2wheels1rod

Lost & Found - Mayfly nymph imitations for those early morning sessions

Lost & Found As you may already know, if you've bought anything from us, we love the art of Ryan Keene - an American artist who specialises in Fly Fishing, all of the orders we send out have Ryan's art on somewhere. A couple of weeks ago we were tidying up our warehouse (creating some space to store all our new Mayfly patterns) and came across an unopened package from our printing company wedged behind one of our cabinets - it was flat and quite heavy (looked like a ream of A4 paper), so it definitely wasn't flies. Curious to find out what it was, we opened it. Quite a few years ago, we asked Ryan if he could create a piece of "Mayfly" related art for us - which he did (you can see it above). He delivers all his artwork to us digitally, so we can pass it on to our printers for our packaging & cards etc. At the same time, we also asked the printers if they could create some prints from Ryan's Mayfly artwork - this is what we found! Back in 2018 we did a limited print run (of 100, printed on anti-glare A4 350gsm paper, just ready for a frame) which we offered one Xmas - these are the ones which remain from the original print run - so we now have 40 of Ryan's Wally-Wing Mayfly prints we didn't know we had! So, what do we do with the prints? We give them away - for FREE with every order of our Mayfly Nymph Selection placed today (until stocks last - we've only got 40 prints available) just order a set of Mayfly Nymphs and we will include the print when we ship your order ... A Mayfly "Heads Up" The Mayfly hatch is the most eagerly awaited hatch on the fly anglers' radar. This year we've pulled out all the stops and have some great content and NEW patterns lined up for you. We will let you know about all of them over the next few weeks. We're also putting the final touches to something which we believe has never been done before! All I can tell you at the moment is that it's Mayfly-related, will be available to everyone for FREE and we will be launching it on Saturday. Here's a clue to what's coming your way on Saturday ... Keep your eyes on your inbox this Saturday morning - we're going to need your help with it! As we are now just about to enter May, we have a really successful Mayfly Nymph Selection to showcase today - perfect to target those really early Mayfly hatches. I've fished with these nymphs for the last four years, and they have proved themselves to be very effective no matter which rivers I fish in the UK - there are patterns to suit any condition & colour. There are four pattern variations (Walker, Golden Nugget, Olive & Brown): The Mayfly Nymph incubates in a silt burrow on the river bed for 2 years and then in a morning will start swimming to the surface (generally before 1pm). We had great success with this selection of Mayfly Nymphs in the really early morning and also just before lunch. Read on for some tips on how to best fish the Mayfly Nymph. Our Mayfly Nymph Selection contains two of each Mayfly nymph (above) in two sizes (10's & 12's), in total there are 16 flies supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. All of these flies are tied on specialist long-shank barbless hooks, in sizes 10 to 12 using the best quality materials available. We are selling our Mayfly Nymph Selection for only £22 - individually these Mayfly Nymphs can be bought for £1.75 each. Remember: The first 40 orders will also receive a FREE Mayfly print from Ryan Keene. Get them while you can - we did run out last year! Use an 8ft to 9ft rod, along with a floating line and 8ft to 10ft of leader. Use a cut down 9ft tapered leader;(use the last 5ft) and then 4ft of 5x tippet. Fish a large Mayfly Nymph of your choice (the nymphs are up to 2.5cm long) so a size 10 or 12 is a good imitation. Our Top Tips for Fishing Mayfly Nymphs: You are looking for sections of the river which are below a slow-running silty section and preferably where the river narrows. The funnel effect will act as a conveyor belt delivering the mayfly nymphs to the waiting trout. The better-sized trout will be at the head of the pool, so steadily work your way up. Mayfly nymphs are best fished in the morning (especially before midday), this is when they are at their most active. Once the Emergers appear on the water the fish will ignore the nymphs. Get them while you can - we did run out last year! Spotted Yesterday ... With all of the rain we had last weekend and now some warmer weather on the horizon, I spotted my first real hatch of Hawthorns, just a few, as the sun poked its nose through the clouds. Once I see them I know the dry fly season is about to start in earnest. Get ready for them on your local with our specially curated Hawthorn patterns. It seems like the favourite patterns this year are these two below - the Hi-Float Hawthorn (tied with a pinch of Deer Hair to keep it riding high on the water) and the Hawthorn CdC (tied with a sparkle body and a pinch of CdC to help it float - and look realistic): Hi-Float Hawthorn £1.50 Hawthorn CdC £1.50 The Hawthorn Fly (or Bibio marci) is a small (no larger than 1cm) black fly, noticeable by its long gangling legs. Hatches of Hawthorn flies usually start in late April (some say it's always the 25th - St Mark's day) and last for no more than a couple of weeks - however with the colder weather we've had just recently these look like they are hatching later and will last a little bit longer. The Hawthorn fly can also be used as a suggestive pattern for a number of different insects, it can imitate a Heather Fly, Daddy Long Legs/Crane Fly and even an adult buzzer. Once the hawthorn hatch starts on your local river, make sure you have these in your fly box these are also great flies to try when searching stillwaters & reservoirs. The legs on these flies seem to act as a trigger to the fish. All of our Hawthorn patterns are tied on size 12 and 14 barbless hooks with a bushy hackle, this allows them to create a wake on the surface when retrieved on stillwaters, again another trigger point the fish home into. These flies are also surprisingly effective when fished as a wet fly, so don't be too quick to keep these flies dry, once wet and submerged, if on a stillwater, gently "figure of 8" them back (on a river try fishing them as you would a spider), and hold on! Top Tip: Fish these Hawthorn patterns in the surface film, do not apply any floatant to them. Tight Lines & Have Fun!

FLY: The Next In Our Book Series - Published Today

New Book Launches ... Today I'd like to kick off this email by first thanking all of you who put your trust in us and bought the first five books in our FLY Series - they have been really well received. We've had some more positive feedback on the previous books (which we've incorporated into this next in the series) - which is all about Salmon fishing. But first ... THE Mayfly Book ... Now Back In Stock This time last year, we launched the second in our series of FLY: books, all about Fishing The Mayfly - it was the most successful book we published last year and they all sold out really quickly. We've now had them reprinted and they are back on our shelves again - all ready for the upcoming Mayfly madness! In our Mayfly book, you will discover how to imitate the full lifecycle of the Mayfly, along with an in-depth 'deep dive' into each stage of its life cycle, including how to then imitate them with the most common fly patterns. Our book also discusses the type of conditions you can expect to face and the various tips, tricks and techniques used the fish them - including sample leader setups and tackle choices. It's available now for only £9.99, which includes FREE delivery in the UK. Back To Today's Book Launch The sixth in our series of collectable books on the various aspects of fly fishing - each book taking a 'deep dive' into a niche aspect of fly fishing. This 6th book in the series, produced by us and FlyFishMedia, contains all the information you need to start fishing for Salmon - this book is aimed at the new Salmon angler and gives you details on the tackle, flies and water conditions to expect and use throughout the seasons. Written and produced in conjunction with FlyFishMedia (think of them as the educational arm of Barbless Flies, as we run both of these sites). As we are now well into the Salmon season, this is the ideal time to release our new book, all about Salmon fishing. So how do you approach fishing for the 'silver tourists if you've never dabbled before? Which flies do you use and when do you use them? This pocket-sized book follows the Salmon fishing year (Spring through to Autumn) and gives you all the information you need to effectively target Salmon in UK rivers. Even though Salmon stocks seem to be dwindling, Salmon fishing has seen a surprise upturn in popularity. We've teamed up with a couple of very notable experts who are leaders in the field for all things Salmon (Fin Wilson & Jim Fearn), they have provided the majority of the information contained in this next in our series of "FLY:" books. So how do you approach Salmon fishing? Where should you start to find them and which flies and methods/techniques should you use? In this book, you will discover the techniques, flies, casts and seasonal info to target Salmon within the UK. Our book also discusses the different types of flies and tubes available on the market today, how to choose which ones and where (and when) to use them to get the most success. We've done loads of research, collated the knowledge of experts and distilled the information into this next in our series of "FLY:" books. We're super proud to present to you this 6th in our series of 'pocket-sized books at pocket-money prices' - all about Fishing For Salmon: Please Note: If you are a retailer and thinking "I like the look of those", please get in touch (just reply to this email) - we'd love them to be available to as wide an audience as possible. Our FLY: book series takes a subject within Fly Fishing - in the case of this, the 6th in the series "Fishing For Salmon" - squeezed into our budgie smugglers and done a deep dive into it - here's an example of the 'Summer Tactics' section from our latest release: This book, written by us and co-published by FlyFishMedia, contains all the info you need to get you started on your Salmon fishing journey. Chapters include: Introduction Spring Fishing The Monkey Summer Fishing The Sunray Autumn Fishing The Francis Book Details: Number of Pages - 80Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm)Price - £9.99 In this book, you will discover the techniques, flies and tactics to use when fishing for Salmon. Please Note: This is a physical book, printed in English. Should you wish to buy the eBook version please contact me and I can arrange to email a copy out to you (only £5.99). We are hoping that these will be as well received as the first five in the series, but just to be on the safe side, we have an initial limited print run of 100, so if you would like one of the first editions, grab yours now. We hope you enjoy reading (and collecting them) as much as we have researching and putting them all together. Go on, you know you want to! Tight lines & happy reading. P.S. Don't forget to check out our Live Mayfly Hatch Tracker - we've updated it with all of the sightings reported to us - click the image below to view the latest info:

