Morning,

Firstly, I'd like to thank all of you who put your trust in us and became a member of our Pisces Collective over the weekend - it really is appreciated and reinforces in my mind that I really am onto something. We've only around 18 spaces remaining, so if you do want to join our merry band, you still can. You can find out more info on The Pisces Collective by clicking here.

 

Those Elusive
Warm Weather Trout ...

As the post-mayfly season is now in full swing here in Yorkshire, I know from experience that trying to tempt the wild fish as the weather (and the water) starts to warm can be very tricky - especially so if they are still full of Mayfly!

On one of my local rivers, they stock a few of the lower sections, leaving the upper few miles for mother nature to look after. The head of wild fish has really started to grow and during the warmer weather is when they really come into their own (especially when fishing in an early morning).

The fish are all fairly small - a half-pound fish is a good one, but they are beautiful.

 

TL;DR - Too Long; Didn't Read

I've put this section at the beginning, so you can grab your flies now - and save reading my musings for later, safe in the knowledge that you have already secured your successful summer fly patterns.

This email is all about a situation I encountered this past weekend - and how I overcame it with the use of the "Double Dry" technique and some specialist flies. Each of which I have added to a selection to make it really easy for you to use the right patterns when you're next on the water.

Plus - for today only - if you add in our "Small Streams & Small Flies" book to any order you make of the above specially curated selections you will receive it at half price - only £5.00.

I don't fish the upper reaches of the river as much as I should, but when I do, it's always a pleasure - especially as it's all on private land where there's no chance of bumping into walkers of any persuasion. 

Take last Sunday for example, it was one of those perfect-looking mornings that we all dream about. Warm morning sunshine, just a whisper of wind, and a fined-down river sliding through the landscape. A few lazy rises from tight in beside the far bank — classic summer trout behaviour. I’d packed very light, just one of Jeff Jones's wooden fly boxes adorned with some 'banker' (or 'not blanker') patterns, and had visions of sippers gently nosing up to my Parachute Adams & Double Badgers all morning.

It was the sort of day you imagine telling exaggerated stories about later!

Read on McDuff ...

First stop: at a smooth glide with the occasional head-and-tail rise on the far bank. I went in confidently with a Parachute Adams, a size 16, a pattern that covers quite a few of the regular morning hatches. It landed like a feather ...

and ...  Nothing.

A few more casts, a few more no-shows.

It seemed like the fish was looking, but didn’t fancy it.

So, I swapped to a Double Badger an fished through some faster water further  upstream, thinking something that stands a little higher on the water (and scruffier) may be a bit more suggestive, and might entice a fish.

And it did - sort of.

A flash, a swirl… then nothing. Close, but no cigar.

By now, the sun was on the water and the fish had clearly gone into hiding - every cast and following drift had to be perfect, and even then, they weren’t playing.

I moved back down to the flat water, tied on an Indicator Adams, and used it as a visual anchor to run a second, smaller, dry fly behind it - 18 inches of 6X with a size 18 Griffith’s Gnat trailing like a sneaky midge snack. This is what's known as the "Double Dry" technique:

Pair a larger (more visible) dry fly (the size 14 or 16 Indicator Adams is perfect) with a trailing smaller dry fly - like a size 18 Griffith’s Gnat or size 20 Parachute Adams - on 18"-24" of fine tippet tied to the bend of the hook.

This combo lets you fish two flies on the same drift:

• The larger fly acts as a strike indicator and sighter for where your small dry fly is (just follow the tippet to find you small fly).
• The smaller dry fly does the delicate convincing.
• When the sighter fly twitches, pauses or vanishes … lift into the fish.

This technique is especially deadly when trout are sipping tiny flies in glassy water and you just can’t see the take.

 

First drift: nothing ...

Second drift: a pause, barely perceptible. Then came that slow, deliberate rise - a soft sip in the film, like the fish didn’t want to cause a scene. I lifted gently, and finally … a tight line.

From there, everything changed. I had the rig, the rhythm, and - crucially - the right flies.

One fish became two, then three. Each fly had earned its place. The Parachute Adams opened the show, the Double Badger stirred up interest when things slowed and the Indicator Adams helped me see what I usually couldn’t! 

And the Griffith’s Gnat? That little clump of midgy magic turned a tough day into a memorable one.

As these are by far our most popular flies during July & August, I've set each up as a selection in their own right, here's the details:

• The Indicator Adams Selection - 12 flies, 3 each of sizes 14, 16, 18 & 20 - for only £16.
• The Parachute Adams Selection - 12 flies, 3 each of sizes 14, 16, 18 & 20 - for only £16.
• The Griffith's Gnat Selection - 9 flies, 3 each of sizes 14, 16 & 18 - for only £12.
• The Double Badger Selection - 9 flies, 3 each of sizes 14, 16 & 18 - for only £12.

And here's where you can get a closer look at them (and pop them in your shopping basket):

  

The Indicator Adams Selection

£16.00 £18.00

The Parachute Adams Selection

£16.00 £18.00

The Griffith's Gnat Selection

£12.00 £13.50

The Double Badger Selection

£12.00 £13.50

*** Go on, you know you want to ***

There’s something deeply satisfying about fooling a summer trout in tough conditions. And with the right flies—and a few riverbank tricks—you’ll not only catch more fish, but enjoy the puzzle all the more.

• Fish early or late: Lower light, cooler water, and more confident fish. Set your alarm—or stay out for the evening rise.
• Go long and light: Use a 12–15ft leader and finer tippet (5X–7X) for a soft, drag-free presentation.
• Stay low and stealthy: Crouch, kneel, or even fish from your knees—your silhouette spooks more fish than you think.
• Watch your shadow: Bright skies mean long shadows—don’t cast one across a pool unless you want it empty.
• Match the hatch (or don’t): When unsure, a generalist like the Parachute Adams or Griffith’s Gnat covers your bases.
• Use the Double Dry technique: Fish a visible fly (like an Indicator Adams) as a dry fly strike indicator, with a smaller dry (e.g. Griffith’s Gnat) trailing behind. A deadly combo.
• Rest and rotate: If you get a refusal, step away and give the fish five minutes. Then change your angle—or your fly.
• Keep it dry: Use fly dust, shake, or even a spare pattern. A soggy dry isn’t fooling anyone.

FLY Series Book: Small Streams & Small Flies

This is the book I wrote a year or so ago, it's dedicated to small flies and is especially useful at this time of year - when smaller flies are the most successful.

We've just had it re-printed again (as this is the main sales season for it) and they're all ready and waiting for a home on your bookshelf (or car glovebox - which is where I keep mine).

As a Special Offer for today only, you can grab an automatic 50% discount on the book, just add it to your basket along with any one of the fly selections included in this email and the discount will be applied automatically.

 

Tight lines & have fun out there.