2wheels1rod

Ethel, Pass me my glasses I can't see these buggers!

As the weather starts to warm up and the rivers drop to their summer low levels (with lower flows than normal), the fish generally tend to switch from the meaty Mayfly, to much smaller fayre. This is where stealth, longer leaders and small flies come into play - take a look towards the end of this email for our Small Fly Manifesto and lots of hints and tips for fishing with small flies. As we now approach the longest day of the year, it's fair to say that your best fishing will be towards the end of the day - early evenings through until dusk, or very early in the morning: We have put together a selection of small flies - covering all of the major summer hatches, which all have pink yarn sighter posts. Ideal for those post-Mayfly sessions in the late evenings or early mornings. Please Note: These sold out within hours last year, and here they are again, so you will need to be quick to grab yours: Our "Easy To See" fly selection contains four Klinkhammer style patterns. They are a great general imitation of the smaller spring and summer up-winged flies. For more details on each of the flies in the selection (and some close-up photos, just click any button or image in this email). We have created our "Easy To See" Selection for those late evening (or early morning) rises, they are all tied on barbless hooks in size 14 and 18. Four different patterns (two each of size 14 and 18) giving a total of 16 flies, priced at £20 (including free delivery). Delicate Presentation? You Need Silk. Ian Moxon - the silk line wizard from Sheffield has delivered us some really nice light silk lines - DT2 & DT3, both in a Light Straw colour. These are ideal for presenting very small flies like thistledown! We now have both the 2wt and 3wt silk lines on offer - with a 20% discount, making them only £79.99 - how about that, a discount on a product which you actually need at this time of year! NEW LIGHT-LINE STOCK JUST ARRIVED - Including some 'unfinished' silk lines It's ok having small flies, but do you know how (and more importantly where) to use them? Small flies require thin tippet, thin tippet also requires a rod which will protect it, so a rod with a soft tip is ideal. Degrease: Low summer rivers generally mean low flows, and in these, it's important when using small flies and thin tippets to de-grease at least the last 1ft of tippet. Which Knot?: Practice the Davy Knot to tie small flies onto tippet. This knot leaves less bulk at the head of the fly, especially important when using small flies. Where's My Fly: Don't worry if you cannot see your fly once you have cast it, so long as you have a rough idea where it is just lift the rod tip if you think the rise was close to your fly. Alternatively, you can always go for the "Double Dry" and fish a more visible fly with your small fly tied as a dropper. Where To Fish Them: Look for cover - During the day fish will always head for cover, that means you will need to fish tight to the far bank and under trees, bushes etc. Practise your Bow and Arrow casting before you get to the river, this cast will come in really handy at this time of year. It's All About Timing: Trout will generally sip small flies from the surface fairly regularly, so watch the water and time the rises. It's thought that trout will take quite a few small flies and then retreat to the river bed. Try to cast the fly to as close a point as possible to the rising trout, the more accurate the better. The more your fly has chance to drift, the more chance of drag. Go Small or go home - If there is hardly any flow on the river and it's really low. I would always start with something "small and black", a size 18 or 20 Griffith's Gnat is as good a fly as any to start with. Start with a 9ft tapered leader and add 2ft or 3ft of tippet then your fly. TOP TIP No1: If you struggle to thread small flies, make up some pre-tied at home, just tie each fly to an 18" length of tippet, then you can just water knot the tippet to your leader and you're ready to go again. TOP TIP No2: If you struggle to thread your tippet through the eye of a small fly, try cutting your tippet at a 45-degree angle, this makes it much easier the thread through the eyes on really small hooks. All of the above tips - and much much more, can be found in our Small Fly Manifesto ... Our Small Fy Manifesto walks you through the setup for using small flies, from rods, reels and lines to flies (via leader design - which is a topic in its own right!). We have also included some popular leader designs that you can tie up yourself]... We would like to introduce our 'Small Fly Manifesto' a handy hints and tips sheet walking you through the tackle and techniques used for fishing with small flies: Tight lines & have fun

