Skating Sedge

Here's a useful sedge imitation for late evenings. Fished dead drift, skated, dry or wet, it is useful pattern. I'll put a version on the River Fly Box Soon:




Hook: Partridge YK12ST #20
Thread: Sheer 14/0 grey
Abdomen: Hare's mask
Lower wing: CDC
Upper Wing: Raffine / Swiss straw
Thorax: Hare's mask

~Dave

Ants!

It's that time of year again. The flying ants are showing and, when they blow onto the water, you can expect some exciting sport with some terrestrial imitations:


Hook: Varivas 2200BL-B #16
Thread: Sheer 14/0, grey
Butt: Pearl tinsel
Body: Spectrablend, black / peacock blend
Thorax: Squirrel
Wing: White CDC



If it sinks (or of you make it sink!) watch the leader for takes:

~Dave

The Pheasant Tail Nymph is a very adaptable pattern:








Hook: Partridge BIN #14
Thread: Sheer 14/0, orange
Rib: Copper wire
Abdomen / wing case: Pheasant tail
Thorax: Squirrel

The tips from the wing case are tied back to suggest legs at the front of the thorax.

~Dave

Grey Dagger - Acronicta psi

Perhaps this is not the sort of entomology that interests the average fly fisherman, but there are some truly beautiful insects at which to marvel. This is the caterpillar of the Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi) ~ very beautiful!



~Dave

I have re-shot the photos for the Klinkhamer / Parachute emerger on the River Fly Box.

Please take a look: Parachute Emerger / Klinkhamer ~ The River Fly Box

~Dave

Yesterday's mere hint at some rain turned into bigger and better things today. We had had a fair fall over night and there was plenty more this morning too. When I arrived at the brook it was up a good 5 inches or so compared with last week. There was pale 'tea' colour to the water and it looked promising.

Due to fish with Vince, and having forgotten to phone ahead (sorry Vince!) I had twenty minutes fishing some usually forgotten water. With the rain falling hard, I had decided it best to fish a biggish parachute emerger - giving any willing fish the chance to see the offering amongst the rain-splashed surface. Sure enough, within a few casts through some very inviting water a pretty fish took the fly boldly.



Vince, casting up into some streamy water:


Having been joined by Vince, we found more fish willing to rise but identyfing rises in such conditions is never easy. Eventually more contact was made and well marked fish put a good scrap: always nice to get the short carbon flexing!



As we waded up the stream, we spooked a lunker in some unlikely water - a good 16-18" fish and certainly the biggest I have seen in the brook. A few tiny sedge were in the air and the occasional appearance of upwings hatching helped to highten our expectations. Although it was hard to spot these, the hatch was likely to be Iron Blue duns - certainly they respond well to these less than summery conditions.



As the rain ceased, we struggled to find the fish again. However, with the extra water, confidence is high that a fresher river, with more willing fish, is on the cards for the next few days.

~Dave

It rained a little today, and with an hour or two to have a look at the stream, I was hoping there may be a few fish stirred into action. Warm air and falling rain... usually means there are one or two willing to show themselves.

Sure enough, peering into the pools, there were fish quartering in the flow, clearly taking nymphs. However the clarity was high ~ so the fish were easily spooked.

Now you may get some funny looks approaching a tiny brook or stream with a 10 foot rod, but believe me, it can allow you to approach the fish with far greater delicacy and line control is hugely improved. With the extra length you can keep alot of fly line off the water. This helps prevent drag and improves your presentation enormously. Agreed, you need to be careful with casting, but with the longer rod, you can almost place the flies where you want them, guiding and controlling them through the pool. Line is kept away from bankside vegetation, strikes are immediate and wading is kept to a minimum (infact I only slipped in the water to net a fish).

I ran a heavy nymph through some likely looking holes, but eventually I found some rising fish. A quick change to a #20 CDC Shuttlecock brought immediate success with small browns.



However, a stirring rise on amongst the overhanging vegetation gave away slightly larger fish's location. I aimed for a slack line presentation, but the fish hit the small fly within split seconds and well before any drag could even think about upsetting the fly's drift... it turned out to be a feisty rainbow in beautiful condition.



Neatly in the scissors; the #20 CDC Shuttlecock:


I'll put together a tutorial for this simple pattern. It epitomises simplicity in fly tying and is a worthy addition to any river fisher's fly box.



The rod I was using was a Marryat Tactical 10 footer for a #4 line. More soon.



As I write, the heavens have opened. Good news for the rivers.

~Dave

River Fly Box - Guest Book

I have now added a Guest Book to the River Fly Box website:

River Fly Box Guest Book

~Dave

A CDC Dun with biot body.

~D

Killer Bug - a new addition to the RFB

I've added a new pattern to the River Fly Box: The Killer Bug:

~Dave