A Mayfly Amuse-Bouche - Just a Taster of Our NEW Artisan Mayflies

A Taster for Mayflies? As we've now started plotting Mayfly hatches on our Mayfly Tracker, we thought it was a good idea to give you the chance to try a "taster selection" of our stunning new Individual Mayflies, so you can see which ones work best on your local waters. It will not be long now until the trout start to realise exactly what they are missing out on and start to 'look up' in earnest. Before I get into the real meat of this email, just one quick Parish Notice: If you've visited our website over the weekend, you will have seen this pop-up at you: That's right, we can now provide you with FREE delivery again (on all orders within the UK) this has only been made possible by the loyalty you have shown us - due to the number of orders we are now processing we have renegotiated our contract with Royal Mail and can pass on the benefits to you, in the way of FREE delivery - so thank you for your continued support! All delivery options (including both FREE and paid) are available automatically at the checkout on our website. Now, back to the Mayflies ... We have started to see the odd Mayfly up here in North Yorkshire, but nothing really to stir too much interest from the fish - we're hoping this nice weather will really spur them on. But up here, we don't generally get to cast a Mayfly imitation in anger until the last week of May. We are continuing this Mayfly season with a taster selection of our Artisan Mayflies. Think of it as an 'amuse-bouche' of the fly fishing world, giving you a few of our wide range of mayflies, and allowing you to see which ones work best on your waters. In total there are 6 patterns (covering each of the Mayfly lifecycle - from nymph to spent), supplied in our eco-friendly packaging, for only £12.50 (which includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK) - that's a 15% discount on buying them individually, just click on any image or button below for a closer look. Towards the end of this email, we also have a very special set of Mayflies - we're calling it our Luxury Artisan Mayfly Selection which is stuffed full of our Artisan Mayflies and supplied in one of Jeff Jones' Oak fly boxes - hand-made in Wales. The quality of these mayflies has to be seen to be believed, they are all tied on Ahrex hooks (the best in the business) - we're sure you cannot find better quality anywhere else! We are supplying this Taster Selection of Mayflies as a selection of 6 flies, each one a different stage of the lifecycle. We usually run out of Mayflies, but this year will be different, we are determined to have them available to you for the full Mayfly season - they are all in stock and our shelves are groaning under their weight, we literally have thousands of them - so fill your boots! Why not grab a Taster Selection today, see which ones work on your water, then top-up your box throughout the season - at only £12.50 for the full Artisan Mayfly Taster Selection, they are a bargain! Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! So, What's Included? One each of These: Mayfly Nymph A Mayfly nymph imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) and weighted with a bead to help this large fly sink. These nymphs are tied on Ahrex FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly nymph. Mayfly Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a little foam tied in at the head to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on Ahrex FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.! Loop-Wing Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) a little foam tied in at the head and looped wings, to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on Ahrex FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Mayfly Dun A Mayfly Dun imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a grey poly-yarn sighter post. These Dun imitations are tied on Ahrex FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Crippled Mayfly A Crippled Mayfly imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a long hackle, some mayflies die when hatching, this imitates those as the fish hoover them up. These Crippled Mayfly imitations are tied on Ahrex FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Spent Mayfly A Spent Mayfly imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) tied with outstretched poly-yarn to imitate the dying mayfly - there are the go-to flies when fishing on an evening. These Spent Mayfly imitations are tied on Ahrex FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. We are supplying this Taster Selection of Mayflies as a selection of 6 flies (imitating each of the Mayfly lifecycle stages). We have already stocked up on these Mayflies and they're available now, at only £12.50 for the Mayfly Taster Selection - which includes FREE delivery. Go on, you know you want to! Fancy A Little Luxury? Why not treat yourself, or a good fishing friend, to a Luxury Artisan Mayfly Selection. A really nice hand-made (in Wales) Oak fly box, stuffed full of Mayflies: Our Luxury Artisan Mayfly Selection is a selection of flies to imitate the full lifecycle of the Mayfly (nymph, emerger, crippled, dun & spent). We are supplying this full selection, giving you three each of our wide range of Artisan mayflies, allowing you to see which works best on your waters. In total, there are 18 Mayflies supplied in one of Jeff Jones' Hand-Made (in Wales) Oak Fly Boxes. All of these flies are tied using strong Ahrex (FW525 & FW531) barbless hooks, in the appropriate size for the insect stage (sizes 10 & 14) using the best quality materials available on the market. We are supplying this Luxury Selection of Artisan Mayflies as a selection of 18 flies (three of each of the Mayfly lifecycle stages). We have already stocked up on these Mayflies and they're available now, at only £65.00 for the Luxury Selection - which includes FREE delivery. Our Mayfly Tracker ... We are drawing upon the community we have built over the last 10 years, to ask you to supply us with Mayfly hatch information - essentially, as soon as you see Mayfly hatching on your local water, get in touch to let me know where, and I will then plot it on a live map for all to see. If you wish to contribute, (and we hope you will) as soon as you see a Mayfly hatch on your local water, please get in touch, by sending me an email (richard@barbless-flies.co.uk) to let me know the hatch location, and I will then update the live map. TOP TIP: Reducing Leader Twist - when fishing with flies which have large wings - like Mayflies, this will induce twist in your leader (there's nothing you can really do to stop it). The majority of Mayfly patterns (especially the spent ones) have wings which act just like helicopter rotor blades and spin when you cast them. The best way to combat this is to: Reduce the length of your leader Increase the diameter of your leader Try shortening the overall length of your tapered leader to around 6ft and step up your tippet diameter - use 3X or 4X. Once the fish really switch on to the Mayfly they become indifferent to your tippet, so step it up where you can. Generally, once the fish are confidently taking mayflies they will not be shy of leaders, try dropping your leader length right down and using a thicker diameter. Try removing your tapered leader altogether and just using 4ft to 6ft of 5X tippet direct to your fly line with some of the larger flies (like the Baz Mayfly). Have fun out there! P.S. If you would like to buy any of the above Mayflies individually - from only £2.25 each - you can find them all by clicking the button below:

