The Wylye today:






~Dave

I visited the River Monnow at Skenfrith today. It was a warm, lovely day but the river was holding a fair bit of colour. Only small grayling were showing and although it's a healthy sign for the river, it would have been nice to have connected with a larger specimen.



With the browns and reds of the trees, the smell of cumcumber-like grayling and some wood smoke from a near by fire, it couldn't really more like Autumn.



This is a beautiful valley, with much restoration and care carried out by the Monnow Fisheries Association. Presently there are opportunities to bid for all sorts, including flies and guided fishing, to help raise money for the Association. Take a look here and bid in the knowledge you may end up with a real bargain of an opportunity.

~D

Shrouded March Brown

A little variation on a classic winged-wet fly. I tied this using a much longer, webby hackle.Gone is the gold rib and a thread rib put in place, over a very soft body of beaver fur. When submerged, the thread rib shows up strongly with a clear segementation of the body. Even in the Autumn, wet flies can move a good number of fish. I like to fish them either singly or sometimes in conjunction with a dry. Slip-winged flies may not be as durable as some of the more modern materials, but they are unbeatable in wet flies.

Shrouded March Brown



Hook: B175 #12
Thread: 14/0 Sheer, tan
Hackle: Hen, dun
Abdomen: Beaver
Wing: Hen pheasant
Tail: Mallard

For all the detailed, beautiful, fancy patterns available, it is nice to tie simple, suggestive patterns. More and more my fly boxes are becoming loaded with these simple flies. Profile is the key. I don't know whether the loop 'wing' suggests splitting wing buds or legs. I guess it doesnt matter: they give me confidence. Fish them dead-drift without any hint of drag, or drawn purposefully up through the water to induce a take.

Looped Baetis Nymph


Hook: TMC 102Y #15 - 21
Thread: Powersilk 10/0
Bead: 2mm tungsten
Tail & 'wing': Woodduck
Body: Dark olive spectrablend
Thorax: Peacock / charcoal spectrablend

~ Dave

I'm steadily tying some flies for the bench at the BFFI. A few CDC loop-wing emergers, para-duns, nymphs and heavy bugs are already done. I thought it would be a nice idea to pre-tie some of my favourite river patterns - and hopefully demonstrate some of the techniques and materials I'm using.



There's a fantastic exhibition of tyers' work planned at the show. Away from Fly Tyer's row, there will be some exceptional tying displays too. Take your chance to visit their website and see who will be present. It's lining up to be a great weekend.



My copy of the 2009 edition of Hatches landed on my door mat a few weeks back. I've been making my way through it, continuing to be fascinated by some of the great articles.



It covers everything from fishing flies through to the artistic & realistic. When you delve into to it, fly tying is a hugey diverse subject. Whether your interest lies in saltwater, rivers, lakes, fully dressed salmon flies, tiny trout flies... (the list is endless really), you will find yourself appreciating the magazine. This is only the third year that Hatches has been published. This year there are a few place where the magazine an be purchased in the UK. Either way, if your over this side of the pond, it's worth ordering and having all three to hand. You won't be disappointed!

~D.

So that's it. Another trout season done and dusted. Every year I plan to get on the water more; every year I always feel I could have managed more. But this season gone has been a good one. I didn't manage much fishing since August, but I don't think I missed a great deal. I have, however, enjoyed my fishing more than ever and I hope that continues. Whilst I try to sort out my season's returns, my mind is starting to wander to colder weather, misty mornings and the on-set of some grayling fishing. Yes, dry flies and small nymphs can catch plenty of fish before the heavy guns put in an appearance, but there's no harm in stocking the boxes...

Heavy Mallard


Hook: Dohiku 644 #14
Beads: 2mm Tungsten x2
Thread: Olive Powersilk 10/0
Tail and wing: Mallard
Abdomen: Dark olive spectrablend
Thorax: Peacock spectrablend

~ Dave

Orvis and the BFFI 2009

This weekend (Saturday 10th October) I'll be doing a tying demonstration with Dennis Shaw at the Orvis store in Burford. Take a look at Dennis' flies by clicking the link on his name.

I'm also delighted that I've been invited to tie at the BFFI 2009 on Flytier's row. More details to follow on the website. If you're planning to visit the show which is on the 7th and 8th November (always worth it), please pop by and say 'Hi'.