Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Fly Tying => Topic started by: TimTheFlier on 27/02/2012 at 10:30
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As I'm planning my first ever trip to the West coast of Scotland in May and reasonably new to fly tying I was wondering if anyone could provide some patterns that I could attempt to tie that will suit Brown trout in wild hill lochs.
Thanks in advance,
Tim.
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Plenty to choose from on this list but if i was restricted to a 'Desert Island Flee Choice' it would probably include the following traditionals:
Kate McLaren (standard and green tailed versions and a few with hot orange head hackles)
Bibio
Soldier Palmer
Zulu (with red and blue varients)
Loch Ordie (standard, annorexic and green tailed versions)
Clan Chief
All above with muddler heads
Hogs
Half Hogs
Hoppers
Wickhams
Dunkeld
Greenwells Spider
Snatchers (black, olive and claret)
Silver Invicta
Black Nymph
GRHE
All above commercially available and best to stick to sizes 10-14. I tend to fish dries almost exclusively noe but a quick check of my go to standard broonie box and all the above are still there and well worth an airing. There's plenty others i could add to this list but even without them if you stuck to the above you won't go far wrong.
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No Dog Nobblers? :)
I would add some form of stickleback imitation to that list, for when the wind is wrong, the colour is wrong and the fish just arnt having it.
Has saved a few blank days :)
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Ok a couple of lures best of which would be the Humongus (Shuggy) but black or olive WSW type tadpoles also worth a swim. The olive damsel certainly works well as an anchor in big wind days behind your other two flees in a team.
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My most productive fly by a long way is a Deer Hair Sedge (DHS) as per Bob Wyatt
http://www.danica.com/FLYTIER/rwyatt/deer_hair_sedge.htm
Completely bomb proof and absolutely deadly. Fish it dry or wet or in between either on it's own or part of a team. A green or orange body is also a good change.....hell fish two (or three) of them on a cast :z4 :z4
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Yup agree with that Peter. Whilst you've posted the link i'd like to add the Veyatie Black as well
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All above commercially available and best to stick to sizes 10-14
You might want all those in #8s as well you know. Trust me on this one.... :wink
Add in claret and golden olive bumbles, mallard (or grouse) and claret and you'll be fine.
Tight lines.
:z1
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Thank you all for the speedy replies and some great suggestions - I shall get tying and report back on success (or lack thereof !) aftre the trip.
TtF
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Hi Tim,
Just curious, where are you going to fish?
All patterns are great, but be sure to bring some black Klinkhamers as well!
Jeroen
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That you giving all yer secrets away Allan? :X2 easgach1
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Nae many secrets there easgach :wink
I guess i would add a dunkeld sparkler and a dunkeld snatcher to the flies already mentioned!
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Thats Dryflees diversion Tactics, never let yr right hand know what it is doing, :X2 easgach1
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Dryflee,
My special thanks to you for the list (and additonal suggestions) - that is exactly what I was hoping for.
Jeroen,
Dank u voor uw advies - we're planning to stay near Gairloch and explore the wild hill lochs in the vicinity over about 4 or 5 days. Can't wait as it's my first trip of the sort and want to stack the luck as much in my favour as possible by at least taking along a selection of flies that should be suitable.
Soundmixer,
Surprised that you suggest #8 ! I was expecting "the smaller the better" for wild hill brownies, so that's come as quite a surprise.
RabbitAngler,
I shall ensure to include a mixture of sizes of the DHS.
The rest of you,
Again, thanks for all the suggestions and advice.
Regards,
Tim.
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RabbitAngler,
I shall ensure to include a mixture of sizes of the DHS.
I must admit I only use them in 10's :z16
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Soundmixer,
Surprised that you suggest #8 ! I was expecting "the smaller the better" for wild hill brownies, so that's come as quite a surprise.
Hungry little trout no know bounds, my friend! :z4
You wait until the wind picks up. Saying that a flat calm last year had them slashing at #8s so you never know.