Fleeting Fly Fishing Fame - We Love An Alliteration

The Sun Is Shining ... Today's email is a celebration of the weather and especially that yellow thing that's appeared in the sky over the last few days - as it's also a Bank Holiday this weekend I wanted to give you a rundown of the insects you can expect to encounter if you're out and about on the water in the coming days. We've coupled this with some fly selections which are the perfect accompaniment, and we can get them to you for the weekend - grab them while you can, I'm not sure how long the sun will last! Plus, we've also snagged a few more of Luke's exquisite fly rods exclusively for us - keep reading to the end of this email to find out more! But first ... As we're based in Yorkshire - and very proud of the fact - it was an honour just recently when we were approached and asked if we could be featured in a Yorkshire-based magazine called The Yorkshire Dalesman - we jumped at the chance, as you would! Last Friday, the said magazine was published and Mays copy dropped through our letterbox at Barbless Flies HQ, with a 5-page article all about us, and what we are doing in our little corner of Yorkshire (pages 28 to 32 if you want to grab a copy from your friendly local newsagents): We're not sure what we are going to do with all our new-found fame - but I've roped off a VIP section in the office, just in case ! But, back to matters at hand ... If you are anywhere near the water in the coming days, you should see that this warming weather has encouraged the insect population to take flight - Spring will have definitely Sprung, so to speak! The insects you should see around you will mainly be one of three different species: Sedge (or Caddis for our American readers) Iron Blue's; and The odd Hawthorn Fly whirling around I'm going to take the Sedge & Iron Blue in turn (below) and give you a few details of what to look out for and suggest some patterns to imitate them. Here goes ... starting with ... The Sedge/Caddis The Sedge fly is a member of the Trichoptera family (trichos, meaning hair and ptera, meaning wing) - consisting of around 200 distinct species found in the UK. Throughout the world, there are over 3,000 species of Sedge, with the majority (over 1,200) being found in the USA. One of the most successful imitations of the Sedge/Caddis is the Goddard Sedge (or G&H Sedge), these patterns are defined by the clipped deer-hair bodies which allow the flies to float very high on the water: Sedge/Caddis are easily identified throughout the spring and summer months, just look for the way the insect flies, if it looks very haphazard and like it's about to crash land, then it will be a sedge fly. All sedge flies have wings that fold over their backs to form a silhouette which looks like a roof/tent - that's the reason you may also see these flies referred to as roof-winged flies. Sedge/Caddis flies are nocturnal and the fish love to feed on them early in the morning, just as the females are returning to the water to deposit their eggs. If you want some fantastic dry fly action this early in the river season, then it pays to get our early and tie on a sedge. We now have these Goddard Sedges for sale as a selection of 12 for only £16 - which includes the Natural Goggard Sedge and Green Goddard Sedge (two each of sizes 12, 14 & 16). We also have these Goddard Sedge patterns to buy individually at only £1.50 each. *** Go on, you know you want to *** The Iron Blue The Iron Blue is a member of the Baetis family, there are three Iron Blues native to the UK, these are Alainites muticus, Baetis niger and Baetis digitatus, for the purposes of this email we are treating them all as one (Iron Blue is a term used by anglers to represent all three different insects - which are very similar). Iron blues are only found in running water, it does not seem to matter the strength of the flow. Iron blues are found throughout the British Isles in all types of rivers and streams. They are easily identified in early and late season (as at present everything seems to be running at least 2 weeks late) as they will be one of the only up-winged species to be seen, with a dark blue/purple body and light wings with dark grey veins. Iron Blues are only fairly small, measuring roughly 1cm long (a size 14 to 16 hook). We have you covered with a full-lifecycle set of flies for the Iron Blue in one of our Match The Hatch sets: In each of the Match The Hatch Selections we have produced there is a QR code (which you scan with your phone/tablet), this takes you to a page on our website which contains full insect information and is dedicated to the selection of flies you have just bought. Our Iron Blue Match The Hatch Selection is now in stock and ready for immediate delivery. It contains 15 flies - 3 each of the 5 different lifecycle stages: Iron Blue Nymph - tied on an Ahrex FW501 - Size 16 Iron Blue Emerger - tied on an Ahrex FW511 - Size 16 Parachute Iron Blue - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Iron Blue Upright - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Iron Blue Spinner - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Each of our Match The Hatch Selections is available for only £25 and contains: 15 Flies - Three flies for each of the five main lifecycle stages we are trying to imitate for the Iron Blue. Full Insect Information - Access to a webpage which provides information on the Iron Blue, it also outlines in detail each of the patterns supplied, giving information on when and how to use them. Presentation Box - We are supplying our Match The Hatch Selection in a specially designed and branded box to keep your flies safe in transit and also when at the waterside. ** Go on, you know you want to *** Grab Your Bannister 8' 4wt River Rod You may remember, back in February, that Luke Bannister made available to us a limited amount of his NEW river rods. We only had a few and they all sold on the same day we sent the email. We asked Luke that if he did ever produce some more, could we have first dibs - guess what? He's had some more made up and we have a very limited allocation (only 5). So the deal is exactly the same as earlier this year: I am placing our order with Luke at 9am on Saturday morning, if you would like one for only £275, just order one from our site (by clicking any button above or below) before midnight tomorrow, or sooner if we sell all of our allocation - which is more than likely. Logistics wise, once we place the order with Luke he will send the rods to us and we will then ship directly to you, so you should have your rod in your hands by the end of next week - just in time for the season to really get started! Each of Luke's rods are covered by a 1-year warranty personally guaranteed by Luke himself. Should you have any warranty queries please direct those through myself in the first instance. *** I know that nobody NEEDS a new fly rod, but it's always nice to treat yourself every now and then - especially at the beginning of the season *** Go on, you know you want to! Tight lines & have fun this Bank Holiday. P.S. If you fancy 'rolling your own' flies, please take a look at our specialist fly-tying site - Feathersmith - the home of our pattern-specific fly-tying kits and a whole host of other quality materials, hooks and tools - just click on the image below to visit the site:

