2wheels1rod

Easy .. Easy .. Easy - Big Daddies & Giant Haystacks

Easy ... Easy ... Easy It's time to deploy the Big Daddies, but how 'BIG' is big? If you're around my age, let's just say 55+, then I'm sure you can remember sitting around the TV on a Saturday lunchtime with the dulcet tones of Kent Walton ringing in your ears! These images and sounds came flooding back to me over the summer when our local history society had an exhibition showcasing some of the 'sporting' heritage of our local town (Scarborough) - that led me to think of the legendary bouts between Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks (and my personal favourite Kendo Nagasaki - whatever happened to him?). I was looking for a way of framing this email, which is all about the Daddy Long Legs, and bingo (another local favourite), the idea hit me! So forgive the cheesy nature of this but ... Now we are into early September and the haystacks have started to grow it's time for the daddies to make an appearance - I'm sure you've already begun to see them bumping into the windows around your house. Every September, as the first hints of autumn appear, fly anglers eagerly anticipate one of the season's most exciting hatches: the Daddy Long Legs. These gangly terrestrials, blown onto the water by late summer breezes, trigger some of the most explosive surface feeding of the year. Fish that have grown wary and selective throughout the season suddenly throw caution to the wind, rising eagerly to gulp down these substantial mouthfuls. Yet despite the Daddy Long Legs' reputation as a bit of a 'banker' pattern, many anglers find their success frustratingly inconsistent. The culprit, I believe, lies not in your technique or timing, but in a fundamental mismatch between the size of the flies in our boxes and that of the insects actually landing on the water. At the back end of last season, when watching trout gleefully refuse my size 10 and 12 'regular' Daddy Long Legs patterns - even when fish were feeding confidently around me - I decided to take a closer look at the naturals themselves. What I discovered was quite revealing: while the usual commercial patterns are typically tied on size 10-12 hooks to create that "substantial mouthful" impression, the actual crane flies blown onto the water are considerably smaller and much more dainty. The average Daddy Long Legs that finds its way onto our waters measures closer to what a size 14 hook would represent, with a lighter, more realistic silhouette that doesn't create the heavy disturbance many oversized patterns produce. So, I had our tyers produce a few samples which had been scaled down and tied on a size 14 AHREX FW525 to try out: By downsizing our patterns to match the genuine proportions of these terrestrials, I found that the more educated trout, particularly those that had been rejecting the bulkier commercial ties, began taking my smaller flies with renewed confidence. Sometimes, the most effective revolution is simply getting back to what nature actually presents! From that original tan-coloured size 14 Daddy Long Legs pattern (which was pretty much chewed to bits!), I've now spawned off a few different variations and created a full selection for you to choose from: The Black Foam Daddy - Size 14 AHREX FW525 The Orange Foam Daddy - Size 14 AHREX FW525 The Tan Foam Daddy - Size 14 AHREX FW525; The Peacock Daddy - Size 12 AHREX FW503 (see details below) I know that these flies will be popular, so I've stocked up on them (there should be enough to last at least the next couple of weeks), but once they're gone, they're gone - until 2026! The Artisan Daddy Selection ... Why not treat yourself to our Barbless Artisan Daddy Long Legs Selection, a selection of 12 barbless daddies - we've even kept the price to our 2024 pricing (at only £22 for the full selection): The patterns included in our selection are: The Black Foam Daddy - A twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern. This is a streamlined pattern, tied with swept-back wings, a black foam body and signature knotted pheasant tail legs. Our Selection contains 3 each in a size 14. The Orange Foam Daddy - A streamlined pattern, tied with swept-back wings, an orange foam body (easy to see in low-light conditions) and signature knotted pheasant tail legs. Our Selection contains 3 each in a size 14. The Tan Foam Daddy - With swept-back wings, a tan foam body (virtually identical in colour to the real insect) and signature knotted pheasant tail legs. Our Selection contains 3 each in a size 14. The Peacock Daddy (see below) - A pattern which works exceptionally well all across the UK. Tied with a sparse hackle (which includes 2 short wings), a peacock herl body (which allows this pattern to float high on the water) and signature knotted pheasant tail legs. Our Selection contains 3 each in a size 12. Our Barbless Artisan Daddy Long Legs Selection, containing 12 flies, is available as a full selection for only £22, including free delivery to anywhere within the UK. *** We have around 90 of these selections available, so we should be good for around a week or so, but grab yours now if you would like a set. *** *** Go on, you know you want to! *** The Peacock Daddy At this very time last year, I was given a fly to try out that a friend had used for years (tied to his own secret recipe) - it was a 'Daddy' style pattern, but had a heavy front hackle and was tied with a peacock herl body - as it turned out, this was the one fly which saved me numerous blanks this year (in both the early-season and the summer). It accounted for fish when it had no right to, i.e. in the summertime's low water levels, I had Grayling rising for it! I've had our tyers tie their interpretation of his original fly, and we've called it The Peacock Daddy: For the whole of last September, I was hooked on this pattern, and I knew that we must get stock of them for the 2025 'Daddy Season' - well, we've just received them from our 'artisan' fly supplier, and the tyings are superb, all tied on the highest quality AHREX FW503 size 12 hooks. To give you the best possible value, we've decided to offer these Daddies in three different quantities: Individually - for £2.15 each Packs of 6 - for £11.00 (equivalent to £1.83 each); or Packs of 12 - for £20.00 (equivalent to only £1.66 each) Click on any image or button above to view this stunning fly in more detail and choose your pack quantity. Please Note: The Peacock Daddy is also included in our Artisan Daddy Selection, which you can find by clicking here. The standard and quality of these Daddies is that high, we've added them to our range of 'Artisan' flies. We do have quite a few of these; even so, we're expecting them to sell out very quickly, so if you would like some, you will need to be quick! When Daddy Long Legs are hatching in the area, use these flies with a slightly heavier/stiffer tippet than you would normally use - it will reduce the amount of twist in the leader as these flies are fairly big and wind-resistant. Daddy Long Legs are also surprisingly effective when fished as a wet fly, so don't be too quick to keep these flies dry, once they are wet and submerged. If on a Stillwater, gently "figure of 8" them back to create a small wake, on a River try fishing them in the surface film, don't worry about any drag (you want these flies to move across the current where possible) and hold on! Tight lines & enjoy it. P.S. You may recognise the above email, I send a variation of it at this same time every year - it's one of my favourites!

