…but I have tied a couple of flies to try get me into the groove. After all it’s not long until the start of the new season! It took me a surprising amount of time to knock up these 2 size 14 parachute emergers but I know for a fact they will both catch fish [...]
…tonight I tied the Klinks! . They ain’t perfect, consistency is a dirty word in my dictionary, clearly but I know they will catch fish so they’ll do. All are on Partridge size 14 Oliver Edwards nymph emerger hooks which seem ideal for Klinkhammers. That’s a grand total of 10 flies over 2 nights, it’s a long [...]
…when I sometimes tie a few flies to fend of the unending misery that is winter. Winter is coming. Valar Morghulis! Anyway, I tied up some GRHEs and a couple of pink bead head flies. All have tungsten beads and are primarily aimed at catching grayling. I used size 16 Drennan Wet Fly Supreme for the [...]
Tying this fly is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. First, make sure you’ve got a tight grip on your shank. Then, make sure your cock is firm but not too stiff. Finally, don’t leave a huge blob of varnish on the head. Anyway.. Whenever I go fishing for wild browns, this [...]
I received an email today informing me of a new fly fishing course running at Prince Henry’s grammar school in Otley this year. Maybe of interest to some of you? I’ve no connection with these courses, or the people who run it, but it’s a local event which surely must be worth a mention! In brief, [...]
Um, okay, stretching the truth a touch but…. Earlier this year I received an email from a follower of these hallowed pages who had tied up a few Bob’s Olives (pictured below) and had some striking success. Well, Geoff has contacted me again to tell me details of the fishery he regularly visits in Wales, [...]
Found at West Tanfield. Seriously, what is it and who would fish with it?! It’s solid as a rock, like a mass of excrement has been wrapped in peacock herl then soaked in epoxy.
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 [...]
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 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 [...]