A Large Dark Olive & A Small Glass of Malt

After last weekends escape to the moors on a little fishing trip, it really perked me up and I was looking forward to a similar trip this weekend, but a quick check on the weather app has put a stop to all that - rain, again! I remember when I was younger, and the weather was not conducive to the outdoor life, my attention always turned to my 'crafty' side - I've noticed, that as I get older (I'm only in my early 50's) I've reverted back to type - a little! When the rivers are not playing ball I now find immense satisfaction in two things - fly tying & Whisky (not necessarily in that order): Earlier this year we launched our Feathersmith range of pattern-specific fly-tying kits over on our sister site feathersmith.co.uk - it didn't take long before we knew we had something of a hit on our hands: They are the perfect distraction when the weather is not on your side and you still want a bit of a 'fishing fix'. With each new kit we release, they are gaining more and more popularity, we always notice an upturn in kit sales when the weather turns for the worse! Fishing is always a pleasure, but it's all the more satisfying when you catch a fish on a perfectly presented fly which you've spent time tying yourself. The majority of flies you will be using on both Rivers and Stillwaters in the coming weeks will be either very small 'gnat' style patterns or imitating a hatch of upwinged flies (Large Dark Olive / March Brown). We've decided to give you a bit of a Special Off Fishing is always a pleasure, but it's all the more satisfying when you catch a fish on a perfectly presented fly which you've spent time tying yourself. The majority of flies you will be using on both Rivers and Stillwaters in the coming weeks will be either very small 'gnat' style patterns or imitating a hatch of upwinged flies (Large Dark Olive / March Brown). We've decided to give you a bit of a Special Offer - flies you can tie this weekend and successfully fish next week: The Griffith's Bling Gnat & Crazy Palmer; and The Jingler For today only we are reducing the price of each of the above kits to only £25 - exceptional value at only 83p per fly. All of our kits are stuffed full of the best quality materials available (Ahrex, Semperfli, Whiting etc) and if you can order today before 2pm we will get it to you, ready for your weekend fly tying session! *** Go on, you know you want to. Our Feathersmith kits are perfect to while away the hours when the rivers are unfishable*** I'd Love To Start Tying Flies ... But Where Do I Start? We know that our Feathersmith kits appeal to both the beginner and more experienced fly tyers, and since launching our first kits we've had quite a few enquiries asking if we could provide a 'basic set of skills' course to help those of you just starting out on this fantastic hobby. Kenan Haseta is a professional fly tyer and keen fly angler, he's also 'our man in Bosnia' and has been tying stunning 'one-off' creations for us for the last few years, his tying skills are second to none. We've asked Kenan a few times if he would share his experience and skills in video format - he's pretty shy and always wanted to be behind, rather than in front, of the camera. So we twisted his arm a little and he agreed: Kenan has created a set of 'basic skills' videos for us covering all of the aspects of fly tying knowledge you need to get started - tools, vices, hooks, materials and how to dress a hook. Kenan's 'Fly Tying for Beginners' video series is available for FREE for everyone - just click the button below. We've even got some advanced video lessons from Kenan - which we are editing now and will be releasing over the coming weeks. Kenan's 'Fly Tying for Beginners' video series is available for FREE for everyone - just click the button above. We've even got some advanced video lessons from Kenan - which we will be releasing over the coming weeks. Fancy A Beginners Setup? It's all well and good watching Kenan's videos, but where do you start when buying a vice and the essential tools? We've made that very easy for you, Kenan has recommended a toolkit and vice to us - we've sourced them all and put together a starter set which includes (a Stonfo Flylab Pedestal vice along with all the essential tools), this includes everything you will need and will last you a lifetime - the only maintenance will be to sharpen your scissors every few years!: *** Go on, you know you want to start a new hobby this year *** Treat Yourself To An 'All Singing, All Dancing' Vice? For those of you who may not have come across Renzetti vices before, they are revered worldwide for their quality (especially the jaws) and ease of use. All Renzetti vices are made in the USA and are true rotary (i.e. the fly can be rotated around its axis perfectly). We currently have the below Renzetti vices in stock, the range starts with the Traveler 2000 Series, at only £280 and continues to the Presentation Series at £479. Please Note: Due to dealership restrictions, we can only deliver our vices to UK addresses. All Renzetti vices offer outstanding value for money when you consider they will last you your fly-tying lifetime and they are works of art: Renzetti Traveler 2000 Series Vice £280.00 Renzetti Traveler 2200 Series Vice £349.00 Renzetti Presentation 2000 Series Vice £479.00 If you would like to see all of the vices we have available, please click on the button below - there are some stunning vices! In the meantime, tight threads and have fun at the vice this weekend.

All About Leaders - Part 2 - Dry Fly Leaders

To continue our series on Leaders, this week we are turning to the staple of the Spring & Summer months: The Dry Fly Leader It is important to stress here, that when using a dry fly, leader material is a key choice, here are a few pointers to get you started: Nylon/Copolymer: Generally more cost-effective and slightly thicker than Fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon: Denser than water so will sink, great when covering very spooky fish. Use whichever material you have confidence in, this is the weak point in any setup, confidence in knot strength is everything! Leader Material Sizes: The X system marked on spools of tippet determines the diameter of the tippet (the bigger the X number, the thinner the tippet): Leader & Tippet Length If the water is small or rough, use a leader which is roughly the length of the rod. If the water is calm, extend the leader to between 11’ and 15’, then add 2’ to 4’ of tippet. Just remember: “the calmer the water - the spookier the fish - the smaller the fly - the longer and finer leader and tippet you need.” 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: 'Rolling Your Own' Leaders When it comes to making your own leaders, the sky really is the limit: Do you want a very short steeply tapered one to turn a fly over in no space at all, or alternatively You could tie a really long one which is so delicate and finely tapered it makes no disturbance at all on the water. Either way, this will involve you knotting together various lengths and diameters of mono/fluorocarbon to create the taper. The only knot you need for this it the 3-Turn Water Knot: Please Note: Remember to lubricate the knot with some water (spit) before drawing it tight, this will make sure that when knotting different diameters of tippet together the heat generated when tightening does not weaken the tippet. In this section we will give you some leader designs for different length leaders. Using all of the above information you can define which length leader you need, use these designs as a starting point. All of these leader designs end with a section of 6X tippet and are designed for rods from 2 weigth to 5 weight - happy tying: 7.5ft Standard Taper 7.5ft Short Taper 8ft Delicate (8X) 9ft Standard Taper 12ft Standard Taper 15ft Standard Taper 15ft Steep Taper A furled leader is made by twisting or braiding together multiple strands of material, such as nylon, fluorocarbon, or silk, into a tapered line. The result is a leader that is more flexible and supple than a traditional monofilament leader. Furled leaders are designed to help transfer the energy of the fly line smoothly to the fly, allowing for delicate and accurate presentations. The soft, supple nature of a furled leader also allows for a better presentation of smaller flies, which can be difficult to cast with stiffer leaders. There are several reasons why you may choose to use a furled leader when dry fly fishing, instead of a monofilament leader: Improved accuracy and delicacy: The soft, flexible nature of a furled leader allows for a smoother transfer of energy from the fly line to the fly, resulting in more accurate and delicate presentations. This is especially important when fishing with smaller, lighter flies, where even the slightest disturbance in the water can spook the fish. Better turnover: Furled leaders are designed to turn over flies more smoothly and efficiently than monofilament leaders, which can be especially helpful when casting large, heavy flies or when casting in windy conditions. More durable: Furled leaders are generally more durable than monofilament leaders and can last for many seasons without breaking or wearing out. This can save the angler money and time in the long run, as they won't need to replace their leader as frequently. Customizable: Furled leaders can be customized to suit the angler's specific needs, with different lengths, tapers, and materials available. This allows the angler to tailor their leader to the type of fishing they will be doing and the specific species they are targeting. Overall, while monofilament leaders can certainly be effective, furled leaders offer a number of advantages that can help improve an angler's success on the water. In the early season, when you will usually have to contend with all sorts of conditions, wind it the worst enemy of a leader. In windy conditions, you will need a leader that will cut through and still turn your fly over, this type of leader has an extremely steep taper. You will also need to use a fairly fast rod, to allow you to cast a tight loop and generate the power in the fly line to, in turn, transfer that energy through the leader to the fly. A great shortcut to create your own steeply tapered leader is to take a standard 12ft knotless 4X or 5X tapered leader and cut 2ft off each end of the leader - leaving you with an 8ft tapered section, to this add a 4ft section of 5X or 6X RIO Powerrflex Plus tippet. Thanks for taking the time to read through Part 2 of the "All About Leaders" series. Over the coming months, we will be expanding and diving much deeper into leader mechanics and construction, discussing how to tailor your own leaders for that perfect presentation based on the scenarios you will encounter when out on the water. Tight lines. P.S. This email is brought to you with the sole intent to spread the information around so we can all maybe learn something. If you would like to buy any tapered leaders, furled leaders or tippet material, we do hope that you will consider us and see what we have to offer: If you don't fancy tying your own leaders, then why not use our ready-made tapered knotless leaders in either 9ft or 12ft lengths: If you like the idea of using a furled leader this season, why not take a look at the best on the market - tied by Luke Bannister, here: P.P.S. We'd love to hear from you if you have any comments/corrections, or other subjects you'd like us to cover. Just reply to this email and I will be in touch.

