Display for the BFFI

I have tried to tie up a few dozen flies for the display clips at the BFFI. A row of heavy weight bugs and shrimps, some smaller loop nymphs (a fly that has done well for me for grayling already this year), some loop wing emergers and some paraduns.



Hook: TMC 102Y #19
Thread: Sheer 14/0, tan
Hackle: Badger, rooster
Wing: TMC Aerowing, tan
Tail: Coq de Leon fibres
Abdomen: Wapsi superfine, lt. brown
Thorax: Rabbit under-fur

~Dave.

River Fly Box

With over 9000 hits to the blog since last December, it has been far more successful than I could have imagined. Thanks for visiting!

I also have a new venture on the go too: the River Fly Box.

Deisgned to host a range of tutorials for tyng my favourite patterns, I have already started with half a dozen patterns or so.

Hopefully I'll have some guest tyers appear too and perhaps some galleries of photos.

Please do take a look.

River Fly Box

~Dave.

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.