[Iain Cameron]

Folks, my lousy fly-tying on public display.
Having fished a Griffiths Gnat with great success towards the end of 2007, I wondered how a gold-head version might work at the start of season 2008. And it worked really well throughout the year - so here is my favourite fly from last year, a variation on a griffiths sparkle gnat - tied with a wee bit of lead wire underbody and a gold bead. A dry fly for under water...



hook - regular wet or dry hook will do (size 12, 14 is grand)
thread - red or black, whatever you have
body - single strand peacock herl
hackle - grizzle cock
tail - magic hair
head - wee gold bead
underbody - little bit of lead wire

For tying instructions for the sparkle gnat, see June 2007's Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine.
I have of course nicknamed it the Grizzly Cock... cue lots of stupid childish innuendo.

It lands head down in the water, but floats due to the hackle... sometimes taken then. A few pulls on the leader pulls it under, where is swims and sinks nicely. Has worked especially well in windy, turbulent weather - guess it seems bright and visible. However it works, it just works for me.

cheers
iain

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Iain
Thanks for that ..... looks "fishy" to me

Best wishes
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

Hi Iain,
The ones you gave me last year are still in my box waiting for the right day

When is Glentanar open by the way?? Fancy a bash?

[Irvine Ross]

Glen Tanar trout loch has thawed out and is open now. They are all overwintered fish at the moment, new stock arriving soonish.

Tight lines

Irvine

[Iain Cameron]

i tubed on Glentanar all day last saturday. Bright sunshine, and not too cold... only had to come out for a 15 minute break to warm the toes, but otherwise was OK. but boy was it windy... not big waves, but huge gusts of wind whipping up the surface into spray. Very very difficult to cast an 8'6" 4wt rod. 

err, didn't catch a thing (exactly like march last year on the loch) apart from a lovely wee silvery fish, about 6-8 oz, with the most amazingly pronounced forked tail. I’d swear it was a miniature salmon. It had a slight bluish/purple tinge along the flank, but not many other spots. I didn’t have camera or phone with me.  It was not like the brownies usually in the water, and it wasn’t a rainbow... I mean a seriously forked tail, and perfect condition, not a stocked fish. Cool though.

[Barry Robertson]

Is loch tannar on the way to ballatar on the left hand side?

[Jim Eddie]

It looks like a fish taking fly to me Iain.

Baz

You would not see Glentanar loch from the road.

http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/glen-tanar-estate.html

 

Jim

[Barry Robertson]

Hi jim, never seen it from the road but was guessing it was through the sand stone arch on the left hand side heading to ballater! Am i in the right direction?

[Jim Eddie]

Nae sure Baz , I'm coming from the opposite direction to you. Its between Dinnet and Aboyne. bonnie loch to fish.

 

Jim

[Irvine Ross]

Hi jim, never seen it from the road but was guessing it was through the sand stone arch on the left hand side heading to ballater! Am i in the right direction?

Baz

That's almost correct. It's not an arch but there is a tower and very fine gate pillars on your left just after you cross the bridge heading towards Ballater. Go in there and carry on up the road for a couple of miles to the very end. Phone to book before you go, there are only 3 boats.

Cheers

Irvine

[Barry Robertson]

Thanks for that Irvine, that will be my first tubing adventure for this time off 
That sounds exactly like where i was trying to explain so at least i know where to go now 

[Jim Eddie]

Never realised you could tube it , thats another one on my to do list   

 

Jim

[Barry Robertson]

Call in sick on the fridy morning Jim and come out for a jolly 

[Jim Eddie]

Called in sick last Friday Baz , don't want to make a habit of it 

Give me a shout if your ever going of a week-end.

 

Jim

[Barry Robertson]

I will get back to you on that Jim