Early Autumn - Part 1 - Prime Time Stillwater Tactics

Prime Time Fishing Welcome to Part 1 of our 2-part mini series on Early Autumn Tactics. Part 2 (which will be with you on Thursday) concentrates on running water, whilst Part 1 is all about Stillwaters: Up here in our little corner of North Yorkshire, we are pretty well off for river fishing, but 'day ticket' Stillwaters are very few and far between. You would think that being a holiday town, our area would cater for those who want to escape the beaches and amusements for a couple of hours' peace, casting a fly - it's not the case! Last year that changed, with a once popular local stillwater re-opening again - now called North Yorkshire Water Park Fisheries (aka Wykeham Lakes), this is right on our doorstep - literally. I always stop off at the lake - to see how it's fishing - needless to say it has been very difficult over the warm summer months (just like the majority of small stillwaters in the UK), but with the arrival of September and the slightly cooler autumnal winds, the fishing seems to have perked right up over the last few days! If you are venturing out to your local stillwater in the next few weeks, you will need to search the water to find fish. As in the cooler months, you will have to keep moving and target the areas where the bank drops off to deeper water (or any structure in the water). Depth is key, make sure your flies are fishing at the depth the fish are (I know it sounds obvious), most anglers underestimate the depth at which their flies are fishing. To some extent not knowing the depth is not an issue – so long as you know how long you've let them sink for when you get a take. Top Tip: Count your flies down as they sink – increase the count for each cast until something happens (you have to take into account the weight of your flies and adjust accordingly – a 4mm beaded tungsten lure will sink much faster than an unweighted Woolly Bugger). At this time of year any resident Stillwater trout will be starting to feed up in readiness for the sparser months ahead, what better way to target them with an 'active' fishing method - lures. This method keeps you on the move - and keeps you warm! With that in mind, we've put together a selection of our most popular (and successful) lures, in sizes 10, 12 & 14, specifically for targeting those Autumn fish - as most will be more than willing to chase a fly once the water starts to cool. These Stillwater Lures are ideal for your next trip out. Top Autumn Tip: It's often quite windy at this time of year, you will also notice that most anglers like to fish with the wind at their backs (it makes their casting look good!), the only problem with this, is the wind is blowing all of the surface food to the other end of the lake! Try fishing with the wind on your left (if you're right-handed) and let the wind work your flies on the surface towards the leeward bank - you can virtually guarantee there will be fish patrolling for surface food! For more tips when fishing lures in Autumn and the cooler months, see the bottom of this email. Here we introduce to you our Stillwater Lure Selection: Why Use Lures? A lure style of fly is not really imitating any specific life in the water (although some could be said to imitate small fish), they are more used to arouse the fishes 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. What Tactics To Use? Which technique you use depends largely on the depth of the water you are fishing: Shallow Water (< 10ft) - A floating line and long leader can be used - just remember to count down your lure and fish/retrieve it slowly. Short pulls, followed by large pauses to let the fly sink again. Deeper Water (> 10ft) - Go for an intermediate or sinking line with a short leader - this allows you to present the lure at depth and any retrieve will pull the lure parallel to the Stillwater bed. These lure patterns should be fished as close to the Stillwater bed as possible. Lures are ideal patterns to use in shallower water, close to weed beds. *** See below in this email for many more hints and tips on fishing lures in Autumn *** We only have a limited number (50) of our Lure Selections, so if our previous offerings are anything to go by, you will need to be quick off the mark! In total there are 18 flies supplied in our eco-friendly. packaging. All of these flies are tied on barbless hooks, in sizes 10, 12 & 14 and available as a selection (9 patterns/styles, 2 of each in various sizes) for only £26, click any button or image to view the selection in more detail. Each of the patterns contained within the Lure Selection are also available in our 'Taster Selection', which includes 1 of each pattern/style (9 flies in total)for only £14: Each of the lues contained within the selections above can also be bought individually: *** We've only 50 of these selections - if you want one, you will need to be quick *** The Little 'Stillwater' Devils Autumn can be a difficult season for fishing stillwaters and often anglers opt for one of two differing approaches: Give them something to chase - i.e. a lure/streamer/snake (see above); or Plumb the depths with a heavy nymph or preferably a beaded bloodworm pattern. However, there is another tactic which is often overlooked - and that is going for the more imitative approach. One of the best patterns when using this imitative approach is the Diawl Bach. As the weather gets cooler, the size and frequency of the insect hatches reduce. Therefore, it's best, where you can, to use as small a natural imitation as possible: These are favourites on the stillwaters, fished as part of a team of flies drawn slowly on a floating line with a long leader. A very effective method to fish these is to let the wind push your fly line around and look for a twitch in the line as an indication that a fish has taken the fly. They can also be very effective during a midday midge (chironomid) hatch, and the holo versions are worth using to imitate pin fry. *** Go on, you know you want to! *** How to Fish Lures When fishing lures it's all about control and your connection with the fly. A shorter leader helps you keep better control of the lure at depth and control how it fishes. When using sinking lines, start with a level piece of mono 3 to 4 feet long - when in doubt, go shorter. There are 2 main types of retrieve employed when lure fishing: the strip-pause-strip retrieve (do exactly what it says on the tin) and the swing (cast out, let it sink and let any water movement take the fly - always keep in touch by retrieving any slack line). Just remember to keep in touch with the lure, slow down any movement and try to impart some action into it as the fly moves in the water. Tippet & Knots When fishing lures, the main difference is the way the fish takes the fly - savagely! This means tippets and knots need to be up to the job. You shouldn't be using any 5X or 6X tippets here - this calls for the big boys. The lightest tippet material you should use is 4X. If you’re fishing a larger Stillwater that has a bit of current and larger fish, it makes sense to step up to 2X. This allows for the strength of the water and the savage strikes that generally happen when the fish takes your fly. When using larger tippet diameters, it is even more important to get your knots tied correctly and securely. Knots typically used to tie a lure to the tippet are: Orvis Knot Uni Knot Non-Slip Loop Knot The first two are basic knots that can be used for any fly fishing scenario (with the Orvis Knot being the simplest and quickest to tie). The Non-Slip Loop Knot is ideally suited for lure fishing as the lure is secured using a loop, where it is free to move, and more movement can be imparted to it. FREE Lure & Streamer Download Part 2 of our mini-series will be with you on Thursday (which includes some stunning new Daddies I'm just finishing photographing). Tight lines.

The Creative Caddis - Direct from Bosnia

The Creative Caddis (or Stylish Sedge) On my local small stream - the Yorkshire Derwent - it's been really difficult fishing of late, with the recent very low river levels, it makes it virtually impossible during the day, which is why I've been timing my trips to early mornings, before work, and late evenings. Precisely the time that the Caddis / Sedge are on the water! Even with these lower water levels, I am still finding that the "go-to" tactic is to go small(ish) - size 16 - and imitative. Using a longer leader - overall length is around 14ft - allows for a more gentle presentation, especially when combined with a longer lighter rod (my go-to rod for this situation is my trusty Orvis Helios 8'9" 3wt - a present to myself last year for being so good!) employing this method I've caught in both mornings and evenings - with Caddis / Sedge patterns. Please Note: Take a look at the end of this email for some specific tips on Early Autumn Watercraft - giving you the best chance of success in the changeable conditions the coming weeks will have to offer. We asked 'our man in Bosnia' to tie us some patterns that he would personally use on the rivers and stillwaters of Bosnia to entice fish in unpredictable late-summer & early-autumn conditions - that was all the brief we gave him - and he's done the business again. Here they are - some stunning Detached Body Caddis / Sedge patterns: When I first received the first samples (at the back end of July) I was really impressed and took them straight out onto the Derwent for a test, I wasn't expecting much as it was boiling hot and there wasn't much water in the river, so I chose a deeper (and slower) section and has a few casts - 12 casts, 2 Grayling and 1 Wild Brown Trout - what more can I say! Check out these Bosnian 'detached body' bad boys ... Our selection includes four very effective colours – Yellow, Tan, Black, and Olive – this pattern is versatile enough to match various hatches and fishing situations. Its blend of premium materials and precise tying guarantees buoyancy, durability, and consistent performance. These flies have very specific tying materials: Hook: Demon G610 & G680, size 16 Tying Thread: Veevus GSP 30D Black Body: Micro 2.0mm Chenille (Yellow, Tan, Black & Olive) Wing: Fine Deer Hair Thorax: Natural Pine Squirrel Dubbing This carefully tied caddis/sedge features a detached 2.0mm chenille body, designed to create a highly natural silhouette on the water. The thorax is made from Troutline's Pine Squirrel Natural dubbing, giving it a lifelike, soft, and buggy texture that enhances realism. The wings are crafted from fine deer hair, ensuring a natural presentation and excellent visibility. The fly is tied on Demon G610 and Demon G680 Competition hooks, size 16, well known for their strength, sharpness, and reliability in demanding fishing conditions. For maximum durability and a clean finish, the fly is tied with Veevus GSP 30D black thread. As we've only got 40 of these Bosnian Detached Body Caddis/Sedge Selections available (I'm keeping some for myself, to lose in the coming weeks) I'll get straight down to the offer: Our selection of Bosnian Detached Body Caddis includes 12 flies in total (3 each of the 4 different colour variations): Yellow 2.0mm Chenille Body Black 2.0mm Chenille Body Olive 2.0mm Chenille Body Tan 2.0mm Chenille Body These specialist trout dry flies are all tied on Size 16 Demon G610 & G680 Barbless hooks - a great wide-gape hook with maximum strength. Our Bosnian Detached Body Caddis Selection is only available as a selection of 12, 3 each of 4 different patterns (all size 16) & priced at only £25 - which includes FREE delivery to anywhere within the UK. Please Remember: We've only 40 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - Our Bosnian flies always sell out within a few hours of being released! Keep reading for more info and detailed images of the flies - you'll be glad you did ... *** Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at only £25 for the full selection, these will not hang around for long! *** The onset of Autumn means only one thing - changeable conditions. Here are a few tips on getting the most from any conditions presented to you. As the weather cools and the leaves change, trout become more active (and aggressive). However, successful fly fishing in early autumn requires a combination of skill, knowledge, and an understanding of how to read the water. One of the most crucial aspects of successful fly fishing is knowing how to read the water. In autumn, this skill becomes even more important as trout change their behaviour based on factors such as water temperature, food availability, and light conditions. Here's a guide on how to read the water and improve your autumn trout fishing skills: Watch the Currents: Trout tend to hold in areas where they can conserve energy while still having access to food. Look for slower currents near the bottom, behind rocks, and along the edges of faster currents. These are often referred to as "feeding lanes" where trout wait for insects and other prey to be carried towards them. Identify Structure: Rocks, boulders, fallen trees, and submerged vegetation provide excellent cover for trout. These structures break the current and create pockets of calm water behind them where trout can rest without expending too much energy. Cast your fly near, in or around these structures. Water Temperature: As temperatures drop in autumn, trout become more selective about where they position themselves. They often move into deeper pools and runs where the water is at a more consistent temperature. Focus your efforts on these areas, especially during the cooler parts of the day. Understand Light Conditions: In autumn, the angle of the sun changes, casting longer shadows and affecting the visibility of your fly. Trout may become more wary of approaching flies under bright sunlight. Fish in shaded areas, on overcast days, or during the early morning and late afternoon when the light is softer. Look for Riffles and Runs: Riffles are the shallow, broken sections of a stream where water flows quickly over rocky substrate. Runs are slightly deeper stretches downstream of riffles. Trout often position themselves in riffles to feed on insects carried by the current. Target the edges and seams of these areas. Pay Attention to Depth: As Autumn progresses, water levels will change due to heavy rainfall. Trout will adjust their holding positions accordingly. If the water is higher, focus on the slower currents along the banks and near cover. When the water is lower, look for deeper pockets and runs. Use Streamers: In Autumn, trout become more aggressive as they prepare for the colder months. Larger streamer flies can mimic fry and provoke strikes from territorial or hungry trout. Retrieve your streamer through likely holding spots, such as undercut banks or deep pools. Stay Stealthy: As with any fly fishing, you still need to approach the water carefully to avoid spooking any fish. Wear clothing that blends with the surroundings, move slowly, and minimise noise to prevent alerting the fish to your presence. By learning to read the water and adapting your strategies accordingly, you can increase your chances of success throughout Early Autumn. Tight lines & have a great weekend.

