In this week's email, we have a NEW dry-fly specific leader from Massimo, hand-tied in Italy and we've now restocked with one of our most popular dry fly selections - The Adams Selection.

Towards the end of this email, we've also got some great DIY tying recipes for those of you who like to tie your own leaders - channel your inner Nigella (without the pout) and give them a go.

Read on McDuff ...

NEW -  Dry Fly Leaders from Massimo

Magliocco 

Welcome to our newest product - the Ghibli Modular Dry Fly Tapered Leader- from Massimo Magliocco. These leaders give a much more delicate presentation than standard 'shop bought' leaders. They are all tied by hand and include a micro-loop at the tip - this loop is a perfection loop which is around 2mm in diameter. We have these available in three different sizes:

9ft - (approx 2.7 Metre)
12ft - (approx 3.6 Metre)
15ft - (approx 4.5 Metre)

Designed specifically by Massimo Magliocco, these new tapered leaders have a profile that is about 36% -36% -28% for power, taper and tippet, and they are much more manageable than those that are sold which have percentages of 60-20-20.

We asked our local fly fishing god/addict (Dave Southall) if he would give them a test for us and let us know what he thinks - here's what he said:

"Very little memory after being stored on the reel & what little memory there is, is easily stretched out. Nice & supple to resist drag. The taper is good as the leader will turn over well, even into a wind. Yesterday there was no wind but at close range, I could cast just the leader plus 4’ of 5x tippet with my 10’ 4/5 weight rod whilst I was teaching casting on Mulberry Whin Fishery. I like the micro-Perfection Loop since I always tie them onto my own leaders to save cutting back the leader every time I tie on a new piece of tippet. In conclusion, it is a very good leader for dry fly or fishing nymphs (other than Euronymphing)." - D.Southall 2022

These leaders are supplied with a pre-tied micro-loop, so that anglers can tie the tippet from 0.12 to 0.15. So with these modular leaders, the angler can adapt and alter them to their needs.

Made from nylon with just the right elasticity. The micro loop guarantees a higher leader strength. When dry fly fishing we recommend using a fluorocarbon tippet so that it will slightly sink below the water surface and prevent drag - usually when fishing on moving water, drag is caused by the tippet and not the fly!

All you need to do is add 3ft to 4ft of your favoured tippet to the miro-loop on the end of the leader and you're good to go.

Massimo's leaders are only available through us, and like all good things, are sold in packs of 3, for only £12.99. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the buzzers in more detail.

Please Note: We only have a small amount of these, so if you would like to get your hands on them, you will need to be quick!

Give them a go, you will not be disappointed!

Dry Flies For Rivers & Stillwaters:

The Adams fly is one which should be in all river angler fly boxes. This Parachute Adams Selection contains a variation of the classic Adams dry fly. These flies float extremely well and with a dense hackle, they float correctly on the water. It works really well in the faster more choppy water and is especially effective in fast pocket water

A variation of this fly was originally tied by Leonard Halladay and named after his good friend Charles Adams (from “The History of Fly Fishing in Fifty Flies”, by Ian Whitelaw). Nobody is really sure exactly what his fly imitates, but it is one of the all-time greats.

Adams flies are generally tied in two different styles, the original and the parachute versions:

• Original - With a hackle running a third of the way down the hook shank.
• Parachute - With the hackle tied horizontally around a sighting post

The way in which both of these variants are tied ensures the fly floats high on the surface - and stays there with just a little floatant added!

The Adams Family of flies are ones which should be in all river anglers' fly boxes

Our Parachute Adams Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above). We are supplying all of these for only £18.

All are supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail.

Leader Length

If the water is small or rough, use a leader which is roughly the length of the rod you're using. If the water is calm, extend the leader to between 11ft and 15ft, then add 2ft to 4ft of tippet. Just remember:

"the calmer the water - the spookier the fish - the smaller the fly - the longer and finer tippet you need."

Tippet Size

To enable your dry fly to turn over correctly (which is our main aim), your tippet should always be balanced to the size of your fly:

DIY Leader Designs

In this section I will give you some leader designs for different leader lengths. All of the below designs end with 6X (except one) and are designed for rods rated from 2 to 7 weight - happy tying:

Get out there and have some fun!