All About Leaders - Part 1 - Leader Fundamentals

Introduction To Leaders As a part of our commitment to providing interesting and sometimes even amusing content to you - our loyal email community - we've spent the winter months looking at areas we can cover that we don't think have been fully explored in detail before. Over the past hundreds of years, there have been lots written regarding fly fishing - you should see my bookshelves in the office! So it's always going to be very difficult to write anything which is new and ground-breaking. So we thought that we would take a niche subject and do a 'deep dive' to hopefully help us all when on the water. As previously mentioned there is lots of fly fishing literature available - but not so much specifically about leaders. So we thought we'd have a go ... And we're going to start with the very basics. Q. So, what is a leader? A1. The short answer - The leader is an essential part of the fly fishing setup, the main aim of the leader is to efficiently transfer the energy generated by the fly line down to the fly, presenting the fly to the fish - well away from the tip of the fly line. This is why the leader needs to have a tapered design - thicker at the end that connects to the fly line, transitioning to a thinner material which attaches to the tippet and then to the fly. A2. The long answer - As well as being classed by their weight, fly lines are also classed by their taper design, i.e. Weight Forward / Double Taper etc. This design (or profile) is what allows the energy of the cast to transfer along the fly line in the most efficient way, each of the different fly line tapers gives a slightly different presentation of the fly on the water. As the energy created by the cast travels down the fly line (due to its taper), it then needs to travel to the fly. If you just attached a level length of fishing line to the end of the fly line the energy would not effectively travel all the way to the fly (which is what we are trying to achieve to allow the fly to land in front of the fly line). So a leader with a tapered design is used. The aim of the game is to get the fly to land well away from the tip of the fly line - this is the job of the leader. Leader Terminology In the above section, I've already used some terms that you may be unfamiliar with - such as tippet. In this section I will explain all of the terminology used in its most basic form - so we're all starting from the same place. Tippet - Tippet is just a fancy name for the fishing line to which you attach your fly. You always add tippet to the thin end of your tapered leader and then attach your fly to the other end of the tippet. Whenever you change flies you will eat into the tippet you have added, once you have a small amount of tippet remaining, just replace it with a fresh, longer length of tippet. This way you will never eat into the tapered leader and in turn, never alter the tapered design of your leader. Butt Section - The butt section of a leader is the thick end, i.e. the end which you attach to your fly line. Tip Section - The tip section of a leader is the part to which you attach your tippet section. Diameter - Both leaders and tippets are specified by either their breaking strains (i.e. how much weight is needed to snap it) or their ‘X’ ratings. When discussing leaders and tippets it is always better to talk about their diameters rather than their breaking strains. this dictates the tippet’s diameter (not its strength), with 2X being thicker than 8X. The ‘X’ system originates from the times when catgut was used, and the ‘X’ was the number of times the gut was fed through a machine to make it thinner (i.e. if you fed it through 8 times it would be thinner than if you only passed it through twice). Stiffness - When discussing leaders, the other important feature is the stiffness of the material you choose for your leader. To aid in the transition of energy through the fly line to the fly, you need to make sure that stiffer material is used in the butt sections of the leader, as this aids the transition of energy through to the more supple sections. Leader Materials As mentioned above, the material your leader is made from does matter. This is where there are two distinct choices, you either use Nylon (sometimes called copolymer/monofilament) or Fluorocarbon. Generally, nylon is supple and soft with more stretch than fluorocarbon, which is much stiffer with great abrasion resistance. The various attributes of these two different materials make them great for making fly fishing leaders. Nylon - Nylon, or monofilament nylon to give it its technical name, is more supple and lends itself to any style of dry fly fishing - where the whole of the leader will either be on or in, the surface of the water. Knot strength is also a key issue to address, using nylon it is much easier to tie secure and durable knots. Fluorocarbon - This material is the best choice for whenever you need a leader which will be used under the surface of the water. Fluorocarbon material has several advantages over nylon. It's a much denser material and therefore sinks faster than nylon, making it ideal for any nymphing rig. Fluorocarbon also has the advantage of being near-transparent in water due to its refractive index being very similar to that of water. Additionally, the high tensile strength of fluorocarbon allows you to use smaller diameters with higher strength and still maintain low visibility. The only drawback with fluorocarbon is its knotability (is that even a word). Due to the stiffer nature of the material it does need care when tying knots to make sure they are properly lubricated and seated properly. Essentially - if you're fishing dry flies, choose nylon/mono leader materials, and if you're nymphing use fluorocarbon. Always Start From The Fly When starting to think of the leader, it always pays to start from the fly and work backwards, i.e. if you are targeting small wild fish with a size 18 midge imitation you do not need a really thick leader or heavy fly line to turn the fly over. Small flies require small diameter tippets and larger flies require larger tippets to turn them over properly. A great 'rule of thumb' to use is called: The Rule of 3 Take the size of the fly you will be using, then divide it by 3, this gives a good approximation of the 'X' rating of the tippet to use. For example, a size 12 fly is usually fished with a 4X tippet and a size 18 fly is usually tied to a 6X tippet. Knotless Tapered Leaders As you can probably guess, a Knotless Tapered Leader is just as the name suggests, it's an extruded section of material (usually 9ft long) with a built-in taper. Virtually all fly anglers use these manufactured leaders as they are very cost-effective and easy to use. The only trouble anglers normally have is unravelling them! I've found that the best way to do it is as follows: Remove the leader from the packet. Make your fingers into a cone and put them in the center of the leader, then spread your fingers out so the coil of leader is trapped around them. Always start unravelling the leader from the thick end and carefully uncoil it from around your fingers. Once the leader is totally uncoiled you will need to give it a stretch to remove any memory from it and allow it to lay straight on the water. Knots When it comes to knots and leaders there are only a couple you need to know. The 3-Turn Water Knot, which is used to attach your tippet to the tapered leader: And, the Perfection Loop, which is used to tie a loop in the Butt end of the leader to attach (using a loop-to-loop connection) to your fly line. The Perfection Loop is so called because it is one of the only loop style knots where the loop sits in a perfectly straight line to the main line, ideal for a tapered leader. Anglers usually use a loop-to-loop connection and this makes the leader very easy to change should you get into any tangles: Thanks for taking the time to read through Part 1 of the "All About Leaders" series, we do realise that this first part is very basic information, but we wanted everyone to start from the same base before we get more technical. Over the coming months, we will be expanding and diving much deeper into leader mechanics and construction, discussing how to tailor your own leaders for that perfect presentation based on the scenarios you will encounter when out on the water. Tight lines. P.S. This email is brought to you with the sole intent to spread the information around so we can all maybe learn something. If you would like to buy any tapered leaders or tippet, we do hope that you will consider us and see what we have to offer: P.P.S. We'd love to hear from you if you have any comments/corrections, or other subjects you'd like us to cover. Just reply to this email and I will be in touch.