The Muskin - The Stillwater Fly You Never Knew Exited!

Morning, I hope you had a great Bank Holiday weekend. For me, the August bank holiday weekend always signals a few things: The end of the summer, and with it the transition away from longer leaders and increasingly small dry flies to the larger flies in our boxes. More water in the rivers (hopefully) - September usually includes a fair bit of rain, which finally tops up the rivers, and looking at this week's forecast, it's not going to disappoint us - I'm not sure there will be enough though; and Another candle on the cake - it always coincides with my birthday, so it's nice to have that extra day to recover! As you may be aware, over the last few months, we have been building up our library of stillwater-focussed patterns. On visiting my local stillwater - purely for research purposes, honestly - I found myself chatting with some of the regulars, one pattern kept being mentioned as a 'virtual banker' - I'd never heard of it before and I was intrigued ... It's called a Muskin - no, I'd never heard of it either - here's one: From all the research I did, it seems to be a cross between an unweighted buzzer and a Cruncher. Some fly patterns seem to arrive with a fanfare; whilst others slip quietly into fly boxes and, before long, onto every angler’s cast. The Muskin seems to belong firmly in the latter category. Here's another one: First developed on Chew Valley Lake, these slim, buzzer-like patterns were tied to imitate pupae drifting mid-water. No beads. No bulk. Just a slim body, a hint of translucence, and the suggestion of life. They proved devastatingly effective - not just on Chew, but on stillwaters large and small across the UK. Please Note: If this fly is as new to you as it was to us, you're going to need some tips on how to get the best from them - just scroll to the end of this email and you will find 7 (and a half) tips and tricks to help you out. In many ways, the Muskin embodies the old truth that less is more. Where big, lurid lures fail in the warmer late-summer/early-autumn water, the Muskin whispers instead of shouts. And trout - especially in late summer and autumn - seem to prefer a whisper. Whilst it was created down south, it quickly made its way north, where it’s found a perfect home on the small stillwaters and reservoirs of North Yorkshire. At this time of year, trout often turn picky - fast. Surface activity slows, and the fish shift their menu to buzzer pupae and other delicate morsels drifting just beneath the film. Enter The Muskin (or Muskin’s / Muskaan’s, as I've also seen them referred to) - a whisper-fine buzzer/cruncher hybrid, born on Chew and now one of the most subtle yet deadly stillwater nymphs around. With a slim profile, soft “breather” filaments, and zero bulk, it slides through the water - just enough of a silhouette to intrigue, not spook. Fish it slow, fish it sly, and the trout will tell you it works From all of the research I did, there were four different patterns which really stood out as "the ones to have", these were: Black Muskin Buzzer Muskin Pheasant Tail Muskin; and Hot-Spot Pheasant Tail Muskin So, we set our "guys who tie" the challenge of creating a selection of Muskins, using each of the above patterns as a reference, but adding their unique twist to each. We received them in the office last week, and they are stunning - let's be honest, if they weren't, we wouldn't show you them! We are now making these flies available as a selection of 16 (4 patterns, 2 of each in sizes 12 & 16) - just click on any of the images or buttons above and below to view more detailed images of each individual nymph. This selection of 16 Muskins is priced at only £24.00, which includes free delivery to anywhere in the UK in our eco-friendly packaging. We only have 40 of our Muskin selections available for sale - I'm keeping some to use in my own stillwater exploits - more details of which I will explain next month! We also have these Muskin's available to buy individually, for only £1.75 each - just click here. You can see more of the individual patterns included in the images below: We are making these flies available as a selection of 16 (4 patterns, 2 of each in sizes 12 & 16) - just click on any of the images or buttons above and below to view more detailed images of each individual nymph. This selection of 16 Muskins is priced at only £24.00, which includes free delivery to anywhere in the UK in our eco-friendly packaging. *** If you would like a set, you will need to be pretty quick - we've only got 40 of our Muskin selections available for sale *** When the lazy days of summer slide into autumn, trout feeding habits shift. Gone are the frenzied buzzer hatches of spring; they are replaced by pickier, mid-depth feeders sipping on pupae, corixa, and the last of the season’s buzzers. This is where Muskins come into their own: slim, subtle, and deadly when fished with a little thought, here's how: 1. Fish Them Mid-Water - Muskins were designed to imitate buzzer pupae - exactly what trout are tuned into between 2ft and 6ft down in late summer. Use a floating line with a long leader to cover this zone. 2. Slow Figure-of-Eight - A gentle figure-of-eight retrieve keeps the fly moving naturally. Think “barely alive” rather than “swimming strongly.” 3. Add a Pause - Every few turns, stop. Let the Muskin sink just a little - that change in level often triggers a take. 4. Go on the Dropper - Fish a Muskin 3ft to 4ft above a heavier point fly. The natural sink-and-sway of the dropper position makes the fly breathe in the water. 5. Match the Colour to the Day - Natural shades excel in clear, bright conditions; darker Muskins come into their own on dull, overcast days when silhouettes stand out better. 6. Fish Teams, Not Singles - Late summer and autumn trout often cruise and pick selectively. Use two or three Muskins at different depths to find the feeding zone faster. 7. Don’t Ignore the Margins - As the evenings draw in, trout push back into the shallows to feed. A Muskin twitched through weed channels can be irresistible. 7½. Believe in the Subtlety - The Muskin isn’t flashy - it’s suggestive. Fish it with confidence. The takes can be soft, so lift into anything suspicious: a twitch, a stop, even just a feeling. Late summer and autumn are transition months on both large and small stillwaters - and a Muskin fished well will turn a tricky day into one full of memories. Tight lines.

Elvis, Will Smith & A Framed Hatch Chart Giveaway

Do You Fancy Winning A Piece Of History This Bank Holiday Weekend? Being based in a holiday town, the Bank Holiday Weekend sees a huge influx of visitors, and with it, lots of fun events to attend - I'm going to see our local Elvis impersonator on Sunday, which is always a good night + Will Smith is also paying us a visit! As I mentioned in my email last Saturday, this bank holiday weekend, we're giving you one final chance to win a small piece of Barbless Flies history. It's our stunning River Hatch Chart, which has been really nicely framed - all ready to hang on your office/man cave/fishing hut wall: We love ours - and it's proudly hanging on our office wall. We only had three made - one of which we gave away to a lucky winner last weekend - we are going to give away the last remaining framed Hatch Chart this Bank Holiday Weekend, I've even devalued it by signing it! All you need to do to enter is place an order with us at any point this bank holiday weekend, for £30 or more - the more orders you place, the more entries you will have! If you read to the end of this email, I've given you some ideas of the flies which will be working well over the next few weeks - I've even split them up into River & Stillwater specific sections. As this is a competition of sorts, there are always some rules, and here's ours: We will put all of the qualifying entries into a 'flat cap' and draw out one lucky winner on Tuesday morning (26th August). This competition will close at 23:59 on the 25th of August; any orders received after this time will not be considered. The competition will run from today (23rd August) until 23:59 on the 25th of August. The judge's (i.e. my) decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Each individual order placed that totals £30 or more will be classed as an entry. Barbless Flies is compliant with the Data Protection Act. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent. If you have any questions on any of the above, please email me by replying to this email. Please Note: This is the last one (of only 3) Framed Hatch Charts that have been made. This is your chance to own a small piece of Barbless Flies history! I know there are lots of different fly patterns & accessories to choose from, so if you need a little inspiration: The Very Best Fly Boxes Jeff Jones Wooden Fly Boxes £40.00 Tacky Double Sided Daypack Fly Box £24.99 Tacky Daypack Fly Box £19.99 River Fly Selections Sawyer(ish) Killer Bug Selection £18.00 The River Whisperer Selection £21.50 Clear-Water Perdigon Jig Selection £36.00 Pixie Nymph Selection £20.00 Stillwater Fly Patterns Black Woolly Bugger £1.65 Baddy Tungsten Hot-Head Lure £1.85 The Cut Throat Cat Micro Lure £1.85 Baddy Tungsten Orange and White Micro Lure £1.85 *** Go on, treat yourself this Bank Holiday Weekend,you know you want to! ***