That Post-Mayfly Lull - How To Tackle It

Small Fly Strategies (and a box designed to hold them) Now that the Mayfly season is starting to peter out (well at least in southern parts). I wanted to try and get us ready for the more challenging part of the season - the post-Mayfly lull. This part of the season usually sees the fish quite languid - full of Mayfly and very lethargic (at least for a couple of weeks). In this missive, I'm going to give you what is, hopefully, a good grounding on how to approach these conditions, and that is by using - small flies. Also, we have a superb fly box, ideal for small flies - and they make unique Father's Day presents! P.S. This email is going to be quite long, so you might want to grab a brew before you start reading! I've no doubt that we've all seen swarms of midges above the surface of the water - especially when there are sunlit pools. Low water levels and spooky fish means utilising the smaller flies in our boxes. Some rivers are not as full of nutrients as others, it’s these rivers which tend to fish better using smaller flies, due in part to the fact the river cannot sustain the production of the larger species. In these rivers trout can still flourish, they just alter the way they feed. Instead of selectively taking insects as and when they please (as insects are in abundance on the more nutrient-rich rivers), the trout in less rich rivers are opportunistic feeders. This is where the small, imitative fly is king. In essence: small flies = light tippet = longer leaders = softer rods The remainder of this email will take the above and hopefully shed a little light on each. Small Flies When you encounter low water it's time to turn to the smaller flies in your box - when I say small, I am referring to flies which are size 18 and smaller. It is the one piece of tackle that the fish sees and makes their decision on to eat or not. The most important part of a fly is without doubt the hook, even more so when we are using very small hooks. It is important when choosing small flies to look at the gape of the hook (i.e., the distance between the hook point and the body of the hook), make sure that the tied fly still has plenty of room between the body and the hook point, if there is hardly any room between the body of the fly and the point it will make it very difficult to hook a fish. Generally, the hooks which are sized at 18 and smaller all are ‘wide gape’. Often, the reason small flies are dismissed by anglers is that they have trouble seeing them, there are a few remedies for this: Pre-Tie Your Flies: Tie up some short leader lengths at home with the small flies already attached. This way it's easy to attach them when on the water, rather than fiddling around trying to tie them on in dwindling light. Make An Educated Gues: For most dry fly angling it is not a necessity to actually see the fly, generally you will have a rough idea of where the fly is, if you see a rise, just lift into it – 9 times out of 10 it will be to your fly! Use An Indicator: If you do want to know where your fly is, either use a small fly with a hi-vis sighter post, or use the ‘Double Dry’ technique, where you use a visible dry fly and then tie a smaller dry fly from the eye of the hook on a long dropper – just like the klink n dink method, but using 2 dry flies. Having a selection of small flies (both nymphs and dries) is essential when fishing through the latter part of June and into early August. It just so happens that we have you covered with something new to us - a fly box which is tailor-made for storing small flies and a selection of small (but perfectly formed) flies for you to fill it with: Our Wynd Small Fly Selection includes the stunning Wynd Bynder fly box - ideally suited for fishing small & micro flies as it contains a separate foam leaf in the centre of the box which is perfect for storing leader lengths. This allows you to pre-tie up your leader lengths and store them inside the fly box along with your flies. As well as the Wynd box, we've also plundered our smallest flies and put them together in a set, specifically designed for fishing on those more challenging summer days. Our Selection includes 18 flies: CdC F-Fly: Size 18 - 3 of each No See Um: Sizes 18 and 24 - 3 of each Sparkle Greenfly: Size 24 - 3 of each Micro Parachute Aphid: Size 24 - 3 of each Micro Parachute Adams: Size 24 - 3 of each Please Note: I've tied up the small flies above using coloured 7X tippets - just so you can see them and get the idea of pre-tying your leaders before you set out on the water!\ In total we're supplying 18 small and micro flies with the Wynd fly box for only £39.99 which includes FREE delivery - that's roughly a 25% discount on buying them all individually. Alternatively, if you would just like just the set of flies on their own - we've got you covered: Or, if you just like the look of the box, we now have stock of those - here are some box images to whet your appetite (click any image to view the box on our site) - they make ideal Father's Day presents!: We also have these boxes (minus the flies) available to buy for only £26.99 - which includes FREE delivery. Ok, so you've got the flies and the box, but what next ... Lighter Tippet Because these hooks are really small - with small eyes, your standard tippet might not thread through the eye - you will need something that is around 0.12mm in diameter. But don't worry, we have you covered - with a SPECIAL 50% DISCOUNT OFFER ON 7X & 8X TIPPET - UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT: Add any of our RIO Powerflex or Suppleflex tippet to your Wynd Small Fly Selection, in either 7X or 8X, and we will automatically deduct 50% from the price of the tippet - how's that for amazing value! TOP TIP: When trying to thread your tippet to a small fly, try cutting the tippet at a 45-degree angle, it makes it much easier to get the tippet through the eye of the hook. Longer Leaders If you downloaded our copy of the Small Fly Manifesto (which we emailed you yesterday), then you will have already seen the leader recipes for various long & light setups to tie yourself. Here's the best one for fishing really small flies: To the 6X at the end of the above, just add in a few feet of the 7X or 8X tippet and you're good to go. However you decide to create your leader, the one thing above anything else which will increase your catch rate is the length! When fishing small flies, on low rivers you need to make your leader as long as you can possibly get away with. This is what has given rise to the new style Front-Heavy Tapered leaders in the longer lengths – 11ft to 16ft. It is not uncommon for hardly any fly line to be outside of the rod tip and just the leader is cast. Softer Actioned Rods When fishing with light tippet, you need a rod which has a much softer action than your regular carbon rod, this is how you can land much bigger fish on really light tippet. You need to ensure that your whole system - fly, tippet, line & rod - work in harmony. Just try landing a small fish on a medium-fast carbon rod with a thin tippet (anything smaller than 7X) and you will appreciate the finesse of a softer actioned rod. You need a rod which will cushion every movement of the fish and protect your light tippet. This is where glass rods come into their own, especially on the small to medium-sized rivers where you are not casting to the horizon. One of the best in the business is the Redington Butterstick:

An Insect Graveyard - The river has finally sprung into life!