A Specialist Sedge from the Bulgarian Fish Whisperer

The beginning of every trout season is always a time that I look forward to, dreaming of the warm summer evenings casting a fly to some wild fish on the upper reaches of my local river Derwent. The one aspect I don't necessarily look forward to is the stock take before the season starts! This one was quite eye-opening, we actually had more stock than we were expecting ... and, we also found some flies which we knew we had but we just didn't know exactly where they were! The flies in question (above) are some really special patterns which we originally stocked a few years ago from Stan Mankov (the Bulgarian fish whisperer) this was a restock we received, but for some reason they never found their way onto the website last season! The pattern is Stan's signature Sedge imitation: Also known as a Caddis Fly over in the USA, the Sedge is a fly which will start to make an appearance on a water near you, very soon. The Sedge fly is a member of the Trichoptera family (trichos, meaning hair and ptera, meaning wing) - consisting of around 200 distinct species found in the UK. Throughout the world, there are over 3,000 species of Sedge, with the majority (over 1,200) being found in the USA. These flies are easily identified, just look for the way the insect flies, if it looks very haphazard and like it's about to crash land, then it will be a Sedge fly. All sedge flies have wings that fold over their backs to form a silhouette which looks like a roof/tent - that's the reason you may also see these flies referred to as roof-winged flies. Sedge/Caddis flies are nocturnal and the fish love to feed on them early in the morning, just as the females are returning to the water to deposit their eggs. If you want some fantastic dry fly action this early in the river season, then it pays to get our early and tie on a sedge. We now have these Mankov Sedges for sale as a selection of 12 for only £15 - which includes four each of sizes 12, 14 & 16. Our selection contains 12 Sedge imitations, all you need for a great day on the water this spring and summer: Top Sedge Fishing Tips The two main dry fly forms of imitation for the Sedge are the Emerger and the Adult Female. Use one of the parachute-style flies to imitate the emerger and just treat the post of the fly - this will sit the fly are the correct angle to imitate the emerging insect. When fishing a dry fly, keep in mind that the hatching sedge is very skittish, they make quite a lot of movement on the water, therefore remember to give your dry fly a tweak every now and then to generate some movement. Just as a reminder: Our Mankov's Sedge Selection contains four each of: Mankov's Specialist Sedge - size 12 Mankov's Specialist Sedge - size 14 Mankov's Specialist Sedge - size 16 In total this selection of Sedge imitations contains 12 flies, all supplied in our eco-friendly recyclable packaging. Our Mankov's Sedge Selection is now available for only £15, delivered in our eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. Each of the above flies can also be bought individually for only £1.50 each - just click here. Go on, you know you want to! Tight lines & have fun. P.S. If you fancy 'rolling your own' flies, please take a look at our specialist fly-tying site - Feathersmith - the home of our pattern-specific fly-tying kits and a whole host of other quality materials, hooks and tools - just click on the image below to visit the site:

Deer Hair - The Magic Material

The Magical Properties of Deer Hair Usually, at this time of year, it's pretty hard going on our northern rivers, with hatches very few and far between. One river which fishes really well in the early season is a very local (and very small) river which runs off the North York Moors, there is a very small syndicate of anglers who fish it - there are only about 15 of us, but it's the one river where you are virtually guaranteed to see rising fish in April, no matter what the conditions throw at us! I know that the recent weather has not been kind to us, and has played havoc with the early fly hatches. But don't despair, when there is a cold and wet spell followed by a warmer period (as is planned according to the our local weather forecasters), this is just the kick that the insects need to hatch - after all they don't know when the weather will be warm again - a bit like us! A fly pattern which really pays dividends in exactly these conditions is an emerger style fly tied with deer hair. TL;DR - Too Long; Didn't Read As you may be pressed for time, I will get straight to the point - as we only have a few of these selections available! This email is all about Deer Hair and how it helps in fly design. We have two selections which are Deer Hair specific, the Tom Thumb & Deershucker Selections which we are offering at a 20% discount (no discount codes or anything like that, just pop one in your basket at the discounted price), but only while stocks last: We are also making each of the above selections available with a Slimline Silicone fly box for only an extra £6 - bargain! Just selection the option on the product page and we will send you your selection and include the silicone fly box. *** Go on, you know you want to! *** So, read on McDuff and I'll tell you a story ... But before I do, as you seem to like a bit of a deal, keep on reading to the end for a couple of cracking deals on our Deer Hair specific fly selections. (Read this in the style of "Five Go Fly Fishing") A long time ago ... Once upon a sun-kissed morning by a sparkling Yorkshire beck, a young(ish) angler named Richard set out on a fishing adventure with his friend and fishing guru, Andy. The air was filled with the songs of birds, tales of fish lost and the water glistened like a million diamonds. "Andy?" Richard asked curiously, "Why do you always start fishing with a fly tied with deer hair?" Andy smiled, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. "Ah, my little fishing buddy, do you not know about the magic of deer hair," he replied. As they sat by the water's edge tucking into their early morning pork pies (the breakfast of champions) and checking for rising fish, Andy began to spin a tale: "You see, Richard, deer hair has a special charm that fish just can't seem to resist, especially in the spring and summer when there are lots of insects hatching. It has a secret power to mimic the looks of drowned insects, fish just can't help themselves but take the fly! If you look closely at the water surface you will see lots of insect shucks in the water, which look just like these deer hair flies." Andy followed up, "And because deer hair is lightweight - each of the fibres are hollow and contain trapped air, the flies stay afloat without the need to re-treat them every cast." "That's magic!" Richard pointed out - in his best Paul Daniels impersonation. Andy nodded. "Indeed, it is! And when those cautious fish take the fly, deer hair is tough enough to withstand their playful nibbles, ensuring we have many tales to tell." At the thought of a successful day to come, Richard couldn't wait to tie on a deer hair fly and put Andy's tips to good use. So, fellow anglers, remember the magic of deer hair when you set out on your fishing quests this month. With its magic powers, you'll have the fish eagerly lining up to meet your delightful flies, even if the water levels are above the usual for the time of year! All of the above happened quite a few years ago when there were not so many commercially available deer hair patterns. Over the past year, we've added to our range of deer hair style flies with some stunning ones, taking huge inspiration from the rivers and stillwaters of Canada (where they know a thing or two about deer hair). Think of this new style of deer hair fly as a close relative of the IOBO Humpy, but tied with deer hair and peacock herl, rather than just CdC. In an attempt to cement Anglo-Canadian fly fishing relations, we've reproduced our own versions of very successful deer hair dry flies they use on the other side of the Atlantic - just slightly smaller and more suited to UK waters. Both of the below selections have been out of stock for ages, but they're now back - and we've got a bit of a deal for you, since you like deals so much: How about a 20% discount on these two stunning selections (Tom Thumb & The Deershuckers - sounds like a great band name!), this offer is only available until midnight tonight: Tom Thumb Selection - only £17.60 (was £22.00)Deershucker Selection - only £16.00 (was £20.00) There's no need for any discount codes, just pop either one (or both) in you basket and you're good to go. We've even given you the option to add one of our Slimline Silicone Fly boxes for only an additional £6. Grab yours now, before we run out (again), we've only got 30 of each. There's much more info on both the Tom Thumb & Deershucker Selections below, including tips on how to fish emerger style patterns in the Spring: The flies we've included in our own Tom Thumb Selection are: Tomb Thumb - 2 each of sizes 14 & 18. Klipspringer - 2 each of sizes 14 & 18. The Cooper Bug - 2 each of sizes 14 & 18. The Devil Bug - 2 each of sizes 14 & 18. All are tied as close to the original patterns as possible, using the correct materials, and perfect for spring fishing on your local rivers or stillwaters. Our Tom Thumb Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above, 2 each of sizes 14 & 18). We are supplying all of these for today only at £17.60. 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. This limited offer closes at midnight tonight. Please Note: If you would like a set, please be quick, as we only have a limited supply of our Tom Thumb Selection, 30 to be exact. Or, why not include one of our Super-Slim Silicone fly boxes (now back in stock) for an additional £6 (total £23.60): *** Go on, you know you want to *** For The More Picky Early Season Fish ... As you can see the patterns are quite 'rough and ready'. Similar in design to the Deer Hair Emerger, the key to this style of fly is in the rough body and the deer hair used - it has to be hair from the winter coat of the animal as this is more buoyant due to the increased amount of air contained within each strand (each strand of deer hair is hollow and is a great insulator). The key to fishing this style of pattern is how you treat the fly when dry - just apply a little gel floatant to the tips of the deer hair - both front and back. This will sit the fly in the surface film of the water, you need the fly to sit so you can only see the deer hair on the water surface. For more tips on fishing emerger style flies, please check out the end of this email - as we've added a section on how to fish this style of fly. We asked our guys who tie for us to come up with some classic Deershucker style patterns which will work for both Rivers and Stillwaters. We've curated this Deershucker Selection based on the flies which: We've found are the most popular colours on our site; and Ones which I use myself on my local river To this end, we have created our Deershucker Selection which contains four colour variations - Olive, Pheasant Tail, Dennis The Menace & Holo Red. Our Deershucker Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above, 2 each of sizes 14 & 16). We are supplying all of these for today only at £16.00. This limited offer is only available while stocks last. We've also given you the option to include one of our Slimline Silicone fly boxes for only an extra £6 - bargain! Please Note: If you would like a set, please be quick, as we only have a limited supply of our Deershucker Selection, 30 to be exact. 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. Our Special Offer For Today Only How about a 20% discount on these two stunning selections, this offer is only available until midnight tonight: Tom Thumb Selection - only £17.60 (was £22.00)Tom Thumb Selection (incl silicone fly box) - only £23.60 (was £28.00)Deershucker Selection - only £16.00 (was £20.00)Deershucker Selection (incl silicone fly box) - only £22.00 (was £26.00) Spring Seasonal Conditions Fishing in the Spring season (April, May & June) can be very challenging, depending on which part of the British Isles you are located. Generally, the further North you are the better the fishing will be at this time of year, as the conditions will be slightly cooler than those in the South. When the weather starts to warm, always try to fish either earlier in the day or late in an evening - and always fish where you can hear the water, there's more oxygen in it, and therefore the fish will be more active. Dry Fly Leader Setup for Emergers Firstly, when setting up your leader for fishing emergers, do not use fluorocarbon tippet, as this will sink and drag your fly under with it, use a thin supple mono (there are plenty to choose from such as Stroft & Orvis SuperStrong Plus etc). When building your leader, take note of the river size, if you are fishing a small overgrown stream, it's going to be difficult in most places to cast a 14ft leader, so try cutting back a 9' 6X leader by a few feet, and replacing what you cut off with your chosen tippet. All it means is you will need to wade very carefully in order to not spook any fish. Spring = Faster Water When fishing in the Spring the fish should be really active during the day, so when fishing in the daytime target the faster and more riffley water either to the side or below any obstructions (big rocks, bridge supports etc). As you will be fishing with an 'emerger style' fly which is not very visible you may struggle to see it (or it will sink) when in very turbulent water - in this case, use the 'double dry' technique: The Double Dry This technique is the same setup as the duo, but instead of using a dry fly and a nymph - use two dry flies, one larger and more visible; and one small, the trailing fly should be the smaller one. How to rig: Tie the larger more visible dry fly to the end of your tippet. Tie a separate length of tippet (usually around 2ft long) to the eye of the larger dry fly. To the end of this tippet, tie in your smaller fly. Remember: When casting a rig such as this it is better to use a slow/medium rod and a wide casting arc - a fast rod will cause the loops to be too tight and will cause you no end of tangles. A slower rod (glass is ideal for this style) will allow you to cast a heavier dry rig with a wide loop at short distances. Tight lines & have fun out there.

