A-lure-ing Early-Season
Fly Patterns

We have an informal family motto which is:

" si unus es habiturus, magnus es"

which translates to:

"if you're going to have one, get a big un"

We're not that grand really, but the saying is often quoted when buying chocolate, beer and cars. The above motto was brought to mind just recently when chatting with the guys who tie for us, we were discussing flies to catch those hungry early-season fish - something with a little movement in it was the obvious choice, but I wanted to do something a little bit different, so we decided to take an early-season staple pattern and microize it.

For years, the Woolly Bugger has been one of the most reliably deadly fly patterns ever tied - in both rivers and stillwaters.

Big, bushy, full of movement, it's a lure that early-season trout simply can't ignore. You probably have a few in your box right now - we all do.

But here's the thing nobody talks about: there are days, more than we'd like to admit, when the fish don't want the big version. When the water's running clear, when the fish have seen everything, when a fly the size of your thumb makes every trout in a pool slide quietly away and disappear.

You know those days. We've all been there.

So we've scaled it right down, and created ...

We kept everything that makes the original Woolly Bugger work - the pulsing marabou tail, the movement, the profile - and stripped it back to something that barely casts a shadow.

Twenty-four millimetres from hook eye to tail tip - that's about an inch in old money.

Tied on what I genuinely believe is the finest jig hook in the business, the AHREX FW551 in a size 14. We added a body-coloured tungsten bead into the mix, because getting it down to where the fish actually are is half the battle.

The result is something that looks entirely natural in the water and fishes beautifully on a tight line or a dead drift.

We've called them Micro Tungsten Buggers, and we have them in four colours that cover just about every condition you'll encounter this spring.

In this email, we are bringing to you our NEW Tungsten Micro Lures - we've called them Micro Tungsten Buggers, flies which are equally as successful fished in both Stillwaters and Rivers.

As we enter Spring, fish in both rivers and stillwaters are actively on the hunt for food. If you've been in - or on the edge of - any water over the last few weeks, you will have noticed that there are more and more insects buzzing about as the buds on the trees and bushes start to appear. 

If you read towards the end of this email, you will also find some great tips on how to fish these micro lures with a free download of our Streamer & Lure Manifesto.

A lure is not really imitating any specific lifeform in the water, although originally designed to imitate small fish/fry - they are more used to provoke the fish's interest, and they take it more out of curiosity/anger. To a trout, these patterns seem very much alive when any action is imparted to them; therefore, these are fished quite actively - see below.

Our new Micro Tungsten Buggers are all tied on the epic AHREX FW551 in a size 14. Our selection contains 12 lures in total, 4 patterns - 3 of each in a size 14. The patterns included in our Tungsten Micro Lure Selection are:

• Black Micro Lure - 3 each of size 14
• Olive Micro Lure - 3 each of size 14
• Pink Micro Lure - 3 each of size 14
• White Micro Lure - 3 each of size 14

Our NEW Micro Tungsten Bugger Selection, containing 12 flies, is available as a selection for only £24, including free delivery. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the patterns in more detail. We've also given you the option to include one of our stunning Slimline Silicone fly boxes with your order, for only an extra £12.50.

Our NEW Micro Tungsten Bugger Selection, containing 12 flies, is available as a selection for only £24, including free delivery. We've also given you the option to include one of our stunning Slimline Silicone fly boxes with your order, for only an extra £12.50.

We also have these fly patterns available individually @ £2.50 each, click the button below to view them:

*** We only have a limited stock of these selections. If you would like a set you will need to be quick! ***

Fancy Something A Little Bigger?

Our lightweight Bosnian Pine Squirrel Streamer Selection is a premium, hand-tied fly selection designed for anglers who demand maximum realism, subtle movement and consistent performance when targeting trout and small predatory species in small rivers, streams and still waters.

Tied on a high-quality Size 8 AHREX FW525 barbless hooks, these streamers combine excellent strength with a lightweight profile, allowing for a controlled sink rate and natural presentation - ideal for shallow margins, glides and slow-moving water.

The tail and legs are made from carefully selected pine squirrel zonker, a natural material renowned for its soft fibres and exceptional underwater movement. The legs are tied using a refined dubbing loop technique, producing constant pulsation and lifelike vibrations that convincingly imitate small baitfish or struggling prey.

The flies are finished with 4 mm silver 3D eyes, securely set with UV resin, adding visual trigger points while ensuring long-lasting durability, even after repeated use.

• Hook Size: Size 8 - AHREX FW525
• Overall Length: 6cm / 2.5"
• Available colours: Dark Olive, Natural and Rusty Brown

Our Bosnian Pine Squirrel Zonker (Bjelica) Selection includes 2 each of the following colours:

• Dark Olive,
• Natural, and
• Rusty Brown

Our Barbless Bosnian 'Bjelica' Micro Streamer Selection, containing 6 flies, is available as a selection for only £20, including free delivery.

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

It is often said that to catch a big fish you need a big fly – that’s not necessarily the case – but usual in the early trout season, in my experience the one fly fishing method that more often produces the bigger fish is lure fishing.

Lures are tied in various patterns – but they all imitate one thing, small fish. Not much can compare to the adrenaline rush when you see a large trout chasing your lure near the surface!

Our Streamer & Lure Manifesto aims to introduce you to one of the most productive fly fishing styles to catch the bigger fish in the water. The key to lure fishing, as any fly fishing method, is to know when and where to use it.

Do not be put off using lures - even on smaller waters, with your existing kit you will have all the equipment you need, you just need to change your approach – and maybe buy a few extra lure patterns if the bug really bites you!

Tight lines.