I don't know about you, but last weekend something very strange, but also very welcome, happened ... My local river just seemed to burst into life. The sun was out, there were insects everywhere and the overhanging vegetation seemed to be a foot longer than normal. The fish didn't seem to notice as there were not many rising - it does take a few days for them to realise that they can now look up for their food. Just take a look at the front of my car - that is an insect graveyard - all accumulated on the 5 minute trip home from the river - it's got to be a good sign, as I cannot remember that many insects around for years. Where we live it's pretty rural and you do tend to notice the seasons - this year everything seems to be running a couple of weeks late, so I'm hoping that this is a sign that times are changing and we can expect some really good sport on the river. I'm writing this on Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of an evening on the river, I'm hoping the Mayfly make an appearance - it's about time they did - I'll report back on how it went! In the meantime, I did promise you that I would let you see a full copy of our 1970's inspired infographic we produced a couple of years ago on the Mayfly. Well here it is: Please Note: If you would like to share the above infographic, just get in touch and I will let you have a higher resolution version. As we are discussing the Mayfly (and why shouldn't we, this is the exact time of year to do it), we have a pretty special offer on the very best Mayfly we can supply - The Detached Body Mayfly - it's a work of art, you won't know wether to hang it on the wall or fish with it! The Mayfly has two adult stages. They first emerge from the water as duns (scientifically known as the subimago stage), this is the stage this detached body fly imitates. They then molt into the spinner (imago) stage - usually on the underside of bankside vegetation, this is the stage which they find a mate and then die - all within a single day. When fishing the Mayfly hatch during the day, there's no better fly to use than a Detached Dun imitation - and this is one of the best. We have these available now and ready to find a new home in your fly box. Ok, you've sold me on them, "What's the price?" I hear you ask - we are making these flies available to you in sets of 5 for only £10.00. Generally, if you're in the UK you will receive your order the very next day. (for more detailed images please visit our website by clicking on any image or button above) *** Go on, you know you want to *** In fact, we love these flies so much, we made them the cover star of our 2023 River Fly Almanac (we do have a few left if you would like one!): If you want to 'top up' your mayfly selection then take a look at all the ones we have available, just click the button below: Tight lines & have fun out there.

Popeye Will Not Be Happy - We've Got Olive(s)

Are we are fast approaching the 'lazy days' of summer, we thought we had better prepare you for those 'post-mayfly' conditions. Usually, after the fish have gorged themselves on Mayfly they are pretty sluggish and quite difficult to attract to your fly - for at least a couple of weeks - think of Monty Python's Mr Creosote donning a pair of shorts and running the 100m, not a pretty sight. Fishing Update: In last week's email, I mentioned that I was going fishing that evening - well, I did, and I can report back that our river was completely devoid of Mayfly and only a few fish enticed to the net - one of them was about the same size as the fly I had on! What better way to prepare yourself than to use an imitation of the humble Olive - there should be at least one variant of an Olive hatching on all UK rivers from April until the end of September. When fly anglers talk about 'Olives' we're not actually referring to a specific insect, but a group of insects which all have a very similar profile, size and colour - these include the Blue-Winged Olive, Large Dark Olive, Medium Olive & Olive Upright - you don't need to know what distinguishes them apart, just look at their size and profile, then choose the appropriate imitation. Post-mayfly dry fly fishing can be particularly challenging, especially with lower flow rates - this is when you need to be more imitative in your fly selection (that includes matching both the size and form of the insect hatching). In this week's email, we have our fantastic Ultimate Olive Selection, perfect for those post-mayfly fishing trips - go on, treat yourself and be prepared for those lazy days on the water - we wish! Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies included within our selection. Our Ultimate Olive Selection - as the weather starts to warm, and the levels start to drop (with lower flow rates), it is essential that you start to fish with smaller and more imitative flies. We have curated this selection of Olives which work exceptionally well on all UK rivers and Stillwaters. Here we have a selection of 24 Olives - six different patterns, two of each fly in two different sizes (ranging from size 14 to 18). *** Grab yours while you can - we are expecting these to go very quickly *** Our Ultimate Olive Selection contains: Indicator BWO. A great representation of the Blue Winged Olive which is easy to see on those bright sunny days. Tied with a bright orange post on sizes 14 & 18 barbless hooks. These are an essential fly in your armoury. Our selection contains two each of sizes 14 & 18. Blue-Winged Olive. A generic Blue Winged Olive dry fly, tied with an olive body and white hackle (and tail). The blue wings set at 45 degrees accurately imitate the adult fly. Our selection contains two each of sizes 14 & 18. CdC Thorax BWO. A similar pattern to the Blue Winged Olive dry fly above, tied with an olive body and white hackle (and tail). This time the wings tied using CdC (use Loon Lochsa as a floatant) set at 45 degrees again accurately imitating the adult fly. Our selection contains two each of sizes 16 & 18. USD Sherry Spinner. A variant of the popular Sherry Spinner, this fly is designed to fish upside down, i.e. the hook point is out of the water. This fly comes into its own when there are low flows and the fish have lots of time to inspect your fly. Our selection contains two each of sizes 16 & 18. White-Post Olive. A generic Olive dry fly, tied with an olive body and white post (and tail). Just add a small amount of floatant to the post and hackle and you have a fly which will float all day! Our selection contains two each of sizes 16 & 18. Sherry Spinner. The popular Sherry Spinner. Tied with a bright orange body, light hackle and wings at 180 degrees. Try one of these in the evening when the spinner fall starts. Our selection contains two each of sizes 14 & 18. These flies are only available as a selection of 24 and are available now for only £28, including free delivery, or you can upgrade your delivery option ... until the end of May we are offering 1st class delivery for only 45p - yes, that's right 45p - take advantage now, as it ends at midnight tomorrow. Phil & Nick love our Olives ... Go on - you know you want to! When fishing smaller flies, it is essential that you consider your whole outfit: Match the diameter of the tippet to the fly being used (try 7x with the size 18 flies); Then match the tippet size to the leader; Match the leader to the fly line, and Then select the rod. I generally favour a longer, lighterweight rod for this type of dry fly fishing (I usually use a 9 foot 2 weight). You will need to make as little disturbance to the water as possible - to that end, DO NOT wade unless you really have to. Tight lines, get out there and enjoy it. P.S. Thanks to Ben Lupton for allowing us to use the image of the Large Dark Olive - cheers Ben, you're a star! P.P.S. Keep an eye on your emails later this week as we have a really special range of glass rods to offer (I've been using one of them for the last couple of weeks and to say I'm impressed is an understatement!) - we don't have many so you will need to be quick off the mark on Thursday - they are also great value at less than £300.

