July is a difficult time on many of our small waters but this fly, used in conjunction with a sunk line, along with a fairly brisk figure-of-eight retrieve, can often save the day. A floating line and long leader can also be an effective combination with this pattern; quick, jerky pulls will give the fly […]
Red Head Sunburst Damsel (Stillwater)
Big Ball Buzzer (Stillwater)
Stillwater To be able to hold a nymph an inch or two under, try using a buoyant pattern to suspend it. Use the Big Ball Buzzer on the point of your leader, with a normal buzzer on a dropper above it; not only will the Big Ball suspend even heavy epoxy buzzers with ease, but […]
Jeremy Paxman
Television doesn’t always do people favours. On it, Jeremy Paxman sometimes comes across as abrasive, arrogant even. In fact, he’s neither, and whenever we’ve met up over the years, he’s invariably been polite, attentive and generous with his time. Our paths cross now at the Natural History Museum where Jeremy is chairing the 2nd Riverfly […]
The Midge
The MidgeMidges, in one form or another, are present in nearly all stillwaters in the UK and Ireland, if not worldwide. The family that is of particular interest to the trout and, therefore, the angler, is the non-biting midge or Chrionomidae.The life cycle begins with the female midge laying her eggs on the water’s surface, […]
Desert Island Flies: Jim Crawford
Mini-Hummie This pattern originated from two of Loch Leven’s finest anglers, Colin Smith and the late Jock Hodge, both excellent competition angers, and gifted, innovative fly tyers. They wanted to come up with a mini-lure to catch browns and rainbows on the mighty loch.With a lot of time and effort The Mini-Hummie was born. When […]
Deer Dub Emerger (Stillwater)
It bears a good resemblance to many food forms for the trout, especially midges and sedges. The deer hair fibres used in the dubbing mix add buoyancy and ‘confusion’ to the overall shape of the pattern, giving the illusion of a hatching insect. While this could be fished in a team of other dry flies, […]
Iron Blue Dun (River)
As with most dry-fly fishing on rivers, everything should be scaled down a touch. Fish this pattern with a floating line, long leader and fine tippet.Make a point of casting upstream and continually mend the line, so that drag doesn’t affect the pattern’s drift. Just like other dry flies, it’s always best to cast to […]
Biot Back Nymph (Stillwater)
For best results, fish the fly as part of a team of three and on a long leader. It’s a pattern that can work in any position, including on the often tricky, middle dropper. It will work on every line from a floater to a fast-sinking one.This is an unassuming pattern that is just as […]
Green Beak Damsel (Stillwater)
The build-up of bright-green tying thread gives a very good trigger point. At the same time the long marabou tail and bright-green partridge hackle give the fly plenty of movement, just like the real thing.Fish this fly on its own with a long leader and an intermediate line for best results. On reservoirs, fish it […]
River Itchen
The River Itchen is recognised as one, if not the, best example of a classic chalkstream that there is in the UK or, in fact, the world. It is a small river of some 32 miles in length from top to bottom but within it lie some of the best fly fishing beats to be […]
Rainbow Trout
In 1884, the rainbow trout first found its way from America by way of the new steamer ships and the newly found way of preserving fish eggs. UK trout fishing has never been the same since. The rainbow has proved to be a real survivor, a real doer, a fish that can knuckle down, roll […]
Tye’s Pale May
Hook: Down eye size 10Thread: Brown 8/0Tail: Pale yellow buck tailBody: Rabbit fur, yellow and natural, 50/50 mixWing: Pale yellow deer hairHackle: One grizzle cock and one yellow grizzle cock How To Tie The Fly 1. Fix the hook in the vice, secure a slim bunch of buck tail. Keep it loose the effect you want […]
Shipman’s Buzzer (Reservoir)
Designed to imitate a hatching midge stuck in the surface film, it really does the job admirably.This is a tremendously effective pattern when cast to rising fish. However, in flat-calm conditions, rather than thrash the water covering fish, cast out and let the fish come to your fly.Fish the pattern on its own on a […]
Olive Emerger (River)
Despite its name, it fits the bill when imitating hatching sedge also.With most dry-fly patterns it’s often best fished on its own, cast upstream to rising fish.A tapered leader is essential for this type of fishing; make a point of using them.It can also pay to fish a nymph off the bend of this pattern, […]
Bibio Dry (Upland Water)
By using well-teased-out seal’s fur and a touch of floatant, this is an exceptional fly that sits just in the surface film. Floating lines and long, tapered leaders are the order of the day; make sure you degrease the tippet near the fly for presentation purposes. Cast to rising fish, and expect a small sip, […]