:z1
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One of my first outings to a west coast wild loch which was supposed to have salmon & sea trout saw me using blue zulus etc tied on a #4 salmon hook :shock, fish threw themselves on it all day......biggest? around 11" :shock :X1
Saying that it's the standard size for Hamish :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :X2 :X2
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We should fish together more often Peter...... that way you'd know I seldom fish as small as a #4 :wink
H :z3
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:grin :z4 :z4 :z16 :z16
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Tis true!
As Geoffrey Bucknall once said "I have a passion for the meat hooks of yore". He was describing old salmon flies, but he could have been talking about H's trout box.
Never forget, big fly big fish.
And Peter, what's this about Hamish's 11"???? Is this and Orvis guide initiation?? :z7
:z1
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Sorry Tim, never fished there, I know some of the lochs a bit more to the north...
One piece of advice I can give you is to keep moving! Don't change your flies, change your the bank you're fishing them from. I make 5 casts from one spot, then move to the next when I don't catch a fish. When you do hook up, stay a bit longer for number 2 or 3, but when you only catch small fish: move on!
And take Soundmixer's advice, big flies for big fish.
Good luck,
Jeroen
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And take Soundmixer's advice, big flies for big fish.
Good luck,
Jeroen
Thanks Jeroen
That might be the first time someone has said that, ever! :wink
:z1
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And Peter, what's this about Hamish's 11"???? Is this and Orvis guide initiation?? :z7
Thats what he said..........honest your lordship....... :X2 :X2
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Jeroen,
Thanks for the tip about moving around - first ever trip to Brown Trout hill lochs, so the advice is greatly appreciated.
I've also heard that if the rain is horizontal the midges can be a plague like pest - is this true for early May ? And will Jungle Formula (50% DEET) keep the little blighters at bay ?
Lastly, any good pubs near Gairloch (I've already heard about Applecross) ? Gotta have somewhere warm for the tall stories in the evening and to hole up if the W. Scottish weather does it's worst !
Thanks all for attempting to flatten my near-vertical learning curve.
TtF
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If you're up in May the midges may not have woken up to their true potential :z12. As long as you have wind, in any direction, they won't/can't fly so that's a bonus as its usually windy :z16, however I use a west coast developed product called SHOO which hasn't got DEET - nasty stuff which wil F*** up fly lines - in it :mad :mad :mad.and is very effective IMHO.
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Lastly, any good pubs near Gairloch
The Old Inn just north of Gairloch is pretty good. Old and traditional, good beer, good food and plenty of whisky :z18
The pub in Kinlochewe is missable, trust me, but there is a really good B&B with great food and company.
http://www.cromasaig.com
Midges? The only thing that ever worked for me was not washing for a week and chain smoking roll up cigarettes. But that was a hill walking / wild camping trip and not in the company of other people.
If you can get it Avon "skin so soft" works and some of the stores over there do sell it. Once again DO NOT get it on your fly line or flies.
:z1
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I discovered a fantastic product up at Ullapool last year called Stop Bite. Does what it says on the tin!
http://www.stopbite.com/
Does not smell too bad and it is totally natural.
Well worth the £5.99
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Up to the mid 70's the old inn was a temperance pub and then it became a mini market before it became a old fashioned traditional pub :X2 easgach 1
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If you can get it Avon "skin so soft" works and some of the stores over there do sell it. Once again DO NOT get it on your fly line or flies.
:z1
Only works if you want to look like a leper at the end of the week and smell like an old woman Euan. I know it works for some but not for me.
Only thing I've tried that actually works, is not toxic and does not trash fishing gear is the Life Systems all natural kiddies insect repellent. Comes in a small silver pump spray, needs to be reapplied every three hours or so and stings a bit if you get it too near your lips, eyes or up your nose. Was available from Blacks, about £8.00 a bottle and I got through one and a bit last time I was away for a week.
Cheers
Ben
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Up to the mid 70's the old inn was a temperance pub and then it became a mini market before it became a old fashioned traditional pub :X2 easgach 1
A temperance pub :z4 I have a feeling you aren't joking though ???
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You should be OK up to June for Midges but with the way the winter has been they may be a bit early this year if it stays mild.