Fly fishing is food for your soul - feed it with glass

I don't know about you, but my time on the water is precious - what with running Barbless Flies and family commitments I find it all too difficult to get any 'me time' on the water (especially at this time of year when we are at our busiest). This is why I want to have the best experience when I do get out. Our local rivers are starting to get very low at the minute - which is probably the same across the country, which is why the rod which takes pride of place in the truck at this time of year (post-mayfly season) is one of my ever-dependable glass rods. If I want to have a couple of hours on the water I want to use something which gives me joy just to cast it - they really are the essence of fly fishing for me. Fibreglass is the perfect material to build fly rods that are extremely tough, smooth, durable and fuller flexing than their carbon equivalents. Fibreglass fly rods are perfectly suited for long lazy casting strokes, presenting dry flies like thistledown. One of the best commercially available glass rods is the NEW Redington Butter Stick. For 2023 Redington have stiffened it up and given it a nice new look: "So, generally with glass rods, you lose accuracy and distance and typically get a heavier rod, not so with the Butter Stick. This is hands down the most accurate rod at shorter distances I have ever used. Now being glass you still aren't going to get a rod that will cast 100 feet with ease, but you are getting a rod that can cast further than most glass rods out on the market. And surprisingly this is very lightweight, with a super light swing weight. I mean, there isn't a rod out there that I think would do better within 30 feet, casting small dry flies and nymphs than this rod."; McFly Angler - Global Flyfisher The guys over at Trident Fly Fishing have done an in-depth video review of the NEW Butterstick, take a look here: Don’t be fooled by good looks - get ready to deliver flies as delicately and accurately as needle to record. The BUTTER STICK brings nostalgic design from the days of shagpile carpets, roller discos and Status Quo. And like all things good and vintage, it’s as aesthetically pleasing as it is fun and functional. Whether you’re fishing small streams for wild browns, throwing big dries for stocked rainbows, or chasing stillwater monsters at your local - the BUTTER STICK bend will feed your soul. Fresh for this season is a brand new Translucent Sunshine Yellow blank which looks as good as it feels in your hand. Their T-glass construction improves overall rod strength and their Heritage Design provides a classic medium action casting stroke - taking you back to a time when living in the moment was everything. They've also added new upgrades to the handle, including a Traditional Half Wells for a more comfortable grip, a cork reel seat for (even more) retro styling, and a Threaded Lock Nut to keep your reel exactly where you need it. It's also now a 4-piece rod for easier travel and convenient storage. Butter Stick Features: Easy casting medium-fast action designed for any trout fishing scenario New Semi-Translucent Sunshine Yellow Blank Heritage Construction Inspired by Classic Fiberglass Rods T-Glass Construction for Improved Strength and Casting Feel Compared to Other Glass Rods Now 4 Pieces for Easier Travel and Space Savings New Cork Reel Seat for a Classic Style New Threaded Lock Nut Keeps Your Reel Locked in Place Updated to Traditional Half-Wells Handle for a Better Grip Alignment Dots To Correctly Align Guides Durable Matching Cordura Rod Case for Safe Storage and Keeping You Fresh Off Water But wait, we have a bit of a special 'one-day-only deal' for you: Buy any of our Redington Butter Stick rods today and we will also include: A Luke Bannister Furled Leader matched to the weight of the rod Two spools of RIO tippet (7X & 8X) - ideal for those smaller flies and delicate presentations; and FREE Next-Day Tracked Delivery Remember, these rods are perfectly setup for fishing with light tippets and small flies. The design of the rods taper protects really delicate tippets, it's easy to land bigger fish on incredibly light tippet! But wait, we have a bit of a special 'one-day-only deal' for you: Butter Stick 7' 0" 3wt - only £299 (including free matched furled leader, tippets and tracked next-day delivery) Butter Stick 7' 6" 4wt - only £299 (including free matched furled leader, tippets and tracked next-day delivery) Butter Stick 8' 0" 5wt - only £299 (including free matched furled leader, tippets and tracked next-day delivery) Please Note: We only have two of each of the above rods, so they're available strictly on a 'first come, first served basis'. If you would like one, please be quick - they will not be around long at these prices! This offer is only available until midnight tonight (1st June). Please also note that it may be possible for us to get a couple more of these rods, if you would like one - and we are out of stock, please contact me and I will let you know what we can do - these rods are in very short supply in the UK. A Line To Accompany Your New Rod? With an olive-green head and gold running line we have found this fly line to be the best compromise between performance and price. Its special taper design gives incredible loop stability at longer distances and is designed with a unique taper that loads a fly rod at close range easily. We believe this is the most cost-effective 'General Purpose' floating fly line available. It's easy to cast and lays straight. Allowing perfect presentation of flies from small to big. We have these lines currently available from a 2wt to 4wt - for only £25, including FREE delivery. At only £25.00 - including FREE delivery, these lines offer outstanding performance along with great value. OR If you've chosen one of either the 3wt or 4wt Butter Sticks, then take a look at our range of Silk lines - ideally suited to delicate presentation of smaller flies on smaller waters. So, why would you use a silk line then? We're glad you asked: They have no memory - completely limp There's no stretch - improved hookups They are denser than plastic fly lines and therefore much thinner; and Thinner lines mean much less wind resistance They float better than plastic fly lines - they float on the water surface, not in it making roll casts and mending line much easier You get 3 lines in one; When fully greased it's a floating Line, grease everything except the tip and you have a midge-tip line, don't grease it and you have an intermediate/sinking line They can last a lifetime - so long as they are cared for and stored correctly a silk line can last a lifetime - and indeed will get better with age Tight lines & remember to feed your soul every so often.