Match The Hatch For 'Success' This Spring

Match The Hatch For 'Success' This Spring I chose the above heading very carefully, after all what actually is 'success' - it will mean different things to each of us - for me, success is just getting time away from the office and losing myself on the river for an hour or so! To others, success may be catching a 'personal best' fish or a known fish which eluded you last season. Generally speaking, the anglers who can adapt to any changing conditions on the water are the ones who are more successful - if you only count catching fish as a success! This is where watercraft & 'Matching the Hatch' come into play. TL;DR - Too Long; Didn't Read I know that some of you are pressed for time and save our emails to read later in the day, by this time our selections are sometimes sold out (I get lots of emails from customers pointing this out to me). 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 fly selection. This email is all about the Iron Blue, an insect which will appear on a water near you in the next week or so. In this email, we are launching our Iron Blue Match The Hatch Selection - a boxed selection of 15 flies, 3 of each of the five main stages of the Iron Blue hatch. All the patterns are tied using the very best quality materials on AHREX hooks - the best hooks there are. We also give you access to all the hatch information, pattern information and watercraft, specific to the Iron Blue - all this for only £25. Grab your Iron Blue 'Match The Hatch' Selection now, so you don't miss out - we only have 50 available and if they are anything like the March Brown set, they will sell quickly. On the subject of Matching the Hatch, we had some great feedback from our first 'Match The Hatch' Selection of March Browns: Why is it so important to 'Match The Hatch'? As you can see from the image below, if we can offer a fish something similar to what it is expecting to see, then we will stand much more chance of catching it than if we use something alien to them: * This is an image of a Large Dark Olive, kindly supplied by Ben Lupton - with its imitation in the background - size and shape are the most important aspects! The more successful anglers are the ones who can successfully translate what is happening around them to tactics when on the water (be it Rivers or Stillwaters), a major part of that is deciding which fly to present to the fish. This is where matching the hatch comes into play - where possible, you should always try to offer up an imitation which closely resembles the insects the fish are actually feeding on at the time - hence 'Matching The Hatch'. We wanted to be a little different and add much more value ... In each of our Match The Hatch Selections we have included a QR code (which you scan with your phone/tablet), this takes you to a hidden page on our website which is dedicated to the selection of flies you have just bought, for example: On this page (sample above), you will find lots of information on the insect you are trying to match - how to identify it etc, a list of all the flies contained within the selection - including hints and tips on when, where and how you fish each one of them. Over the past few months we have worked very closely with our Artisan Fly Designers and produced a full range of 'Match The Hatch' Selections - all tied with the highest quality materials on the best quality hooks available (AHREX). Each of our 'Match The Hatch' selections contains patterns which cover the full lifecycle of the insect in question (Nymph, Emerger, Dun, Spinner etc). We've also presented them in a really nice box, pretty neat eh ... The second set of our 'Match The Hatch' selections is launched today and focuses on another early-season favourite in all watercourses across the UK ... The Iron Blue The Iron Blue is an insect whic h hatches throughout the season, but the main hatches are in April/early-May and then again later in the season (September & October). The Iron Blue is the one insect which you can guarantee will be hatching in virtually all weather conditions - so they (along with Olives) are a necessity in your fly box. Our Iron Blue Match The Hatch Selection is now in stock and ready for immediate delivery. It contains 15 flies - 3 each of the 5 different lifecycle stages: Iron Blue Nymph - tied on an Ahrex FW501 - Size 16 Iron Blue Emerger - tied on an Ahrex FW511 - Size 16 Parachute Iron Blue - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Iron Blue Upright - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Iron Blue Spinner - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Successful river fishing is all about observation - carefully watching what is happening all around you, and then translating this information into your choice of fly and technique. As always there is no substitute for experience, but there are a few shortcuts you can use to help you gain that experience quicker. Our Iron Blue Match The Hatch (MTH) Selection will help you in your first forays of the season, these are generally the major upwinged flies on the water in April and into early May, with this selection we have you covered for all of its lifecycle stages. Here we present to you ... Our Iron Blue 'Match The Hatch' Patterns: You're probably asking yourself by now: "That's great Richard, but how much is all this going to cost me?" Well, we've kept the price to the bare minimum, each of our 'Match The Hatch' Selections are only £25 - yes, you did read that right, just £25 - to save you the maths, that's just £1.66 per fly, ignoring all of the other value you are also receiving! As a reminder, each of our Match The Hatch Selections contains: 15 Flies - Three flies for each of the five main lifecycle stages we are trying to imitate for the Iron Blue. Full Insect Information - Access to a hidden webpage which provides information on the Iron Blue, it also outlines in detail each of the patterns supplied, giving information on when and how to use them. We have other 'Match The Hatch' selections on their way to us - our Artisan fly tyers are hard at work producing them as I type this. We've just received the Mayfly pattern samples and they are stunning - you're going to love them! Tight lines & fill your boots!

