Post stocking fun!

Happy Easter! Went up to Beaverdyke last night to fish for an hour or so, just to see out the Bank Holiday. Wind was coming from the West..hard! I tackled up a floater, 12 foot tapered leader and an experimental setup with black mini-muddler on dropper and bibio on point.  After 10 minutes I knew [...]

Stocking fun!

As you can see there’s plenty of water in Beaverdyke at the moment, and there are also plenty of overwintered fish but last weekend saw an influx of new blood as the first of this year’s stockings took place. I happened to be up there on the day in question, putting in a couple of hours [...]

Brrrrrrrr!

What a long, hard, grinding winter it’s been. And hey…the nights start drawing in about 12 weeks from now – there’s a cheery thought for you all! Anyway, let’s see, what have I been up to since my last post… Paid Beaverdyke a visit in February only to discover it was frozen over. There were a [...]

Getting Started with Fly-Tying

For those of you that have never tied your own flies, it may seem like a daunting and complicated extension to an already challenging pastime, and that the main reason we do it is to save money. So I guess this is where I’m supposed to tell you fly-tying is actually dead simple and can [...]

An Idiot’s Guide to Czech Nymphing

Before I continue with this little article, let me make it perfectly clear I’m no expert on Czech Nymphing. In fact, I’m not really an expert on anything but then regular visitors to Yorkshireflyfishing will already know this. I am however keen to try new experiences and pass on my findings to others in the [...]

Swinsty Special

This is a quick and dirty lure to tie up, ready for next time you fish for rainbow trout. I originally designed it to use at Swinsty/Fewston reservoirs on a floating line, but it will work on intermediate/sinking just as well. It’s not a delicate little gossamer winged creation, it’s a simple and brutish lure [...]

Bob’s Olive

Bob’s Olive A simple but very effective (well, I would say that…I invented it!) fly that isn’t just restricted to use when olives are about. Originally developed for use at Coniston Hall where olive patterns can excel, I quickly found that this pattern was a ‘must have’ in my fly box. For stillwaters fish it [...]

Olive Buzzer

Olive Buzzer Originally developed for fishing Coniston Hall (see review here) . During much of the season olive flies can do well at Coniston Hall, both buzzer and olive upwing type patterns. I have also had a couple of storming sessions there with sedge pupae representations on curved hooks so I just decided the throw [...]

Shipmans Buzzer

This is my own variation of the popular stillwater pattern. Designed to imitate a buzzer in the final stages of hatching the shipmans buzzer is an excellent choice when chironomids are coming off the water. Fish it ginked up and static on a long degreased leader but make sure you keep in touch with your [...]

Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear (Goldhead) Variant

This fly, and its many variants, has to be one of my favourite river patterns and also works well on stillwaters. Fish it on its own or as part of a team where it should be on the point. Materials used: Hook: Size 14 Drennan Carbon Nymph Head: Size 1/8” Gold plated bead Thread: Brown [...]