Bosnian CdC Olives & Mayflies - Direct from our man on the ground!

On my small local stream (Yorkshire Derwent), it's been quite hard fishing of late, especially with the recent spells of wet weather and higher-than-average water levels we are experiencing in North Yorkshire. It's looking pretty good for this week, so hopefully I will be able to bring a few more to the net, especially using these CdC Olives from 'our man in Bosnia'. Even with the higher river levels, I am still finding that when the fish are playing hard to get, the "go-to" tactic is to go long and keep disturbance to a minimum. Using a longer leader allows for a more gentle presentation, especially when combined with a longer lighter rod (my go-to rod for this situation is the wonderful Maxia SX 9'5" 2wt - of which. we have our last one on offer at the moment - for only £499) employing this method I've caught in mornings, afternoons and evenings. I've been following these simple rules and it really has upped my success rate: DO NOT get into the water and wade, not unless you really have to - As the fish have less natural cover from predators, they are really spooky. Any disturbance in the water (or noise from your studded boots) will transfer its way to the fish. Use a longer leader - I generally use a longer and lighter leader, this will allow you to land the fly with a more delicate presentation - experiment with using a French Leader setup - they really come into their own at this time of year. Look for deep holes & behind any obstructions - If there is no surface activity these will be the places the fish are holding. Try experimenting with a Klink 'n' Dink setup (use a small beaded nymph - size 16 or smaller - we have a wide selection of these - as you may have guessed!). See the end of this email for one of the best tips you will ever read - to get you ready for the Winter Grayling season. But you need to act on the tip now (you will see why when you read it)! so, what sort of flies should you use? We asked 'our man in Bosnia' what he would use - and here they are, these stunning early summer dry flies (CdC Olives & Mayflies) - which are perfect for the post-Mayfly sport, or in our case the pre-Mayfly sport as we are expecting the Mayfly to start hatching in quantities sometime in the next week or so. These flies have been specifically tied for fishing in the early summer conditions and are ideal for both rivers and stillwaters. Take a look at the below: Our Bosnian CdC Olive Selection consists of 12 flies, 3 each of 4 separate patterns: Indicator Olive patterns: Upside-Down CdC Olive - Size 12 - Ahrex FW451 Light Yellow CdC Olive - Size 12 - Ahrex FW503 IOBO Olive - Size 12 - Ahrex FW525 CdC Emerging Olive - Size 12 - Ahrex FW525 These flies are all tied on one of the best lightweight hook ranges in the business, Ahrex. Please Note: As always with flies tied by 'our man in Bosnia' we only have a limited amount - 40 selections - they take ages to tie to this quality. They will sell pretty quickly, so if you would like a selection you will need to be quick! We are supplying 3 of each of the above patterns, that's 12 flies in total for £24 - I know these are some of the more expensive flies we sell, but the quality is outstanding. This premium Bosnian fly selection is very limited (we only have 40 available - I'm keeping a few sets for myself!) and once they are gone, we will not have any more until next year. Just click on any image or button in this email to view details and buy your selection. If you would like one, you will need to be quick off the mark! Here are a few more detailed images to really tempt you: USD CdC Olive Tied in a unique upside-down style, this means that the fly fishing with the hook point upwards - out of the water completely. We are supplying 3 each of these in this selection, tied on a size 12 Ahrex FW541 barbless hook. Light Yellow CdC Olive A light yellow thread body (with yellow ribbing) and hare's mask dubbing around the wings. We are supplying 3 each of these in this selection, tied on a size 12 Ahrex FW503 barbless hook. IOBO Olive With a hand-stripped rooster feather body overlaid with a class 1 CdC tail , body and wing post, this is a deadly fly It Ought to Be Outlawed. We are supplying 3 each of these in this selection, tied on a size 12 Ahrex FW525 barbless hook. CdC Emerging Olive With a yellow ribbed body, slipt-wing CdC and hare mask shuck (still attached) this fly imitates the emerging insect, just at the point the fly takes it from the surface of the water. We are supplying 3 each of these in this selection, tied on a size 12 Ahrex FW525 barbless hook. These flies are only available as a selection of 12. We are supplying 3 of each of the above patterns, that's 12 flies in total for £24 - I know these are some of the more expensive flies we sell, but the quality is outstanding. This premium Bosnian fly selection is very limited (we only have 40 available - I'm keeping a few sets for myself!) and once they are gone, we will not have any more until next year. Just click on any image or button in this email to view details and buy your selection. If you would like one, you will need to be quick off the mark! Go on, you know you want to! CdC (meaning Cul De Canard - or the feathers around the preen gland of a duck) is a very buoyant and delicate feather, this is due to natural oils which are secreted from the preen gland - how many ducks have you seen that don't float! It is important to care for these feathers in the correct way, otherwise, the fly will sink after the first fish is caught. Here's a few tips on how to get the best out of any fly tied with CdC feathers: When using a gel floatant, always check that it is suitable for CdC feathers, as many of them will clog up the feather and make it unusable. In my experience, the best gel floatant I have found for CdC feathers is either Roman Moser Miracle Float (which is quite difficult to get) or Loon Lochsa. Only apply gel floatant to a fly when it is fresh out of the box, i.e. when it is bone dry. Once the fly is wet, dry it with a towel or piece of kitchen roll / elastic band (see below), and apply a powdered floatant to it, brushing it as deep into the feathers as you can. This will keep the fly floating, once it starts to sink again, then rinse and repeat this step. How do you dry a fly with an elastic band I hear you ask? It's a trick the competition guys use to quickly dry their flies. Loop an elastic band onto your vest/pack. Hook your fly into it and stretch it holding onto the tippet. Twang the elastic band a few times (channelling your best Jimi Hendrix). This quickly removes any water from the fly, ready for powder floatant to be re-applied. Neat eh! Tight lines & have fun.