Sawyer(ish) Killer Bugs - The Summer Seasons Specialist Nymphs

I'm going to keep this email pretty short ... Which fly do you use when it's warm, there's nothing rising, the water is low and there is not much flow? In my experience, it's a simple answer: Use a Sawyer's Killer Bug These are firm favourites amongst those 'keen' souls who pound the riverbanks in the warmer weather - looking for their fishing fix. They are tied to imitate a shrimp/scud. Even the guru that is Tom Rosenbauer notes the effectiveness of a shrimp/scud pattern: "Crustaceans are easy to capture and high in protein and fat. Wherever they are found in great numbers, you will find lots of corpulent trout.”Tom Rosenbauer (midcurrent.com) Variations of the Killer Bug are used prolifically by competition fly anglers (when they want to catch every fish in the water!). These patterns work exceptionally well throughout the season when used as a single nymph fished in the Euro Nymph style - just make sure you have the right type of water in front of you, ideally a section of water that has a deeper section just in front of you with a little faster water. Please Note: Check out the very end of this email for more details on how to get the most from fishing this style of nymph in the summer season on both Rivers and Stillwaters. Guess what's just come back in stock again - as luck would have it, it's our Sawyer(ish) Killer Bug Selection. I've called them Sawyer(ish) because the dressing we've used is not a direct replacement for the original Chadwick's 477, however once I saw it I couldn't not use it - it just looks so fishy when it's wet (I'm not sure the fly fishing historians would be impressed) but they work - in fact, they worked really well when I took them for a swim on our local beck (especially in the smaller sizes): The Sawyer's Killer Bug is a deadly bug created and developed by Frank Sawyer specifically to catch grayling (as a means to control their numbers on the River Avon in Wiltshire) - they work even better on trout! The fly was originally named by his friend, Lee Wulff, after him. It’s a general impressionistic dressing that could be taken to imitate a shrimp, larva, pupa or hatching sedge. Our selection contains three each of sizes 12, 14, 16 & 18. Sawyer(ish) Killer Bug The genius of the Killer Bug lies in its sparseness. The wool, once wet, takes on a translucent, pinkish hue that perfectly mimics freshwater shrimp, cress bugs, and other tiny invertebrates trout and grayling feed on year-round. With no hackle, tail, or wing to clutter the design, the fly sinks quickly and drifts naturally - exactly what picky fish want to see in clear water. In summer, when rivers run low and clear, trout and grayling feed heavily on small invertebrates in the weed beds and margins. The Sawyer(ish) Killer Bug, with its subtle colour and slim profile, slips through the current without spooking fish. Fished upstream on fine tippet, it sinks fast, rides close to the weed where the naturals live, and tempts even the wariest of summer fish. It’s proof that sometimes the simplest patterns are the best - and that Frank Sawyer knew a thing or two about outsmarting fussy trout. Our Sawyer(ish)Killer Bug Selection is a deadly collection of bugs, all inspired by Frank Sawyer's creations. These nymphs are great all-year-round flies and work especially well for those tricky summer fish. Our Sawyer(ish) Killer Bug Selection contains 12 Killer Bugs in total (3 each of sizes 12, 14, 16 & 18). We now have these back in stock and are offering this selection for only £18 - provided in our eco-friendly packaging and delivered FREE to anywhere in the UK. *** We only have very limited numbers of these - 48 to be exact - so you will need to be quick if you would like a set! *** Go on, you know you want to! Summer Stillwater Al(lure)ing Patterns? Sometimes, big flashy lures are just too much for wary summer trout. That’s where our new range of Stillwater Micro-Lures comes in - they all measure around 3cm long. Tied slim, sparse-ish, and subtle, these patterns keep the attraction factor of a lure but in a size that doesn’t spook fish in clear, pressured water. And starting at only £1.65, they’re a cost-effective way to add versatility to your late-summer fly box. In warmer weather, stillwater trout often switch off from chasing large patterns in open water and instead feed lazily around weed beds, margins, and cooler pockets. Micro-lures shine here: they can be fished slowly with a figure-of-eight retrieve, twitched enticingly through weed channels, or suspended just above the drop-off. Their smaller profile suggests fry, corixa, or even nymphs, matching the food trout are actually eating in the height of summer. In other words, micro-lures offer the perfect blend of subtlety and movement when full-sized lures are ignored. Top Tips When Fishing Micro Lures When fishing larger flies it's all about control and your connection with the fly. A shorter leader helps you keep better control of the streamer and how it fishes. Start with a level piece of mono 3 to 4 feet long. When in doubt, go shorter. There are 2 main types of retrieve employed when micro-lure fishing: the stripped retrieve and the swing (down and across on rivers). Just remember to keep in touch with the lure and try to impart some action into it as the fly moves in the water. On Stillwaters - Fish these lures as you would any other streamer style pattern on your favourite stillwater, short leaders with short jerky movements. Rivers - High Water - When the rivers are running higher than normal or coloured, try running a micro-lure through the back eddies. Keep out of the main flow, and think like a minnow! Also, try dead drifting the lure downstream, then retrieve it back (across the flow) with the odd twitch. Rivers - Low Light Conditions - With trout feeding more confidently in low light conditions, try a lure just after the evening rise has finished. You will be surprised at what you can catch (even in just a few inches of water). Concentrate on fishing the tails of pools and shallower riffles. It's also worthwhile pulling a lure through any flat water just as nightfall starts; again, trout feed more confidently after dusk. *** Fill Your Summer Stillwater Fly Box Today *** Here are a few tips to help you when fishing for summer trout with smaller/lighter nymphs (like the Sawyer's Killer Bug), which we hope you find useful: For Rivers: Small nymphs work best in slower water - expending energy for such a small nymph in faster water is not worth the fish's effort. In lower flows and slow water, where possible, fish from the bank and keep low down; it's important not to disturb the water at all. Even really slow wading can send ripples upstream and spook fish. Try tying the nymph on with a loop knot to give it more movement - try using the Non-Slip Loop Knot. Keeping in contact with small nymphs can be a problem; most anglers use some sort of indicator. The best I have found is the 'putty' style indicator, but keep the putty used as small as possible (about the size of a pea in the shape of a rugby ball) - just enough to suspend your nymph. If your river allows it, try using a dry fly as an indicator, aka The Duo. If you are still not sure about fishing smaller nymphs on their own, try starting with a simple 2-nymph rig, with a size 18 Killer Bug on the point and a larger nymph on a dropper above it. Having the heavier nymph on the dropper allows you to fish both nymphs at a similar depth (the heavier nymph will take the smaller nymph deep - and keep it there). Just make sure to keep in contact with your flies at all times by leading them through the water - and lifting the rig at the slightest hint of a fish! For Stillwaters: Fish it Slowly - Stillwater trout have time to inspect their food. Let the Killer Bug sink and retrieve it with a very slow, steady figure-of-eight. Think “creep” rather than “dash.” Use a Long Leader - A 15–18ft leader (tapered to 5X or 6X) helps the fly behave naturally, especially in calm conditions. The longer leader keeps your fly line further from the fish. Target the Margins - Just like rivers, shrimps and corixa are abundant in the weed beds and along the edges. A Killer Bug twitched along the margins is often deadly in summer heat. Fish it Under an Indicator - On flat-calm days, try suspending the fly a couple of feet under a small indicator or buoyant dry fly. It keeps the Bug in the feeding zone and highlights those gentle takes. Add Movement with the Rod Tip - Instead of stripping line, gently lift and lower the rod tip. This makes the nymph rise in the water column, imitating an emerging insect. Change Depth Frequently - In stillwaters, feeding depth can vary wildly. Fish the Killer Bug on a slow intermediate line to search deeper water, or on a floating line with a long leader for the shallows. Fish in a Team - Try the Killer Bug on the point with a buzzer or small nymph above. The natural, suggestive profile often draws fish to the whole rig. Tight lines. P.S. Remember to look out for our 2nd (and last) Framed Hatch Chart giveaway this Bank Holiday Weekend.

