Peeping 'Wiggle' Caddis - Olive

A variation to the very neutral, tan coloured wiggle dubbing, here is an olive version:


A 'gaggle' of peeping caddis:


It is also worth a try mixing the dubbing. Also, leaving sections of patchy colour also help suggest alternative cases. It's interesting to see how the cases can vary from river to river. This weekend, whilst down in Devon I found a few caddis with very scruffy cases made from sticks and other detritis, whilst in other streams they tended to be more stone-based.

~Dave

Peeping 'Wiggle' Caddis

The Peeping Caddis imitation can be a superb way of exploring deep, fast runs in the stream. It lends itself to be fished deep and often on a short line. There will soon be a tutorial on the River Fly Box for tying this version of the grub.

Here I am using the new Wiggle Dubbing from Funky Fly Tying for the body... more soon:





~Dave

More from the Wye

A few more photos from my recent trip to the Derbyshire Wye:

A decent fish hooked, putting a healthy bend in the rod:


... and I am pleased to see it safely in the net:


Dave Smith hooks a spirited wild rainbow:


The result is a nicely marked fish:


~Dave

Derbyshire Wye

On Thursday I made the three hour drive up to the Derbyshire Wye to tackle its crystal clear waters and wild rainbows. This is a beautiful river with challenging currents to guide the fly through - and the challenge is made all the greater by the dry-fly-only rule. A cold North Easterly was pushing through and there was very little in the way of fly life. Despite this, there were fish to be seen and some of them truly huge: wild rainbows bustling for position, some of which were perhaps 6 or 7lb.

We were fortunate in the middle of the afternoon to be treated to a hatch of Large Dark Olives to which the fish duly responded. I'll post some pictures of the successful patterns soon.

Pictures are always better than words, so enjoy the following from a cracking day:





My first wild rainbow from the Wye, in superb condition:


A lean fish, but they fight hard in the current:


My biggest fish of the day, approaching the net:


... and safely to hand - these are beautifully marked specimens and packed full of power:


Careful aerial mends were needed to battle the currents. Here's a pile cast to try and add slack into the leader and fly line and give precious extra seconds of drag-free drift:


I was also treated to this brown trout; my only of the day:


Dave Smith brings a fish to the bank:


Dave also landed this stunning brown:



A few out of season grayling (one approximately 2lb for Dave Smith!), several browns and over 30 wild rainbows between us, this was a stunning Day. My thanks to Dave Smith and The Peacock at Rowsley.

~Dave

Please take a look at Jindřich Lacko's blog. Stunning photos, as this demonstrates:

'Grayling on the Fly'



~Dave

Sunday saw Orvis' Fly Fishing Show at Blenheim Palace. It was good to chat to the many people that came by to see the tying. There was a great deal of enthusiasm at the show and it's always enjoyable to chat through materials and techniques - it gets you thinking about tying in its very simplest forms. The show was also a great opportunity to catch up with Jim Williams and Paul Procter and discuss some of the finer points of casting.

Jim Williams starting his casting demonstration:



Jim runs the Wiltshire Fly Fishing School and is an AAPGAI qualified instructor and Orvis Endorsed Guide.



Paul Procter, discussing loop formation in detail:



~Dave

#30 Shuttlecock

For those tricky fish just picking at the surface:




Hook: Varivas 2210 #30
Thread: Sheer, 14/0
Rib: Darkened tying thread
Thorax: Wapsi superfine, grey & brown
Wing: CDC

~Dave

The Paradun: A new addition to the RFB

I have just added tying sequence for The Paradun on the River Fly Box:

Tying the Paradun





~Dave

I made it on to the Wellow Brook today. The water was high and with some colour but looked very inviting. A proper April scene. I was introducing Vince Brandon to the river too, so the aim was to get him a few fish. Whilst several flies hatched, there seemed to be little interest in them so opening tactics were to use heavy nymphs, brassies and cased-caddis patterns.

The water was high but nicely coloured:


Fishing was slow to start, but short line line nymphing found a few takes for Vince.

I eventually managed a fish on a brassie, fished duo style under a Hi-Vis Balloon caddis.

We worked our way up the stream fishing each likely looking run, bouncing the heavier flies through the deep pools. The extra water and colour certainly meant that the Czech nymphing style helped locate the fish, whilst allowing for a decent presentation.

Vince, using the tree for support, reaches with the short-line nymph:


Olives were fluttering off regularly by half past twelve and eventually we found some rising fish - some of the takes being very fast. A change to a parachute emerger found two more fish to the hand.

A change to an emerger re-fuelled our hope of a fish or two:


With a 6'6" rod and fast water, even a small fish gives a good account of itself:


A beautiful wild brownie landed:


As we neared the end of the middle beat and approached the road bridge, Vince adopted the short line nymph again and after bumping a couple of fish, soon adjusted his strike helping him to hook two fish in quick succession.

Vince works up the run:


The short-lined nymph gave excellent control in the fast, deep water:


Success! Perseverance with the deeply presented nymph gave a hook up to a decent wild brown - well done Vince!:


With perhaps a dozen hook-ups between us, a good opening session under tricky but inviting conditions.

~Dave

At last I made it out today: the river had dropped a little and was running clearer. Perhaps still a little more colour than is ideal, but still fishable.

The wild garlic was certainly flourishing and gave that aroma of spring as you walk:





I managed a couple of fish on the peeping caddis and tungsten-backed shrimps. The fish were hard on the bottom and in the deep pools. A hatch of LDO's was encouraging. Surely with some better weather forecast, the real spring fishing should really start to begin. Watch this space!

~Dave

Peeping Caddis

Hook: Partridge SUD #10
Thread: Moser Powersilk, 10/0 olive
Grub: Glo-Brite floss #12, fluo green
Legs: Partridge
Case: Hare in split thread & 2.5mm tungsten, black
(Flat lead under body can also be added for additional mass)

Hook choice is a strange one, being for a dry fly pattern, but its shape seems perfect for this style of dressing.

~Dave

With the recent deluge, today's visit found the river with heavy colour. Given a couple of days without a down-pour though, I can't help but think it could be perfect...







~Dave

GRHE Nymph: A new addtion to the RFB

I have just added a new addition to the River Fly Box: The GRHE nymph





Faced with a deep, fast run of water that just simply screams fish, this no-nonsense, tungsten-headed version of a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph is my first choice.

It represents everything and nothing. It could pass as a cased caddis or a stone fly nymph. It may even suggest an olive nymph or even a shrimp. It matters not! What is important is that this fly will serve you well and persuade a take on even the quietest of days. This is an important fly for my early season trips when fish are hungry and there is plenty of water moving through the river. This is also a very useful nymph as a point fly on stillwaters.

~Dave

Barred S-Loop Nymph

A version of the S-Loop nymoh using barred wooduck fibres for the tails and emerging wing:



Hook: Varivas 2120WB #14
Ballast: 1.5mm Tungsten
Thread: Sheer 14/0, tan
Body: Orvis Spectrablend, ginger
Thorax: Orvis Spectrablend, light olive
Rib: Tying thread
Tail / Loop: Barred Woodduck

~Dave