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I have just added a couple of links on the right hand side of the page so that 'River Fly Box' can be followed by Email alerts and Twitter.

~Dave

For everyday...

Simple spider patterns can be effective all season long

Here's a simple generic soft hackle / spider pattern that serves well in hatches of upwings and small caddis alike.

This is tied on a Partridge Spider Hook (#14)

~Dave

CDC Dun - folded wing

A new addition to the River Fly Box - the CDC Dun with folded wing

Full instructions added: here

~Dave

River Fly Box - compatability

River Fly Box

I have been updating the River Fly Box to try and ensure the tying tutorials are easily viewed on all media platforms including IPad and other mobile devices. Hopefully all the tutorials load correctly and are easy to follow.

There will be more updates soon - I have just completed photographs foranother series of tutorials. Watch this space!

~Dave

CDC & Elk - A guide to the pattern and its variants

Fly & Photograph by Hans Weilenmann

The CDC & Elk has earned itself a place as a modern 'classic', effective on running or still water. Hans Weilenmann has, along the way, also tied several variations of the pattern.

I am really pleased to offer here an article written by Martin Joergensen (Global Fly Fisher) which looks at the original pattern and how to tie it. This is a comprehensive guide to one of the most important modern dry flies.

Martin writes: 'People who have fished with the Dutch fly tying wizard Hans Weilenmann will undoubtedly have met the CDC & Elk. This is Hans' signature fly and probably his all time favorite fly. It's also a fly, which a lot of anglers have learned to love, including myself'.

 Hans' other patterns can be found on here.

Thanks to Martin for producing such a great guide to tying and using this fly,

~Dave

Barrio SLX

I have just spooled up some new lines from Mike Barrio - the SLX. Very much designed for the modern fly caster, this has a short belly with an overall head length of approximately 33 feet. This is clearly designed for covering single handed spey casting with ease whilst allowing for easy overhead casting.

Here is Mike's outline for the SLX taper:

Further details from Mike:

"Our new Barrio SLX floating fly line has been designed to complement today's modern fly rods. The new line features a head length of approx 33 ft with a short belly and a series of multiple compound tapers to the front. The short rear taper is also compounded and helps to produce sweet loops and fast shoots from roll and spey casts whilst still retaining stability on overhead casts. The SLX is designed to be heavy on the scales, but feel light in the air and that is where the intricate tapers really come into play!

All the above properties help to make the SLX an ideal line where space is tight and accuracy matters!

The SLX loads quickly and presents a fly predictably with control at any range from 20 to 70 feet, although it is certainly not limited to this range. Suitable for anglers of all levels of casting ability, advanced casters will be able to do some pretty clever tricks with the SLX and thanks to the positive turnover, visible head and the colour change, less advanced casters will enjoy repeatable, predictable results and good range with minimal effort.

The SLX excels with a tapered leader and in the heavier sizes easily copes with salmon flies, small tubes and poly leaders, making these an excellent choice for single handed salmon or sea trout fishing".


Mike has also put together some video of the new SLX being pout through its paces:





First impressions: slick supple and a really interesting profile. I will be out on the water with it very soon.

~Dave.

Emerging Quill Midge

Thinking about tying tiny dry flies, whilst the weather forecast is suggesting heavy snow, is a little odd. However, here is a pattern that works well for those mid-season, picky, smutting fish - oftenn selectively targetting tiny midge larvae and hatching adults. They can be tricky; but get a small, suggestive pattern in or under the surface file can be their undoing. Midge larvae will hang under the surface waiting to hatch and this little quill offering is worth a try:

Hook: Varivas 220BLB #22 and #24
Body: Quill, dyed red / pink
Thread: Sheer 14/0, grey
Wing: CDC plumes

I am just in the middle of shooting some new photos on tying CDC, so watch this space.

~Dave