I'm no expert on flies but I've had some fun on very small klinks when things have been quite calm, definately go with Peters recomendation for DHS.
I also tried an Orange blob just for a change, nearly got thrown out the boat by my fishing partner though, bloody traditionalists :z4 :z4 :z4
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I also tried an Orange blob just for a change, nearly got thrown out the boat by my fishing partner though, bloody traditionalists :z4 :z4 :z4
Orange blobs rock, particularly the ones with rubber legs!
Ben
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Orange blobs rock, particularly the ones with rubber legs!
Ben
Are those the same ones you put on Claret Bumbles? :X1
What the hell, whatever works! :z16
:z1
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As promised, here's a quick summary of the trip:
Fished the wild hill lochs around Gairloch on the West Coast of Scotland. The weather was cold and showery but there were also some occasional sunny spells. Water temp was around 8 deg.
Not sure whether the success rate was down to poor technique or the weather conditions but managed 7 "broonies" over the four days which I was very happy with.
The "claret bumble" was the most effective seconded by my own variation on a bibio pattern: palmered olive hackles, Brown hen hackle at the head and a yellow goose biot tail (picture to follow).
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7229716790_6d33b1a884_b.jpg)
For anyone who hasn't tried this type of fishing I strongly recommend it - it wasn't about the number or size of fish, merely the wild and totally natural experience of it.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5197/7229711016_8b72bd5d35_b.jpg)
Tightlines
TtF
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really liking the photo's Tim :z16
result!
Iain
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Excellent Tim, thanks for posting!
We're flying to Inverness next Tuesday, I'll post a report also.
Jeroen
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Way to go Tim! :z16
I knew you'd love that area and the troot. For me a drifting boat and three flies is the nirvana of fly fishing.
The slap of the water on the hull, the cry of the curlew, the slurp of a troot taking the fly, the craftsmanship of proper boat management, the SCENERY and the gentle horse riding like roll of the waves is tranquillity and perfection in one.
Damn roll on Assynt!
Great photos and great troot. Glad you enjoyed it!
:z1
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see you are up at a favourite local loch, next year the laird is restricting it for paying guests, easgach 1
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Indeed, although I believe it is likely to be a little more imminent than that. We met the Laird who informed us that we were likely to be the last paying guests.
Apparently he's doing a good job of upsetting the locals over management of the estate (according to the few we had the pleasure of contact with whilst there) - I would've thought a local community such as that one, would require a little more delicacy and diplomacy - ah well, what do I know, I'm a mere mortal that pays for his fishing.
Take the opportunity today fellow fishers, it may not be possible tomorrow.
Regards & tightlines as always
Tim
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He's already Taken the river off our angling club, by the way who charged you for fishing the M*** loch or did you just buy a hill loch ticket?, I was over at another lochan over the hill from the M*** loch this afternoon, managed more than a dozen , but then I live there,, there are another 22 lochs that the club leases but the new Laird thinks he's going to make the estate pay , something his old man couldnt do, but then the new laird is a country member :X2 easgach1
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Easgach1,
My mate arranged all the permits, however I believe the ones for M*** loch were bought in the local petrol station (on behalf of the club?).
Originally it did not include M*** loch, but when we met the Laird, he kindly offered us to fish the M*** loch as the last public guests, as he was intending to return it to his own use - so I guess he's not all bad - could just do with trying to integrate with the locals rather than stir them up.
We also managed another 2 of the lochs up there (a small kidney shaped loch next to M*** and the large one beyond that if you kept walking) although blanked in both of them.
When we went back to the petrol station the following day for permits and boat key for Loch T***, we were told that the Laird had come down demanding to know who sold us the permits and if we came back to just return our money !
I think you live in a wonderful part of the world with some excellent wild fishing on your doorstep. Having discovered the delights, I can assure you I shall be returning.
If you're ever over on the East Coast, PM me and I'll be happy to show you some of our local rivers if you're not already familiar.
Tim
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The man takes a lot on himself, He cant just go round doing things like that,we have had meetings with him but he has this " it's mine "mentallity, he is also hoping to magically revive Loch Maree,but thats his privilege,easgach 1