Secret French Nymphs, French Letters & American Nymph Boxes

A Secret French Nymph! Morning, Firstly, thanks for all of your orders over the weekend - we plucked out one lucky winner of the framed hatch chart yesterday morning - congratulations James . We have just one more framed hatch chart remaining and will be doing the same giveaway again this coming Bank Holiday Weekend. Today's email missive is all about a very secretive French nymph - and the perfect box to keep them in! Last month, something unexpected dropped on our doormat - with a French postmark ... It was from good friend, and unique fly designer, Stan (of Ceramic Flies & Nymphèvolution fame). I opened the package and read the accompanying note - it described some nymphs which he'd been working on for a while (and could never lay his hands on the right materials) - but now he had found the perfect material, he'd sent them over for us to test - I love receiving packages like that! Stan's note alluded to the nymphs changing colour when submerged - to perfectly (and realistically) match the majority of subsurface nymphs found in European waters - I'll admit, at first, I was a little sceptical, I've seen plenty of gimmicks come and go over the years. As I didn't have time to get out on my local (it was our busiest time of the year), I asked our local fly fishing legend (John E.) if he'd give them a swim and let me know what he thought. What came back wasn't just a testimonial - it was a bit of a love letter to what might be one of the most innovative patterns to cross the English Channel in decades: John's results spoke for themselves, so I was keen to try them out for myself. I ventured out in the blazing sun (which was not ideal), but found a nice shady run, which had a little flow to it and was a couple of feet deep. I tackled up with the Dark Olive version (below) and trundled a single nymph down the run - it took a couple of runs before the fish started to react! All in all, I was on the bank for around 30 minutes and had a total of 6 fish - all small and wild - just how I like them! These nymphs are tied to perfection (as is usual with any of Stan's flies). These are slightly lighter nymphs, but with a twist - the secret body material changes to a very very 'buggy' colour when wet. A great fly to try at this time of year. This style of larvae are found in all of our rivers and stillwaters, with fish of all kinds gorging on them as they trundle along in the flow. Fish one of these just above the river bed, or suspend one under a dry fly on your favourite Stillwater/reservoir and hang on! Let me introduce you to Stan's WFX Nymph Selection which includes 3 different colour variations: Cream (dry) & Butter (wet) Gold (dry) & Dark Olive (wet) Grannom (dry) & Insect Green (wet) Each nymph is tied with a 'secret' body material, we did twist Stan's arm, but he still wouldn't tell us what it was! With this selection of nymphs you will be able to provide a very passable imitation for virtually any nymph (or catepillar) found in UK waters, and they also do a very passable impression of a maggot! This nymph imitation (which has a passing resemblance to a Caddis) is ideally used as a point fly in any nymphing setup (and great for sight nymphing). Don't forget about using these on stillwaters also - over half of the UK Caddis flies are found in stillwaters. These imitations are all tied on size 16 barbless Hends pupa hooks. The tying specification for these WFX Nymphs is: Fly Name: WFX Nymph Hook: Hends BL550 N°16 Barbless Pupa Head Composition: 2.5mm Coloured Brass Bead Body Composition: 'Stan's Secret' Body Yarn Latin Name: Trichoptera Weight: Medium - 0.09g Please Note: As usual with both Stan and our Bosnian flies, we never have loads of them - we've only 40 of these selections available. We did receive more, but I'm stashing away a few selections for myself to last me through Autumn and early Winter - as John mentions in his letter, these will be stunning when the Grayling start to take an interest. We are only making these flies available as a selection of 9 (three of each colour) - just click on any of the fly images or buttons below to view more detailed images of each individual nymph. This selection of 9 nymphs is priced at £20.00 - we do understand these are at the pricier end of the spectrum for flies, but the quality is truely outstanding. We only have 40 selections available for sale - I'm keeping some to use myself! So you will need to be quick! We've even produced a quick video, showing you the nymphs colour changing ability - I hope you'll agree that once wet, they really do look 'buggy': These are one of the most common nymphs found in virtually all waters. They are found on rocks, sand and all types of gravel, so Stan decided to try and make an imitation as realistic as he could. The perfect imitation has to imitate the different body colours, thorax and legs .... so he decided that a woven style nymph is a perfect combination of back and thorax colour, with the segmentation imitating the thorax. The 'secret' body material changes colour when wet, to the correct shade. With a dubbed thorax, these are all tied with either black or gold 2.5mm beads. These nymphs are tied as a general representation of the nymphs commonly seen on our riverbeds. A 'real-life' nymph body looks something like this: Our imitation WFX Nymphs look like this: I think you will agree that the design running throughout the body of the nymph makes these look very like the real thing (if you sort of ignore the sharp metal hook hanging out of the end!). The Very Best Nymph Box There Is! If you're looking for a new home for your WFX Nymphs - there's no better place than the Tacky Double-Sided Day Pack. I use one religiously throughout the year, and always have one in my chest-pack, it carries all the nymphs I need and is really slim, I don't even notice I'm carrying it half the time. Here's my nymph box - as you can see, there are a few empty spaces which I need to fill up: As soon as we get into September, this is the box which sees the most use (with the exception of my 'Daddy Box'. This is also the box I use for all of my Grayling fishing. We've just received a re-stock of these boxes, so if you would like one, we have them - they're only £24.99, delivered for FREE (if you're in the UK), will last you for years and they're ready for a new home! These really are stunning fly boxes, you can tell they have been specifically designed to hold nymphs - with the micro slits able to secure nymphs from a size 8 to a size 24! Tight lines.

Something Very French & A Piece of Barbless Flies History

Les Trois Caddis Colorés Morning, Here at Barbless Flies, the late Spring and Summer months are by far and away our busiest months, you will often find both Jack and I burning the midnight oil at least 6 days a week: getting all of your orders out in a timely fashion, working on new fly patterns whilst also continuing to write books/articles and emails. I often find that by the end of the day, I am completely exhausted - both mentally and physically - so I don't often fish in the evenings, I prefer to sit quietly with a good fishing book and a glass of something Scottish (or Irish)! ----- Interlude ----- Fancy A Freebie This Weekend? Whilst chatting with a friend back in June, he commented on our River Hatch Chart, which I have as a screensaver on my computer (kindly designed for us by Ryan Keene over in the USA) and said they'd look really good framed - he asked if we had a couple he could take away - fast-forward a few weeks, and he returned with this: We love it - and it's now proudly hanging in the office. I asked if he could do a couple more for us, to give away (over the next 2 weekends) to our loyal customers for the fantastic support you have given us over the season so far - I've even devalued it by signing it! All you need to do to enter is place an order with us at any point this weekend, for more than £30 - the more orders you place, the more entries you will have! We will put all of the qualifying entries into a 'flat cap' and draw out one lucky winner on Monday morning (18th August). As this is a competition of sorts, there are always some rules, and here's ours: This competition will close at 23:59 on the 17th of August; any orders received after this time will not be considered. The competition will run from today (16th August) until 23:59 on the 17th of August. The judge's (i.e. my) decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Each individual order placed that totals more than £30 will be classed as an entry. Barbless Flies is compliant with the Data Protection Act. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent. If you have any questions on any of the above, please email me by replying to this email. Please Note: As we have 2 of these to give away, we will be running the exact same giveaway next weekend as well - giving you a 2nd chance to own a small piece of Barbless Flies history! ----- Interlude Ends ----- During our busy months, I have to plan my fishing trips accordingly, and fish very early in the morning - I have to drive alongside the river on my way into Barbless Flies HQ, so it would be rude not to stop for a cast or two (or three) while the mornings are so light. At this time of the day, one of the most popular dry fly imitations I use is the Caddis/Sedge pattern - these are nocturnal insects that return to the water to lay their eggs, just as I'm arriving on the river. The Tri-Colour Caddis There are many different variations of Caddis/Sedge fly, but this season, I've found that one stands head-and-shoulders above all others. It was originally devised in France to fish on the faster, more riffly water - it floats high on virtually all types of water and will fool fish throughout the UK, no matter which river (or stillwater) you are on! It's called the Tri-Colour (Tricolores) Caddis ... The Tricolores is a French palmered fly pattern used to entice both Trout and Grayling. A palmered hackle is one which starts at the bend of the hook and runs the full length of the hook shank, finishing at the eye. This style of tying is most commonly found in the Griffith's Gnat and makes the fly ride high on the water and less prone to sinking. The original fly pattern recipe suggests it is a 'bug' with a graduated dark hackle (which is extremely difficult to find). However, more modern interpretations of the pattern usually use the three colours (White, Brown & Black). It's not unusual, in the more rural parts of France, for this pattern to be tied in White, Olive & Lime to imitate the vivid green upwinged flies they see during the summer months. We've only got 40 of these Tri-Colour Caddis Selections available - I'm keeping a few back for myself, to use over the next 6 weeks or so! Our Tri-Colour Caddis Selection contains 4 each of sizes 12, 14 & 16. That's twelve flies in total, for only £18.00 delivered free of charge to anywhere in the UK. Please Remember: We've only 40 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - These flies can also be bought individually here if you would like to top up your selection! Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at only £18 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! Tight lines & have a great weekend.

