas hooks. not going back to those models for sure.
cheers,
marc
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i've had straightening-out issues with some Varivas hooks. not going back to those models for sure.
It's a funny business this fishing mularkey isn't it ! :z4 You guys have probably lost more fish than I have caught on these hooks but I really like them; they are lightweight, but relatively strong IMO, have a great profile and excellent hook-up rate due to the gape and shape - I also seem to drop very few if any fish on them :z15
No doubt the B100's are an excellent, stronger hook, but they are heavier and the 'bum' does not sit quite so deep them AFAIK. I also use the TMC212Y's and they also seem a good lightweight hook in this style. I will tie some DHE's on B100's though (actually the first fish I caught with a DHE was a B100).
Cheers,
Lindsay
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I tied up around 60 spiders last year, all on the "new" Partridge spider hooks. Have to say, never again!!
Even small fish (talking 6-8 inches) managed to deform the hook when used with a 4 weight 10 foot Western and 2.3 tippet...so hardly stout gear.
Very unhappy, so now started to use the Partridge SLD hook for spiders as they are still light, but seem stronger.
Never had an issue with Varivas.
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I tied up around 60 spiders last year, all on the "new" Partridge spider hooks. Have to say, never again!!
Even small fish (talking 6-8 inches) managed to deform the hook when used with a 4 weight 10 foot Western and 2.3 tippet...so hardly stout gear.
:shock Shockarooney ! Not had a prob (so far) with them, just shows you :z8 Intraweb is full of anti SLD and 103BL stuff though.....
Lindsay
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I've not had problems with either type of hooks.
Infact i've had rainbows up to 6lb on 6wt gear with SLD hooks and no issues. I love them. :z3
Rob
You should really take the 6-8" broonies off the Spider hooks and use your Cutting points to mount them on before you fish for Pike's :z4 :z4
Sandy
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(http://i49.tinypic.com/2ryseaq.jpg)(http://i48.tinypic.com/13ypcg7.jpg)
Sandy,
I am currently in Angola on business but will be on the Spey and the Dee next week so I have been filling in time between meetings making a few tubes on the desk in my hotel room.
Eddie.
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Eddie
With all that fishing and fly tying, can you manage to fit any work in :z4
:z18
Jim
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Nice Ed,
I hope they bring you luck next week. :z16
Iain
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Eddie
:grin
With all that fishing and fly tying, can you manage to fit any work in :z4
:z18
Jim
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Jim it is a tough gig but someone has to do it and it might as well be me :z4
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Jim,
That will be no ;-)
Cheers
Steven.
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You expecting big water next week Eddie? That's a whole lot of copper there!
Look like they should do the trick!
Cheers
Ben
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Ben,
those are all aluminium but one thing that they are all missing which needs to be added when I get home is jungle cock which I forgot to bring with me to Angola.
P.S I was fishing in the Kwanza river last Saturday but no success, however a Tarpon rolled beside the boat and I felt totally undergunned with the 10 weight.
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Thought they'd be copper Eddie going by size & colours!
A 10wt is supposedly good for tarpon up to 70lb (babies), 12wt's are the norm for big migratories. Rich will set me straight if I'm off on this.
Cheers
Ben
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Ben,
if Angola ever becomes tourist friendly this could be the world centre of tarpon fishing. The average size on the kwanza according to the South African guide is from 75 kg up to 150 kg and the thing that rolled beside us was scary. They also have huge Jack crevalle and African thread fin. I was using the wrong flies according to the guide, I had made some seriously big bait fish imitations on 3" tubes but apparently they like dark clousers and decievers on size 5 0 singles and apparently we were fishing at the wrong state of tide and the wrong time of day. The 10 weight is apparently okay for the jacks and the threadfin and I come here on a regular basis so I will make the appropriate flies for next time and also the dorado fishing a couple of miles offshore is awesome so I will give that a go. There is some video footage of some Norwegians Tarpon fishing and Dorado fishing which is mental. If you google saltwater fly fishing Angola you will see it. If these people ever get their visa issues sorted this will be a go to destination. Next time I will take a go pro and hopefully get into something worth watching.
Eddie.
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http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=saltwater%20fly%20fishing%20angola&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CEIQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvwCMX-P8WgI&ei=dsU3UfuEH5HK0AXkn4DYCA&usg=AFQjCNHQe_KdahnP-CTOYxEdrz31ucbXDQ&bvm=bv.43287494,d.d2k
Ben,
here is the short cut to the Norwegians fishing on the Kwanza for tarpon and offshore for Dorado.
Eddie.
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With the rubbish weather here again i decided to tie up some more tubes with the hope of giving them a swim before the end of the week. Here is one hot off the vice.
(http://i45.tinypic.com/sxhthd.jpg)
Dan
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Dan,
that looks pretty good. What type of hair is that on the wing?
Eddie.
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Good tying Dan, hope you get a pull on that ! :z16
Lindsay
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Cheers lindsay and Eddie,
The wing is zonker strip, dunno what it will look like in the water but should work. Not totally happy with the one I tied last night, will probably have to change a few things round.
Dan