Reel Recovery - Be Well & Fish On

Fly Fishing - Food For The Soul We all know that fly fishing has long been recognized as a therapeutic activity - often, that's the exact reason we all head out to the water. It's an open secret that angling offers numerous benefits for individuals (that's why you can now get it prescribed by the NHS) - whether recuperating from physical ailments or struggling with mental health challenges, the serene environment we usually find ourselves in and the rhythmic casting motions provide a real sense of well-being. I had a phone call from a long-term customer of ours - Michael - asking if we could help with an organisation he's been involved with for some time - it was related to fly fishing and once we heard all about it we gladly agreed. It's called ... Reel Recovery ... Michael was first introduced to the great work Reel Recovery does when working for Orvis over in the USA - Orvis are one of their major sponsors. Reel Recovery is a non-profit organisation which was formed by our fly angling cousins across the pond in 2003, it aims to help men through the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of fly fishing while also providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences of cancer with others who share their stories and experiences. It's also important to note that Reel Recovery aims its services at non-anglers by hosting free weekend retreats which are centred around fly fishing - us anglers are already feeding the soul on a regular basis and know the benefits fly fishing brings. Michael is spearheading the introduction of Reel Recovery to the UK, they will be holding their first-ever free retreat in Northumberland (at Redewater Lakeside Lodges) over a weekend in September later this year. "Reel Recovery is an international non-profit organisation that conducts free fly-fishing retreats for men living with all forms of cancer." Fishing can heal the mind, talking and sharing can heal the pain" - Retreat participants As Reel Recovery is very new to the UK, I'm hoping, with the aid of this email, to help Michael by raising awareness of Reel Recovery and the associated healing powers of angling, in all its forms. I'm sure that each of us at some point in our life has been in contact with cancer to some extent - I know I have, my grandfather, who was instrumental in teaching me to fish, was taken very early by this cruel disease, so I'm more than happy to help where I can. If you're reading this and asking yourself - "How can I find out more?" or even better "How can I help?", then all we would like you to do is one (or all) of the following: Take a look at the Reel Recovery website, by clicking on any button or image contained within this email. If you know of someone who you feel may benefit, please get them to take a look at the Reel Recovery website - https://reelrecovery.org where they can find information on the retreat in September. If you live in the North-East and would like to either act as a "fishing buddy" or help in any other way over the retreat weekend, please get in touch with Michael directly via his email ( michael@reelrecovery.org). I know he'd love to hear from you. As this is the launch of Reel Recovery in UK - with the first free fly fishing retreat happening in September - I'd love it if we could help out and get some momentum behind it. I know that our email members will be eager to help - as that's the sort of community we are. I also know that our email community consists of a very eclectic bunch of anglers - so on the off-chance there is anyone out there reading this who thinks that their company could help with sponsorship of any kind - be it tackle, time or donations - I know Michael and the team behind Reel Recovery would be really appreciative. Here at Barbless Flies we are helping as much as we can - I hope you can help us and let's show our angling friends from over the pond the power of the fly fishing community here in the UK. "I discovered that while fly fishing I was in another place. In this place there was no cancer, no pain and no fear" Thanks for taking the time to read this and please help us if you feel you can.

Dry Flies Which Work Everywhere (All Year Round) - The Universal Dry Fly Selection

Firstly, I like to thank all of you who managed to snag one of our Leather River Almanacs, when we launched it earlier this month - I hope you like it! They sold out within a few hours and we asked the 'leather guys' if we could have some more - they just landed with us and they are available now - only while stocks last though - we will not have any more this year! I really look forward to reading your reviews on them - which so far are overwhelmingly positive. Now, on to more pressing matters ... Do you fancy treating yourself this Easter to some Dry flies (and nymphs) which are my 'go to' for this time of year - and they've stood the test of time ... When we first launched Barbless Flies - all the way back in 2014 - we started with just two selections of flies. Our initial aim was to put together separate universal selections of dry flies and nymphs which you could take to any water (be it river or stillwater) in the UK, and be confident of catching fish - no matter what time of year. As the weather starts to (hopefully) warm, within the next few weeks, fly anglers from across the country will be blowing the dust off their dry fly boxes and putting them to use in anger on our rivers and stillwater. Our Dry Selection has not changed at all since we first launched it all those years ago. Until now ... We've now given it a slight tweak to make it usable in even more fishing situations you may find when using dry flies, and best of all, it's still the same great value - at only £20. Our Updated Dry Fly Selection contains four patterns. Three of which you will find in virtually every anglers fly box: Elk-Hair CdC Caddis - A very well-known and versatile fly. Can be used all year round in all light conditions. An excellent "go-to" fly. Kite's Imperial - First devised in 1962 by the late Oliver Kite to imitate the Large Dark Olives which were hatching on the River Teifi. He used this pattern all season long whenever any olives were hatching, it didn't matter if they were large, small, light, dark, Pale Wateries or Iron Blues. Rather than changing the pattern, Oliver only changed the size of the fly. CdC Olive Emerger - A very well-known and versatile generic olive imitation. Can be used all year round in all up-winged fly hatches. An excellent olive imitation. The fourth pattern in our selection is a very special one - The Indicator Caddis: This fly is a very versatile pattern, great fished as a single dry fly on a dead drift or as the dry in a Duo/New Zealand set-up, which has exceptional buoyancy and will suspend even the heaviest of nymphs. Whenever I'm fishing a dry fly if I cannot pinpoint the exact insect, this is the fly I will tie on. They really are that deadly! Our Updated for 2024 Dry Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above). We are supplying all of these for still only £20 - alll supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail. *** Go on, treat yourself for the beginning of the river season *** Electric 'Early Season' Nymphs I've always found the start of the season really challenging, the resident fish of the Derwent don't seem interested in any dry flies which I present to them - no matter how well they are tied! They take a little time to 'warm up' and really switch on to my offerings. One school of thought - which I personally subscribe to, and has worked really well for me over the years - is to start to use smaller, more imitative nymphs during the early part of the day, especially when the fish seem to be a little sluggish and there's little to no activity on the surface. One such nymph which I find works really well no matter which river or stillwater you are on, is the famous Copper John, especially in Olive Green: This pattern, created by John Barr in 1993, has a world-famous reputation for catching fish. There's an urban myth that the success of this nymph is due to the copper wire being wrapped around a hook, which creates a form of magnetic field which then attracts the fish - I suppose you do have the beginnings of an electromagnet with the materials, I'm still not sold on the idea though - but the nymphs work - so who's to argue! The Copper John is a nymph which has always caught fish, this nymph is a great fly for both Trout and Grayling. Great in deep or fast water, it can also be used as a part of the Duo setup with great effect. This fly accounts for fish in virtually every river and stillwater, due to its weight and profile, with copper wire twisted around the hook shank this gives the fly a uniform weight distribution throughout the fly, and more importantly, gets the fly to the depth where the fish are. Even in the smaller sizes this fly penetrates the water and sinks. If you want to give them a go and see their fish-catching abilities for yourself, then we have our updated Copper John Selection available for you to try now: Our Copper John Selection contains 16 nymphs (4 colour variations - copper, black, olive green and red, 2 of each, in sizes 14 & 18) and is available now for only £20 - delivered in our eco-friendly packaging. That's a massive 15% saving over buying them individually - if you have a discount code from us, you can include that to save even more. *** Go on, you know you want to! *** Tight lines & have a great time out on the water this Easter.

Innovative Scuds

The Bacchus Bug Selection

Barbless. Clothing