Her name is RIO and she dances on the sand - A blast from the 80's

As we are now well into the trout season here in the UK, I wanted this week's email to be focused on getting the most from your leader setups for both Rivers and Stillwaters - especially when using bigger and less aerodynamic flies - typically when using any 'spent' style patterns. We have couple of a REALLY SPECIAL OFFERS for you, one on tippet material and the other on speedy deliveries - we know you want your flies as quickly as humanly possible! Scroll to the end of this email if you want to see them now! Otherwise, grab a brew, this could be a long one ... Back To Basics *** Please feel free to skip this section if you've already been there, seen it, done it and got the t-shirt *** Fly Line - This is the plastic (or silk) line which is used to actually cast the fly. Fly lines (and fly rods) are designated by their weight and their taper. All fly lines have different styles of taper (this is what allows the energy to transfer along the fly line in the most efficient way), each of the tapers gives a slightly different presentation of the fly. The most common taper to use is a Weight Forward (WF). Leader - The leader is a generic term for the section of material which attaches at one end to your fly line and at the other end to your fly. A leader is usually made up of at least two parts, a tapered section and a tippet section; see below. Tapered Leader - In the above definition of a fly line I mention that the energy created by the cast travels down the fly line due to its taper, if you just attach a length of level fishing line to the end of the fly line the energy will not effectively travel to the fly (which is what you need to allow the fly to land in front of the fly line). So a tapered leader is used, this is a length of fishing line which continues the taper of the fly line down to the size of the tippet. 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 the tapered leader and then attach your fly to the other end of the tippet. Tippet is specified by its ‘X’ rating, this relates to the tippet’s diameter (not its strength), with 2X being thicker than 8X. The ‘X’ system originates from the time 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 eight times it would be thinner than if you only passed it through twice). Q. Why do you add tippet to a tapered leader?A. Tapered leaders have a built-in taper to them (they are thicker at one end and thinner at the other), when you change flies you will always eat away at the line - making it shorter. If you just attached your fly to the tapred leader, once you've changed flies a few times you would eat into the taper, so you add in a 2ft or 3ft section of tippet to the end of the tapered leader and then change this section of tippet once it gets too short. It also allows you to extend the overall leader length should you wish for a more delicate presentation with smaller flies. When thinking about leaders, you ALWAYS start from the size of the fly you will be using. It's important that the leader you decide on is balanced - by that I mean the leader must be able to transfer the energy created by the taper in the fly line all the way to your fly in the most efficient manner possible. It's no good having a really long leader and using a large fly if the design of the leader doesn't transfer enough energy through the leader to turn the fly over - so we always start with the fly size and work backwards. Here's a handy chart to give you a rough idea: Now you know the tippet size you need, let talk about the different types of tippet available, namely Nylon or Fluorocarbon. Essentially, they can be split as follows: Nylon - Sometimes also referred to as Copolymer or Mono, is generally more cost-effective but thicker (and stiffer) than its equivalent fluorocarbon. This material will float and when submerged transmits light through it - not ideal when fishing sub-surface. Fluorocarbon - Is denser than water, so it will sink. It is also claimed to have the same refractive index as water, so supposedly invisible when underwater - but we'd have to find a talking fish before we could prove that, and there are loads of questions I would like to ask it before the subject of Fluorocarbon vs Nylon arose! We can use the properties of both these tippet materials to our advantage when dry fly fishing. For example, some people like to sink the tippet which is tied to the fly, so why not use a Nylon tapered leader and then attach a length of Fluorocarbon to it for the tippet section, that gives us the best of both worlds. Essentially, all of the above boils down to: "When fishing above water, use Nylon; and when fishing sub-surface, use Fluorocarbon." If you would like to have a go at tying up some of your own dry fly leaders - rather than plumping for a standard tapered leader (with its regular progressive taper), then here are a few specialist ones, ideal for this time of year: 9ft Short Mayfly Leader 12ft Delicate Presentation Leader 15ft Steep Tapered Leader As you can imagine, while I am out on the river very regularly I get to use all sorts of different leaders - depending on the conditions. We found ourselves stocking all different brands - some of which are nigh on impossible to restock. So we have now standardised on the highest quality and best available - RIO Tapered Leaders, RIO Tippet Materials & Luke Bannister's Furled Leaders. Q. So what is a Furled Leader? A. Furled Leaders act like an extension of your fly line, they help turn a fly over when you don't have the full head of the line (usually 30ft) out of the rod tip - especially useful when fishing smaller rivers and streams where roll-casts are required. A furled leader consists of leader material which has been braided into a taper (furled) to which you then add your tippet. As a general rule of thumb, a Furled Leader should make up around one-third of the total leader length (if you want to fish a total leader length of 15ft, then use a 5ft furled leader and then step your tippet down in size from it to continue the taper). We have teamed up with Luke Bannister to offer his exquisite Furled Leaders. Luke is the only name you need for furled leaders in the UK, having taken over the production from Rod Dibble, who some of you will no doubt know. Summary If you would like to keep all of the above information for future reference, then we've made it (and much more info) available in a handy PDF which you can download, just click the button below to get your copy for free now: All of the leader and tippet materials I've discussed above are available from our site (surprise, surprise!) - see below for more info and links. Also, scroll right to the bottom of this email for a special offer on delivery - we know you like to get your order quickly. Fly Lines With an olive-green head, and gold running line we have found this fly line to be the best compromise between performance and price. Its special taper design gives incredible loop stability at longer distances and designed with a unique taper that loads a fly rod at close range easily. We believe this is the most cost-effective 'General Purpose' floating fly line available. It's easy to cast, and lays straight. Allowing perfect presentation of flies from small to big. Available now in 2wt, 3wt and 4wt. 'General Purpose' Weight Forward Fly Line Only £25.00 Priced at only £25.00, these lines load the rod quickly for both short and long casts with the front taper being perfect for the gentle presentation of flies. Tapered Leaders RIO's Powerflex tapered leaders help you cast better and fish more effectively. The powerful butt section provides unsurpassed wind penetration and easily turns over heavy indicator rigs, while the soft, flexible tippet also delivers tiny dry flies with delicate precision. The leaders also incorporate a hand-tied perfection loop in the butt for quick changes. RIO Powerflex Tapered Leaders RIO Fluoroflex Tapered Leaders £15.99 Priced from only £5.49 each (or £13.99 for a pack of 3), these leaders are perfect for all styles of fishing.