Skinny Water = Skinny Flies - Summer Searching Tactics

Morning, "When the river runs thin and the stones show their backs, the fish turn cautious." When the water is 'skinny', every shadow, every ripple, every overdressed fly becomes a potential warning sign. This is the time for restraint ... For flies tied so sparsely tied they seem little more than a whisper in the current. For centuries, fly anglers here in Yorkshire have been well-known for fishing this style of fly, we call Spiders - just a turn or two of silk, a soft hackle, and the merest suggestion of life. 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 & Jeff's boxes now - and save reading my musings for later, safe in the knowledge that you have already secured your boxed Artisan Spiders. This email is all about fishing skinny flies (Spiders) in skinny water. In this email, we are launching some stunning spider patterns supplied in one of Jeff Jones's hand-made wooden fly boxes. Jeff's wooden boxes are available in various different sizes (and wood finishes). We're also giving you the chance to pickup one of Jeff's wooden fly boxes on their own - the last one's that will ever be made - see below for more details! Plus - at the very end of the email are some tips and tricks on how to use spiders when fishing low, summer water. Spiders - or Soft Hackle flies, as our friends across the pond refer to them - are my new 'go-to' patterns when fishing 'skinny' water in warmer weather. For me, they have been some of the most productive flies I've fished with over the past few weeks. It all started from a conversation with one of the 'old boys' who regularly pops his head into Barbless Flies HQ. He mentioned that when the water levels drop, he always turns to spider patterns, unweighted and very sparsely dressed - but with one key difference to the usual setup - he uses just a single fly. Why Do Sparse Flies Shine in Low Water? When trout have time to study their food, overdressed patterns can scream fake. A spider's sparse dressing does the opposite - it suggests rather than shouts, allowing the fish to fill in the blanks and (hopefully) commit to the take. The soft hackle of the fly breathes and moves in the current, even when dead-drifted, creating the illusion of life, without the bulk. This is why I'm concentrating on Spider patterns & some Artisan wood wizardy from Jeff Jones in this week's missive. In fact, I've combined the two together: I asked our Artisan tyers - at very short notice - if they could produce us a set of really 'skinny' Spider patterns. Unfortunately, they could not find the time to tie them in the quantity we originally requested, however, they did manage to send us 16 stunning patterns - but we only received a few dozen of each! We did not want to put so few on the website - as they would sell out within seconds, so ... I spoke with 'our man in Wales' and asked if he had any of his stunning wooden fly boxes, which would suit them. He did ... So, we’ve gathered the finest Artisan Spider patterns on earth, and placed them in something worthy of their history: a choice of hand-made wooden fly boxes (see below), crafted in Wales by Jeff - whose hands know both patience and precision. Skinny water demands skinny flies. And in this special boxed selection, you’ll find the confidence to meet the low summer river on its own terms. Our Artisan tyers really have done us proud with these stunning patterns, our boxed selection includes 16 patterns (2 of each in a size 14): Hare's Lug & Plover Woodcock & Hare's Lug Dark Watchet Stu's Black Spider Partridge & Yellow Partridge & Orange Mirage Spider Red-Spot Spider Snipe & Purple Gold & Black Black Spider Hare's & Partridge Waterhen Bloa Parson's Fancy Iron Blue Spider Partridge & Copper To view any of the above patterns in more detail, just click on any image or button in this email. To view any of the above patterns in more detail, just click on any image or button in this email. As we only have very few of these Spider patterns, we're only making them available in a boxed selection - imaginatively called Jeff's Artisan Spider Selection". As you can probably guess, this is not at the cheaper end of the scale as far as our usual product offerings go, the prices vary on the size of the box you require. Each boxed selection contains 32 barbless spider patterns, which would usually retail at £1.95 each, making a total of £62.50, but for this special selection, we are pricing them at £1.50 per fly, making a total of £48. Then you add on the box, where the price is dependent on the size: 5" x 3.5" - Available in: Oak Cluster - £40 6" x 4" - Available in: American Black Walnut Cluster or Pommele Sapele - £50 8" x 5" - Available in: Black Walnut, Teak or Oak Cluster - £60 This makes the final pricing for these special selections: £88 for the 5" x 3.5" in Oak Cluster £98 for the 6" x 4" box in any wood finish; and £108 for the 8" x 5" box in any wood finish These make an ideal present to yourself, for being so good this year! We have a friend called Jeff ... who used to make fly boxes, in Wales After returning from my recent jaunt to deepest darkest Wales (which is stunning, by the way), I received a phone call from Jeff Jones (who makes the stunning wooden fly boxes) to tell me that he was retiring from his garden workshop and was stopping making his wonderful boxes altogether - after a catch-up, he asked if we would like to buy all of his remaining stock - "do ducks fart underwater" - yes, of course we would! We received the first small batch last week - which contained various sizes (5" x 3", 6" x 4" and 8" x 5" boxes) each one made from a different wood (Oak, Teak, Walnut etc). All of Jeff's fly boxes are hand-made (in his garden workshop) from solid wood - it's a true labour of love and they are stunning creations - the detail on them is outstanding! I've now listed them all on our website - you can find them here - we're making them available from only £40! These Luxury Oiled Wooden Fly Boxes are made in Wales, in a shed, by a guy called Jeff. They measure either 5" x 3.5", 6" x 4" or 8" x 5" and have solid wood sides and a thick veneer top and bottom, each box has a distinctive and unique pattern and is made from varying wood: Oak Cluster American Black Walnut Cluster Americal Black Walnet (Straight Grain) Pommele Sapele Teak The quality of workmanship is outstanding and the boxes are finished with several coats of specialist Gunstock Oil giving a fantastic feel and appearance and long-lasting protection against the elements. The boxes are fitted with strong neodymium permanent magnets used as the box closures, which gives a smooth snag-free surface and beautifully sculpted finger holds that enable a simple opening and closing of the boxes. A unique feature on these fly boxes is the chamfered profile of the interior edges, which not only looks great, but makes it easier to insert and remove flies which are near the edges of the box. We have managed to snag Jeff's remaining stock of these boxes (due to his retirement), which are available now either empty or as a part of Jeff's Artisan Spider Selection: Jeff's fly boxes normally retail at £45+ for even the smallest ones, but we have teamed up with Jeff to showcase his craftsmanship and now have the final fly boxes available: £40 - for the 5" x 3.5" - Oak Cluster £50 - for the 6" x 4" - American Black Walnut & Pommele Sapele £60 - for the 8" x 5" - American Black Walnut, Teak or Oak Cluster *** We've only a couple of each of the boxes available, from Jeff's final stock - so grab yours now, as you won't get a chance again! *** These make great gifts, so why not make someone’s day and present them with a Jeff's Artisan Spider Selection? *** Go on, treat yourself - or a friend this Summer *** When the river drops to summer lows, every cast matters. The fish are spooky, the lies are smaller, and even the shadow of your line can send a trout bolting for cover. That’s when spider patterns (or soft hackles, for those over the pond) come into their own. In these conditions, there’s often no need for a team of three flies. In fact, a single, perfectly presented spider can outfish everything else, if you fish it right. Here are 7 (and a half) tips & tricks for getting the most out of a lone spider in skinny water: 1. Go Long on the Leader A 12–15ft leader with 6X or 7X tippet gives you a delicate presentation and keeps the fly well away from your fly line splashdown. 2. Fish Upstream or Up-and-Across While spiders are often fished across-and-down, in low water an upstream presentation gives you more control, less drag, and a stealthier approach. 3. Keep it in the Film A sparse spider fished just under the surface mimics emergers perfectly. Grease the leader up to 6 inches from the fly to keep it riding high without dragging. 4. Use a Reach Cast for Stealth Throwing a little reach upstream on delivery keeps your tippet from laying over the fish’s feeding lane—vital in clear, shallow water. 5. Lift to Tempt Near the end of your drift, gently lift the rod tip to make the spider “swim” upwards. This imitates an insect rising to hatch and often triggers a take. 6. Target Broken Water In low, clear flows, riffles and pocket water offer cover for both you and the fish. They’re also where spiders come alive in the current. 7. Keep False Casting to a Minimum More false casts = more chance of spooking fish. Aim for one smooth cast, one perfect drift. 7½. Always Believe in the Fly The half-tip is more of a mindset: if you think the spider will work, you’ll fish it with patience, focus, and better presentation. Doubt leads to sloppy drifts - faith catches fish (but that's a whole email by itself)! Our Jeff's Artisan Spider Selection - presented in a hand-made wooden box by Jeff in Wales - is built for exactly these conditions. A handful (16 actually) of the right patterns, tied sparse and suggestive, is all you need to unlock even the wariest trout this Summer. Tight lines, and remember to time your trips to the water!

