2wheels1rod

Every Great Fly Has an Origin Story … This One’s Weird

Let me tell you about Jim Estes. Back in the late 90s, Jim walked into a dollar store (the American equivalent of our pound shops) in Bryson City, North Carolina, probably looking for cleaning supplies like the rest of us. But Jim wasn't like the rest of us, he was the sort of bloke who looked at a microfiber mop pad and thought, "that'll catch fish."

Pink Squirrels - They never forget where their nuts are buried

There's a fly pattern over in the USA which works wonders for virtually all fish that swim in rivers, over the pond it's become a bit of a closely guarded secret in the guiding community, think of it as their equivalent of our Red-Neck PTN! As our reach into the USA is pretty limited, I thought it was safe to make it more popular over here, whilst still keeping it secret over in the US.

Storm Chandra Has Just Done Us A Favour

Storm Chandra has just done what every grayling angler secretly loves - turned our rivers into chocolate, scattered the fair-weather anglers, and set the table for some of the most productive fishing of the entire winter.

I hope Oliver Kite Would Approve?

I was rifling through my fishing book collection back in September, looking for some inspiration for the coming Grayling season - specifically the "Nymph Fishing Techniques" section (yes, they're categorised, don't judge me) - when I stumbled across an old copy of Oliver Kite's "Nymph Fishing in Practice".

There's something quite ironic about a fly pattern which was so effective that it almost wrote itself out of existence.

I know it's Saturday, and I don't want to interrupt your Cornflakes, but I wanted to give you a heads-up on a fly pattern which we've had loads of feedback on over the last couple of weeks (especially from Stillwater anglers - which really took us by surprise). I've also used them both with great success over the last few days on my local beck here in North Yorkshire, they are ...

If you want to get ahead, get a hat.

It's still a little chilly (and damp) out there, I'm hoping this email will give you a niec warm feeling. But first ... I'd like to thank all of you who bought one of our Hoodies (or Sweatshirts) earlier this month (they're available here) - it really does mean a lot to us, especially at this time of year. You know the old saying: "If you want to get ahead, get a hat" Well, I've always thought it was decent advice. Though I suspect whoever coined it wasn't thinking about the temperatures we experience when fishing up here in North Yorkshire.

si unus es habiturus, magnus es - Piquing A Fishes Interest with A-lure-ing Flies

Here in the Barbless Flies household, we have an informal family motto: " si unus es habiturus, magnus es" which loosely translates to: "If you're going to have one, get a big one." We're not that grand really, but the saying is often quoted - specifically when buying chocolate, beer or cars.

Winter Bankers - Or Should It Be 'Not-Blankers'

Just a short one for you today ... I thought you may like to know that we have just received new stock of a few "Winter Bankers" (or should that be Winter 'Not-Blankers') for both stillwaters and rivers. There are some new colour variations and a few of our old faithfuls - which are virtually guaranteed to catch something ...

The Rock 'n' Roll Rhyaco

Quick question: when was the last time you tied on a Rhyacophila imitation? If you're scratching your head, wondering what I'm on about, you're not alone. Most anglers can rattle off their favourite sedge patterns, point to a box full of shrimp imitations, and wax lyrical about their preferred PTN variant. But Rhyacophila? The free-swimming caddis larvae that trout and grayling absolutely hammer year-round? While we're all obsessing over the sedge hatch, these aggressive little predators are crawling/swimming across the riverbed 365 days a year, and the fish know it.

It's A Little Chilly Out There - Channel Your Inner Boy Scout & Be Prepared

It's a little chilly out there - which coincidentally is the perfect time to receive this email, we've brought it forward a little, as we'd originally planned it for early Feb. As a business, we always struggle at this time of year. It's only the really hardy anglers who venture out in all weathers in search of their fishing fix - that is, unfortunately, reflected in our fly sales for Jan & Feb.

Our man in Bosnia has been on the tools again with this stunning mini-streamer selection.

I don't know where in the country you are reading this, but if you're anywhere near the North-East coast (like us), you will probably be underneath a blanket of heavy snow. Our rivers are all in perfect condition, if only I could get near one - we've had 8 inches of snow and, as usual, all the country roads are virtually impassable!

New Year. New Designs. New You.

As the new year begins, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for your incredible support throughout 2025. It’s been a year of tight lines, tall fishing tales, and exquisitely tied flies that, hopefully, convinced even the pickiest of fish that they were gourmet meals.

Innovative Scuds

The Bacchus Bug Selection

Barbless. Clothing