Stillwater Essentials for August

Following on from the success of the specialist Stillwater lines we brought to you on Tuesday (which all sold within 4 hours - thank you), we're dipping our toes even further into stillwaters today ...

Over the past few months we have mainly concentrated on river flies, but this week we've had loads of new Stillwater patterns arrive at Barbless Flies HQ. We have heavily invested in increasing our range of Stillwater flies, over the next 2 months we will also be adding over 100 extra patterns to our line up.

It looks like we're in for some perfect fishing weather over the next few weeks, so I thought I would start by including some tips on fishing stillwaters in warmer weather.

• Timing is the key - Either start early. Water temperatures will be the coolest in early mornings, so use this to your advantage.
• Find deep water - Fish feel more comfortable in colder water, so on warmer day,s locate the deep water and use appropriate tactics, sinking lines, etc to target the fish.
• Find moving water - Look for any water which is moving, aerators or stream entrances. This water will have more oxygen, and fish will look for more oxygenated water.
• Avoid the smaller stillwaters - Small stillwaters are generally fairly shallow, and so the water will be much warmer, which generally means there is less oxygenated water. This puts fish off feeding and can sometimes stress the fish, making them very lethargic.
• Help fish recover after being caught - Please look after the welfare of the fish once you've played it to the net. Try not to take the fish out of the water, and make sure it is fully recovered before releasing it.

With the water now warmer, buzzer patterns will come more to the fore as far as the stillwater angler is concerned, especially 'top of the water' adult buzzer imitations:

We've updated our popular Adult Buzzer Selection to include some new imitative patterns for the 'warm weather angler'.

These are the patterns which will be more successful as the weather (and water) starts to warm up a little:

This selection of Adult Buzzers (one of our most popular Stillwater flies) has been put together by popular demand. The selection contains two of each of our most popular Adult & Emerging Buzzers:

• 2 x Black Adult Buzzer  - size 12
• 2 x Grey Adult Buzzer - size 12
• 2 x Olive Adult Buzzer - size 12
• 2 x Black Emerging Buzzer - size 12
• 2 x Hares Emerging Buzzer - size 12
• 2 x Olive Emerging Buzzer - size 12

This is the perfect selection of flies for fishing any buzzer hatch, just keep them in the surface film and let the wind do the rest:

• When it's Windy: Use a floating line, a shortened leader. Check the direction of the wind and cast out across the wind (i.e. the wind is side on to you) - always make sure the wind is to your left shoulder if you cast right-handed (and the right shoulder if you cast left-handed). Using a team of three buzzers, cast out and allow the buzzers to drift with the wind. You should not need to retrieve your line, as the wind will make sure your leader straightens up. You will usually see the take before you feel it - just remember to strike in the opposite direction to the direction your flies are moving. Once at the end of your drift, lift the flies slowly from the water - it's surprising how many fish take your buzzers as you're about to re-cast!
• When it's Still: Again, use a floating line, long leader and a team of three buzzers. Cast out and, before the flies start to sink, pull the line to straighten out the leader. Then pause (keeping in touch with the flies) and wait for the flies to drop, takes usually come with the buzzers on the drop. You should spot a take before you feel it, keep an eye on the fly line and leader for any abnormal movement. If the buzzers sink too deep (remember this type of buzzer needs to be fished in the top 3 feet), just a few pulls on the fly line should bring them back to the surface, and you can start again by letting them sink.

 

Our NEW Selection of Adult & Emerging Buzzers (which contains 12 flies) is now available for only £20, which includes free delivery to anywhere in the UK in our eco-friendly packaging.

Go on, you know you want to!

Flies For Your Weekend Washing Line

(see below)

The 'Almost' Barbless Daddy Dinkhamer

A part of our Artisan range of flies The Daddy Dinkhamer is a favourite on both Stillwaters and Rivers. Tied on a Size 10 AHREX FW500 crushed-barb hook. An essential fly for the late summer and autumn months. This fly is extra buoyant with a 9mm foam head.

These flies are available individually (£1.85), in packs of 6 (£10.00) or packs of 12 (£18.50) - only in size 10. Just click on the button below to view the Daddy Dinkhamer in much more detail.

Or Something A Little Less Buoyant!

(but still as effective)

The Deadly Daddy

A favourite on both Stillwaters and Rivers. Tied on a size 10 barbless hook, this daddy pattern is our most popular pattern by far - I think it's something to do with the green hot-spot tied into the tail. An essential fly for the summer months.

These flies are available individually for £1.95 each and are only available in a size 10. Just click on the button below to view the Deadly Daddy in much more detail.

Try The Washing Line This Weekend?

What's the 'Washing Line' method I hear you ask?

The washing line method is a technique designed to let you fish an emerger/buoyant fly on the point with a team of buzzers/nymphs suspended just below the surface of the water, using a floating fly line - it hangs just as a washing line would - suspended by the floating fly line at one end and the buoyant point fly at the other. Normally when fishing with buzzers or nymphs, they would descent down through the water column slowly (which is a good way of searching to find the depth the fish are feeding at). However, the 'Washing Line' method allows you to keep all of your flies just below the surface where the trout are most likely to feed.

Using this method requires you to use a much longer leader (in excess of 10'). As a general rule, use a leader of around 12' to 14' (this also makes it much easier to net the fish once you have caught it, as you will not end up with any of your flies hanging in the top ring of your rod). A good initial setup when starting out is to space your flies on short droppers (about 12" long) each one 3 feet apart - this makes it easier to cast. If you're having problems casting it, just use a buoyant point fly (like our Stillwater Dinkhamer) and two droppers.

I like the sound of that, when should I use it?

Always use this method when the fish are high in the water and sipping buzzers or taking the insects as they emerge. Check out the rise form of the fish, look for a 'head and tail' rise - think of the way a dolphin breaks the water surface, first you see the head, then the dorsal fin, followed by the tail. This will be the first indication they are taking buzzers.

Stillwater Hatch Chart

Here's a handy Stillwater hatch chart for you if you can get to a local stillwater this month:

Get out there and have fun!

P.S. If you'd like to buy any of our buzzer patterns individually, you can find them all by clicking here.