Terrestrials: Break out the Beetles

Break Out The Beetles As the summer continues, those of you who fish regularly will have noticed that the bank-side foliage just seems to get denser every time you visit the water. These are ideal conditions for all sorts of insects to thrive, from small leaf-eating insects to hoards of beetles and ants. This is prime time for all terrestrial activity on both rivers and stillwaters. Fly fishing with terrestrial patterns is an exciting and effective technique that involves imitating insects that live primarily on land, such as beetles and ants. When fish are focused on terrestrial insects, presenting these patterns correctly can lead to some exhilarating experiences. Here are some tips to make the most of this approach, especially at this time of year: Observation: Observe the water and surrounding vegetation for signs of terrestrial insects. Look for beetles and ants falling from overhanging branches. Identifying the prevalent insects will help you select the right patterns. Accurate casting: Terrestrial insects often fall onto the water with a splash, attracting fish with the noise. Practice accurate casting to mimic this action and place the fly close to the bank or structure where terrestrial insects are likely to be present. Presentation: Allow the fly to drift naturally with the current, just like a real insect. Try twitching your rod tip gently to imitate movement, creating the illusion of a struggling insect. Size and Colour: Choose patterns that match the size and colour of the insects in the area. Ants and beetles are usually small and dark, so a size 14 or 16 pattern usually works best. Patience: Terrestrial fishing can be sporadic, with bursts of activity when insects are active. Stay patient and keep an eye on the water for any signs of fish feeding on the surface. Light Tippet: Use a lighter tippet to ensure a natural presentation and prevent spooking wary fish. However, be prepared for powerful strikes and potential challenges when landing larger fish. We have updated our Beetle selection for 2025 - and they've just arrived with us (scroll down to view all of the patterns in detail): We've updated our most popular beetles and included them all in one selection. These patterns now cover all imitations throughout the summer and autumn months. The patterns included in our NEW selection are: Coch-y-Bonddu Beetle - The classic beetle pattern, also known as the field chafer. The Kicking Beetle - A great 'active' pattern which attracts the attention of any nearby fish, due to the rubber legs which pulse when any action is imparted to the fly (either by the angler or the water current). Hi-Viz Beetle - A great pattern that is easy to see on those bright sunny days. Tied with a bright pink post. Hi-Float Foam Beetle - A beetle designed to float high in the water due to its closed-cell foam body. Plus, for today only: The Micro Beetle - Looks a little odd, but catches fish! Please Note: We only have 40 of these selections available - and when they're gone, they're gone until next year! Grab yours today (and get your free Micro beetles - see further below for our Special Offer). Why not be ready for any Beetle, with our Barbless Beetle Selection - we love an alliteration! We have created this selection of Beetles that work equally well on both rivers and stillwaters. Here we have a selection of 20 Beetles, five different patterns (the four above + The Micro Beetle, below) two each of sizes 14 & 16; plus four of the size 18 Micro Beetles - if you buy the Barbless Beetle Selection today. Our Barbless Beetle Selection includes 20 flies and is now available, priced at only £26, which includes fast, free delivery to anywhere in the UK. Click on any image or button in this email to view each of the patterns in more detail. We’ll be honest with you — most fishing flies are bought with the angler’s eyes in mind, not the fish’s. If it looks tidy, symmetrical, and Instagram-ready, it sells. The Micro Beetle is not that fly: This little oddball is… well… let’s just say if it entered a beauty contest, it wouldn’t even make the photo round. It’s a scruffy, slightly awkward-looking beetle pattern that, to human eyes, appears like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. But to the fish? It seems to be a floating buffet. For today only, when you buy our Barbless Beetle Selection, we’ll sneak 4 of these “so-ugly-they're-beautiful” Micro Beetles into your order. They might not win any style awards, but on the water, they’re absolute assassins. "Think of them like that odd-shaped biscuit in the tin — the one you know tastes the best." *** Go on, you know you want to! *** As is usual with all of our fly selections, each of the fly patterns are also available to buy individually. Just click the button below to see them all in one place: In the warmer summer afternoons, a beetle pattern is an essential searching pattern, when fish are not rising. To search a river: From the bank, section the river into lanes about 3ft wide. Cast upstream and make 3 or 4 drifts in the nearest lane, repeat for each lane, working away from you. Step upstream and repeat the process. To search a stillwater: From the bank, imagine a fan with 8 points laid out on the water. Cast to each point of the fan 3 or 4 times, and retrieve using the "Splash & Twitch" technique (see below). Move further along the bank and repeat the process. "Splash & Twitch" Technique With each of the searching methods mentioned above, why not give the "Splash & Twitch" technique a go. As Beetles are land-based insects, they are regularly blown (or drop from trees) onto the water, and they are not that elegant when they do! Don't worry about perfect presentation, it is often better for this style of fly to splash down on the water, Keep in touch with the drift as the water brings the fly back to you and give the fly a slight twitch every now and then. You will be amazed how often this inducement will bring up a fish! Don't forget to drift the beetle under any overhanging branches."Dry Nymph" Technique Most natural terrestrials start to sink after hitting the water. If your floating terrestrial pattern sinks midway through a drift, just fish it as you would a nymph. Some of the best fishing to be had on a warm summer's afternoon can be by fishing sunk beetles as you would a nymph on a long leader. Tight lines & have fun out there.

