Time Flies

Not only are we in the last month of the Trout season, but it'll soon be time for the new Fly-Tying season. Contact Keith Tiley if you want to join those sessions, and be assured that you don't need any experience, skill or dexterity to get involved, as I have repeatedly demonstrated. Even if you only observe, you'll learn a lot and have an enjoyable social evening, meeting other members.

The fish are getting harder to catch now as we move to the end of the month, either because they've been caught before, or are just better at hiding, or surviving through being suspicious. I've therefore done a round-up of successful flies (based on the catch returns) from the last month or so.

To roll up both concepts, here is a pic of two flies from the fly-tying evenings, which also figure on the successful flies list: the Curry Nymph and a typical Jig Quill. Thanks to Keith on both counts.

Here's the list:

Perdigons

Quill Jigs

bare hook nymph

green tagged black and peacock spider

Size 16 Goldhead PTN

Duracell

Pink Tag Jig Nymph

F-Fly

Black PTN

Montana

Small PTN

Silver Quill

Olive Perdigon

Czech nymph

Goldhead Hare's Ear

Pink headed Hare's Ear

Pink headed jig nymph

Curry nymph

Pink Tag nymph

Roza's Pink PTN

Zebra midge

Purple Nasty

Flashback Hare's Ear

Elkhair Caddis

Zulu

Shrimp

Cranefly Spider

Adams

You'll notice that some are generic patterns, and few mention the hook size, but most will be #16 or perhaps#14, though I do know the zebra midge was #18.

Unfortunately, the details in the catch returns are often a bit vague, but at least they say something. Sadly most returns omit any comment whatsoever, so please think about what fly you caught on next time, and bung it in the comments on your catch return, and share it with everyone else.

Even better, go along to the fly-tying evenings and you'll get loads of fly suggestions form other members - some of them might even work!

My one tip for the rest of the month is that if you're nymphing (and most people do), try and include a bit of Pink either on the dropper or point, either a tag, a bead, some pink thread or dubbing (like the Curry nymph) or go the whole hog and use a pink shrimp (it worked for me last week). Make the most of the next few weeks anyway, and if you signed up for Winter Fishing, just carry on after that, as Grayling often go for Pink too.

Cheers

Peter B

P.S. here's a pink-headed tiger midge nymph that worked well for Andy W, size 18 with a heavy bead.