Fly Fishing Rappers - The LL Cool (J)ig

Morning,

During a clear out of our stock room at the beginning of this season, I came across a few left-over nymphs which we first sold over 8 years ago - in fact, they were the very first fly which we designed ourselves!

Back then we called them "Rubber-Legged PTN's" - because they were beaded pheasant tail nymphs with rubber legs. I do remember they were really popular and that I also found them really successful.

So, I decided - with the help of our fantastic tying team) to revamp them.

We're calling them LL Cool Jigs ...

Let me explain ...

I'm not into rap music at all (i'm a bit of an aging psychobilly/punk), but Jack, who is a good 25 years younger than me, is a bit of a fan.

I think it's all just noise ... but then that's exactly what my parents said when I came back with my first Meteors album.

Anyway, I digress ...

When Jack first saw the pre-production nymphs, with their Latex legs he thought they were pretty cool - and since then the name has stuck - i.e. Latex Legged Cool Jigs or LL Cool Jigs.

Back in September, I took the pre-production versions out onto the Derwent for a quick half-hour session, just to see how they fished and to get an idea of their weight etc.

I was very impressed!

In the first couple of runs through some riffles I had 4 fish - 3 Brown Trout & 1 Grayling (I didn't even know there were Grayling that far up the river) - so they definitely work!

Just as a little further test - I sent a few to a friend who is a bit of a Stillwater specialist for him to try out. As you can probable guess, they worked a treat - especially when fished close to the lake bed or in and around weeds and obstructions.

I duly sent the order out to our tyers to get as many as we could - as fast at they could - and they have not disappointed us.

They arrived on Tuesday ... and we have them available to you today.

So here it is The LL Cool Jig Selection:

This selection of LL Cool Jigs contain 12 nymphs in total - 3 each of Black, Olive, Red & White. All are tied on size 14 jig hooks with a gold-coloured tungsten beads and red latex legs.

Tied to resemble a cross between a bloodworm and a stonefly nymph, this fly can be deadly when fished either under a klinkhammer (aka New Zealand style) or as a point fly with other unweighted flies on droppers above. The rubber legs on these flies pulse when any action is imparted to the leader, this can then trigger takes at any point.

For more info on fishing this style of fly, take a look at the very end of this email.

These flies are great throughout the season for both river and stillwater trout - I tested some pre-production patterns and they were deadly for early-season Grayling.

Our LL Cool Jig Selection is priced at £18.00 and contains 3 each of the follow (all tied on size 14 jig hooks with red latex legs):

• Black Body
• Olive Body
• Red Body
• White Body

Please Note: Even though we have quite a few of these Selections available (40 to be precise), they will sell out very quickly so grab yours ASAP to avoid any disappointment.

As we always try to cater for every budget, I have set aside some of these LL Cool Jigs to be bought individually (for only £1.75 each). To order the LL Cool Jigs as individual nymphs, just click on the button below:

As we've only got 40 of these LL Cool Jig Selections available (i've squirrelled away a few sets for myself - yes, they are that good), you will need to be quick off the mark to secure yours.

Keep reading for more info and detailed images of these nymphs - you'll be glad you did as there's some great info on how to fish this style of nymph pattern (and others like it) at the very end.

Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £26 for the selection, these will not hang around for long!

Fishing with a squirmy-style fly is a simple and effective way to catch fish, especially when deployed in waters where trout are accustomed to feeding on worms. The squirmy-style fly is known for its lifelike movement and vibrant colours, which make it appealing to both Trout & Grayling.

This style of fly is typically made from a soft, rubbery material (in our case, Latex) that closely resembles the look and feel of a real worm. It's most often tied in shades of red, pink, and purple to mimic natural worm colours, though other colours like blue or even chartreuse can be effective in different water conditions. Unlike traditional fly patterns, the squirmy-style pattern relies more on its movement than realistic detail. When it hits the water, the pattern’s flexible material wriggles naturally, giving it a highly lifelike action.

The squirmy-style pattern works best with short, controlled drifts. It is a versatile fly, as it can be fished both on the drop and close the the lake or river bed, depending on conditions. Our LL Cool Jigs are designed to target fish holding near the bottom. A dead-drift presentation is generally most effective, where the pattern drifts naturally with the current. However, you can add occasional twitches to mimic the subtle, erratic movement of a worm, this is especially successful when fished on a Stillwater or Lake.

In slower-moving water, a subtle twitch every few seconds can add an enticing movement. If you're fishing in faster currents, focus on maintaining a drag-free drift so that the pattern moves naturally in the water. Watch the line closely for any subtle tugs, as fish will often strike quickly and plick the legs!

Squirmy-style patterns are a fantastic choice for fly anglers of all skill levels. With its realistic, worm-like movement and ease of use, it’s a great pattern to try when other flies aren’t working or when fishing pressured waters.

It's a bit like cheating ...

Tight lines