Adult & Emerging Buzzers: Your Secret Summer Stillwater Weapons

Stillwater Essentials for August Following on from the success of the specialist Stillwater lines we brought to you on Tuesday (which all sold within 4 hours - thank you), we're dipping our toes even further into stillwaters today ... Over the past few months we have mainly concentrated on river flies, but this week we've had loads of new Stillwater patterns arrive at Barbless Flies HQ. We have heavily invested in increasing our range of Stillwater flies, over the next 2 months we will also be adding over 100 extra patterns to our line up. It looks like we're in for some perfect fishing weather over the next few weeks, so I thought I would start by including some tips on fishing stillwaters in warmer weather. Timing is the key - Either start early. Water temperatures will be the coolest in early mornings, so use this to your advantage. Find deep water - Fish feel more comfortable in colder water, so on warmer day,s locate the deep water and use appropriate tactics, sinking lines, etc to target the fish. Find moving water - Look for any water which is moving, aerators or stream entrances. This water will have more oxygen, and fish will look for more oxygenated water. Avoid the smaller stillwaters - Small stillwaters are generally fairly shallow, and so the water will be much warmer, which generally means there is less oxygenated water. This puts fish off feeding and can sometimes stress the fish, making them very lethargic. Help fish recover after being caught - Please look after the welfare of the fish once you've played it to the net. Try not to take the fish out of the water, and make sure it is fully recovered before releasing it. With the water now warmer, buzzer patterns will come more to the fore as far as the stillwater angler is concerned, especially 'top of the water' adult buzzer imitations: We've updated our popular Adult Buzzer Selection to include some new imitative patterns for the 'warm weather angler'. These are the patterns which will be more successful as the weather (and water) starts to warm up a little: This selection of Adult Buzzers (one of our most popular Stillwater flies) has been put together by popular demand. The selection contains two of each of our most popular Adult & Emerging Buzzers: 2 x Black Adult Buzzer - size 12 2 x Grey Adult Buzzer - size 12 2 x Olive Adult Buzzer - size 12 2 x Black Emerging Buzzer - size 12 2 x Hares Emerging Buzzer - size 12 2 x Olive Emerging Buzzer - size 12 This is the perfect selection of flies for fishing any buzzer hatch, just keep them in the surface film and let the wind do the rest: When it's Windy: Use a floating line, a shortened leader. Check the direction of the wind and cast out across the wind (i.e. the wind is side on to you) - always make sure the wind is to your left shoulder if you cast right-handed (and the right shoulder if you cast left-handed). Using a team of three buzzers, cast out and allow the buzzers to drift with the wind. You should not need to retrieve your line, as the wind will make sure your leader straightens up. You will usually see the take before you feel it - just remember to strike in the opposite direction to the direction your flies are moving. Once at the end of your drift, lift the flies slowly from the water - it's surprising how many fish take your buzzers as you're about to re-cast! When it's Still: Again, use a floating line, long leader and a team of three buzzers. Cast out and, before the flies start to sink, pull the line to straighten out the leader. Then pause (keeping in touch with the flies) and wait for the flies to drop, takes usually come with the buzzers on the drop. You should spot a take before you feel it, keep an eye on the fly line and leader for any abnormal movement. If the buzzers sink too deep (remember this type of buzzer needs to be fished in the top 3 feet), just a few pulls on the fly line should bring them back to the surface, and you can start again by letting them sink. Our NEW Selection of Adult & Emerging Buzzers (which contains 12 flies) is now available for only £20, which includes free delivery to anywhere in the UK in our eco-friendly packaging. Go on, you know you want to! Flies For Your Weekend Washing Line (see below) The 'Almost' Barbless Daddy Dinkhamer A part of our Artisan range of flies The Daddy Dinkhamer is a favourite on both Stillwaters and Rivers. Tied on a Size 10 AHREX FW500 crushed-barb hook. An essential fly for the late summer and autumn months. This fly is extra buoyant with a 9mm foam head. These flies are available individually (£1.85), in packs of 6 (£10.00) or packs of 12 (£18.50) - only in size 10. Just click on the button below to view the Daddy Dinkhamer in much more detail. Or Something A Little Less Buoyant! (but still as effective) The Deadly Daddy A favourite on both Stillwaters and Rivers. Tied on a size 10 barbless hook, this daddy pattern is our most popular pattern by far - I think it's something to do with the green hot-spot tied into the tail. An essential fly for the summer months. These flies are available individually for £1.95 each and are only available in a size 10. Just click on the button below to view the Deadly Daddy in much more detail. Try The Washing Line This Weekend? What's the 'Washing Line' method I hear you ask? The washing line method is a technique designed to let you fish an emerger/buoyant fly on the point with a team of buzzers/nymphs suspended just below the surface of the water, using a floating fly line - it hangs just as a washing line would - suspended by the floating fly line at one end and the buoyant point fly at the other. Normally when fishing with buzzers or nymphs, they would descent down through the water column slowly (which is a good way of searching to find the depth the fish are feeding at). However, the 'Washing Line' method allows you to keep all of your flies just below the surface where the trout are most likely to feed. Using this method requires you to use a much longer leader (in excess of 10'). As a general rule, use a leader of around 12' to 14' (this also makes it much easier to net the fish once you have caught it, as you will not end up with any of your flies hanging in the top ring of your rod). A good initial setup when starting out is to space your flies on short droppers (about 12" long) each one 3 feet apart - this makes it easier to cast. If you're having problems casting it, just use a buoyant point fly (like our Stillwater Dinkhamer) and two droppers. I like the sound of that, when should I use it? Always use this method when the fish are high in the water and sipping buzzers or taking the insects as they emerge. Check out the rise form of the fish, look for a 'head and tail' rise - think of the way a dolphin breaks the water surface, first you see the head, then the dorsal fin, followed by the tail. This will be the first indication they are taking buzzers. Stillwater Hatch Chart Here's a handy Stillwater hatch chart for you if you can get to a local stillwater this month: Get out there and have fun! P.S. If you'd like to buy any of our buzzer patterns individually, you can find them all by clicking here.

The Line That Sold Out Is Back & Now Has A Stillwater Twin

Last Time, We Sold Out - In 2 Hours.This Time, There's Two Of Them. Morning, You may remember a couple of months ago, I brought you details of a NEW fly line - I affectionately called it the 'SPUD' (Spectre Pro Ultra Dry) and it has revolutionised my river fishing so far this year. The Fly Line That Took Me by Surprise - Is Now Made for Stillwaters It started with a last-minute switch. A good friend popped into the office on their way to an early-evening river session – water low, wind a little bit awkward, fish very spooky. I persuaded them to use my reel (equipped with my faithful SPUD line) – it covers multiple rod weights in one line. A few days later, they popped in to reluctantly return the reel and were very animated: “It handled everything. Swapped it between my 2 and 4 weight rods without a hitch. I didn’t even have to change spools. Can I keep it?” That was the #2 to #5 weight river – and if you blinked, you missed it. Our entire stock was gone in a matter of hours. Well, now it’s back - And this time, it’s brought a Stillwater friend to the party: The same team who produced the river version have just released a floating Stillwater version and allocated some to us, built specifically for small stillwaters, boat fishing, and long-distance dry fly work – with the same clever multi-weight design, this time in #5 to #7. You asked ... we waited for them ... And we’ve secured a very limited batch of both lines and have a very Special Offer on both of them - for today only (see below). Stillwater Line #5 to #7 - NEW - Designed for lakes, reservoirs, lochs and boats. Long leaders, smooth turnover, subtle takes. Multi-weight, so it fits your 5wt, 6wt and your 7wt. River Line #2 to #5 - Back In Stock - The original & my 'go to' river line this season. Light-touch presentation, perfect control, and more time fishing - less time faffing. Please Note: This is all we’re getting for a while and when they’re gone, they really are gone. To say I'm besotted with my 'SPUD' line is a bit of an understatement, I've not used anything else so far this year and I've not looked back - from dual-nymph rigs to delicate size 18 greenflies - it's never missed a beat (and saved me a fortune - as my other lines needed replacing this year)! For all those of you wondering, here's the taper spec of the lines: This Stillwater Line was made for the way we actually fish lakes and reservoirs. Let’s be honest – most of us don’t have a spare hour on the bank messing about with three different lines. We want one that works across different rods, casts clean on a long leader, and doesn't collapse when we’re reaching out 20+ yards with a team of buzzers. This is that line: Built for 5, 6 and 7 weight rods Handles long leaders and subtle presentations Great for boat work, bank work, and blustery afternoons Multi-weight design means you can swap it across setups I will be stringing one up on my trusty Stillwater workhorse later this week and venturing out to get myself re-acquainted with my local Stillwater (North Yorkshire Water Park Fisheries) - you will be able to follow my novice exploits and find out more later this month. Meanwhile, the River specific line is also back with us (the image above is the setup I've been using all season) - these lines are just waiting for a new home on your reel. If you fish smaller rivers with lighter rods (2, 3 or 4 weight), this is a line that gives you more drift control, better turnover, and the ability to stay out longer with less kit. You don’t need to check your spool. You don’t need to second-guess your setup. It just works. "There must be something in the taper / coating / core / density / diameter - it's like electricity, I'm not going to question how it works, it just does!" I am sure that our email community (that's you) will find both of these lines very handy - and useful for the summer fishing season where smaller flies and more delicate presentations are required. It turns out that these UK made lines are in very very short supply - the proverbial Rocking Horse S*!t. I received a call last week to let me know that they'd had a short run of the lines delivered and would I like a few more of each - yes please! *** We've only received a very small allocation (only 15 of each of them) and I wanted to let you know about them today *** I've no idea when we will be receiving any more - if we ever do - so if you would like one, grab one today, you will not be disappointed. These fly lines definitely sit in the 'goldilocks zone' by being perfect for fishing with light tippets and small flies whilst also excelling on heavier weight rods when longer casts and heavier rigs are required. We now have these 'made in the UK' Spectre Pro Ultra Dry 2# to 5# & Spectre Pro Ultra Dry 5# to 7# fly lines available for £90 - which also includes FREE 1st Class Tracked delivery to anywhere in the UK - assuming you grab yours before 1pm today, you can be fishing with it at the weekend! I really do believe these lines are currently the very best you can buy on the market today for both River and Stillwater dry fly fishing, especially if you regularly fish with different weight rods (as I do) - one line which really does do it all. *** These fly lines are in very high demand (and we've only 15 of each of them) , so you may need to be quick as I do know they are in very short supply in the UK *** Whether you’re fishing small streams for wild browns, throwing big dries for stocked rainbows, or chasing Stillwater monsters at your local - this Spectre Pro Ultra Dry fly line will be your 'go to' means for delivering a fly - I know it is mine. P.S. While we were discussing these new Spectre Pro Ultra Dry lines with the guys at Snowbee, they did mention that they had some BRAND NEW 'Competition' Stillwater lines available, including 6wt, 7wt & 8wt versions of: Spectre Pro Neutral Density Spectre Pro Sink Tip Spectre Pro Roll Cast Spectre Pro Intermediate Spectre Pro Sinking We are now in a position where we can order these in for any customer who would like one (and we can get you a good discount - which is a bonus)! Just reply to this email with the line you are interested in, and I will do the rest.

Innovative Scuds

The Bacchus Bug Selection

Barbless. Clothing