Tying the Troth Super Skater
This skater pattern from Al Troth is a simple pattern but demands a little practice. Only two small clumps of elk rump hair tied back to back make this almost unsinkable. Not only a great attractor when fished as a skater, but also a formidable Daddy long-legs imitation for late summer.
Tying a free swimming blood worm
These small hemoglobin filled midge larvae are high on the list of the most important trout foods globally. This is a very realistic, almost soft bait imitation, that is not only extremely effective and robust but also very quick to tie.
Tying a Sulphur Dun mayfly
This is a low riding pattern that works well when the sulphur mayfly (Heptagenia sulphuria) duns are on the water. The close clipped underside of the hackle makes for a very natural footprint.
Tying the double bubble
One of my “secret” patterns that has worked really well for me over the years, it almost makes fishing easy! Not representing anything in particular but just one of those flies that bring fish up.
Large mayfly nymph
A mixed media nymph that is a real easy tie but still ticks all the boxes for a good large burrowing mayfly nymph imitation. The main trigger features of the nymph are accentuated to give it a higher attractor factor.
Tying the Jassid
The little Jassid is from Vince Marinaro’s book A Modern Dry Fly Code and was an extremely popular pattern until Jungle cock became more difficult to obtain. The jungle cock nail feather can be substituted with any small dark feather and highlighted with a drop of white varnish or UV resin.
Egg laying caddis
This egg depositing caddis is a great pattern when the egg laying females are on the water. A simple tie that can be a game changer.
Tying the double decker
This is a simple technique for a double wing comparadun, that can be tied in various sizes and shades to imitate a whole load of low riding mayfly duns.
SIM Fly Festival 2019
The coming weekend 22-23 June I will be tying deer hair flies at the Sim fly festival in Italy. The event takes place at the home of the Italian Fly Fishing Museum in the Convento della Maddalena. If you haven’t visited this show and you have chance its amazing! The show is located on the banks of the famous Sangro trout river in the beautiful mountain village of Castel di Sangro. This is not a commercial affair, this is a show for fly tying and fly fishing enthusiasts where you can meet and talk to some of the worlds finest fly tyers and single hand casters. If you find yourself in our part of the world, please, please don’t miss this show, you will be made welcome with open arms.
I hope to see you there…. Ciao
Tying the Great Grey Caddis
A large adult caddis fly for the mid summer hatch. With a wonder wing and a mixed hackle / over wing, of partridge and medium grey dun Herbert Miner rooster. Skated over the surface with short pulls, this is a great attractor pattern.
Blue winged olive nymph
This little blue winged olive nymph normally tied in sizes 16-20 is a quick and easy tie that works well as a generic pattern for most small mayfly nymphs.
Lightning Bug
One of the best selling nymphs in North America and rated by many as one of the top ten must have trout flies! A quick and easy pattern that can be tied in just about any colour wished, with a nice tail and leg technique.
A small black thing…
The SBT or ‘small black thing’ is a pattern that I would not go trout fishing without. This nondescript pattern works well all year round when there are small black flies on the water or when the fish won’t take anything else. With a white foam cylinder post that doubles as a great sight indicator for smaller flies.
MP 2404 mayfly nymph
This heavy up side down CDC mayfly nymph is a variant of Marc Petitjean’s MP 2404, that incorporates an off bead used as a keel to keep the nymph fishing the correct way.
Green drake emerger
This green drake emerger is an effective pattern when there are prolific hatches and the fish are playing hard to get. Tie it in different sizes and colours and it works well for many species of emerging mayfly.
Antron yarn caddis pupa
A twisted Antron yarn segmented abdomen makes this easy caddis larva a nice alternative to dubbed bodies.
Tying a Trico spent Spinner
A small Trico spent spinner with a neat mayfly tailing technique and a segmented moose mane hair body for a semi realistic effect.
Transitional Midge
A hatching midge with a little different quill body technique that gives a more three dimensional, transparent body effect.
Baetis Sparkle wing
A little comparadun Baetis, that not only works very well early, but just about the whole season. With a mixed wing and a quill body. Perfect in sizes 16-18.
The skating caddis
A quick medium sized adult caddis fly that skates high, creating a nice wake, making it a great little attractor, with an interesting segmented dubbing body technique.
Paraloop Griffiths
A little different play on a Griffiths gnat. A reverse paraloop hackle that gives a deeper presentation and doubles as a quick sight indicator.
Parachute Adams
Floating mayfly nymph
A floating CDC mayfly nymph that will fish as an emerger with the tail and abdomen under the surface, the thorax being held high with the CDC bubble wing case. Change the colour and hook size to match your hatch.