A Mug Full Of Mayflies - Grab Our Giveaway While You Can!

Ready...Set...Go...Mayfly Anyone? Through the grapevine I've started to hear rumours of Mayfly coming off on the rivers of the South and South-West, so thought it was about that time of year when our attention turns to the larger flies in our boxes. I always really look forward to this time of year, as it marks an important transition from early season sport (nymphs & spiders etc) to more top-of-the-water, dry fly action (hopefully!). With this in mind, we are introducing even more Mayfly imitations this year, so stay tuned to your emails over the coming weeks for quite a few new individual patterns - in fact, you may get 'mayfly overload' - but they are really nice patterns, think of them as works of art - it's much easier to justify it to yourself then! If you scroll down towards the end of this email you'll see that we've produced a rather fancy infographic on the Mayfly (you'll have to forgive the rather 1970s styling!), which we hope will give you a basic understanding of the lifecycle stages you are attempting to imitate. A Mug Full Of Mayflies! We're kicking off this year's Mayfly season with a bit of a treat for you - well, we think it is! Our friends at fishingmugs.co.uk have just sent us some really nice Mayfly-themed mugs, the Mayfly featured on the mug is actually one of ours - the Mayfly Spinner: So, we are going to start the season off with some really nice Mayfly imitations - and something to hold your brew in, we're going to give the mugs away! We've only got 20 of them, so for the first 20 of you who order one of our Ultimate Mayfly Selections - we'll include a free Mayfly mug, not one full of mayflies though! We've put the full lifecycle of classic Mayfly patterns all together into one Ultimate Mayfly Selection - all the essential lifecycle stages of the Mayfly in one handy selection (see below for full images and details). As soon as the trout switch on to Mayflies, these are the flies you need: Dave Wiltshire kindly reviewed our Mayfly Selection a few years ago (and it is still exactly the same now - why change a successful selection of flies): "These really are top quality flies. They are tied with fine attention to detail, good materials and perfect proportions. They are bespoke, beautiful flies with a price tag that would usually result in disappointment for the fly buyer. Not in this case!" - Dave Wiltshire, May 2015 We are supplying our Ultimate Mayfly Selection - the full Mayfly lifecycle in a selection of 32 flies (8 different patterns - 2 of each in sizes 10 & 12), see (and click on) images and links below for more details. We have already stocked up on Mayflies and they're available now, only £38 for the Ultimate Mayfly Selection - that's a 27% saving on buying these individually as they would normally retail at £52. *** Remember: The first 20 orders which include one of our Ultimate Mayfly Selections will also receive a FREE Mayfly mug *** Get them nice and early, as we did run out last year! The Ultimate Mayfly Selection Mayfly Nymphs A selection of the flies to imitate the nymphal stage of the Mayfly. We fished with these flies in May/June last year to test them out, and was very happy with the results. We supply two of each fly in two sizes (10's & 12's), in total there are 16 flies CdC Mayfly Dun This fly sits in the surface film of the water and imitates the emerging mayfly. These are best tied with CdC as this sits above the surface film and can be easily identified. A great pattern for those early hatches. Loopwing Mayfly The most effective fly I used last year as a mayfly imitation. With its looped wing behind the thorax, this fly just needs a little floatant (easily added to the loop) and it will float all day! Mayfly Spinner Once the mayfly has returned to the water to lay its eggs, they die and float on the surface, this is the spinner. The spinner is an easy target for Trout, and they can gorge on them in the early evenings. Stillborn Mayfly Slightly darker in colour to the spinner, some mayflies die as soon as they hatch. Again (as in the spinner above) these are an easy target for trout, sometimes they actively target these in preference to the hatching flies.

As Smooth As Silk - New In & Back By Popular Demand

We've just received some really special silk lines from Ian - specifically for fishing smaller flies in the summer. We've also had a restock of our popular Deershucker Selection. Read on McDuff ... We've had some more of Ian Moxon's Silk Fly Lines delivered to us and they are now available on the site here. These silk lines have been designed and made with a 'fine tip' and built-in loops, which effectively means they have a very thin 'built-in' furled leader, so you just need to attach a level piece of tippet to the end. We've been really lucky and persuaded Ian to make some silk lines in lighter weights, specifically for the coming summer months - small flies and delicate presentations! To that end, we have them in the following sizes: Double Taper 2 Weight - Light Straw Colour - (only 3 remaining) Double Taper 3 Weight - Light Straw Colour - (only 2 remaining) Double Taper 4 Weight - Burgandy or Black - (1 of each remaining); and DT 10's, 11s & 12's for those of a Salmon persuasion Here's a short note from Ian, regarding his special DT2 silk lines: "The very thin DT2 silk fly lines have a breaking strain through the belly of approx 10lb (the thin tips of the lines are reinforced with a little bit of polyethelene and have a similar breaking strain). The breaking strain will reduce when the line is saturated with water. I recommend a maximum tippet strength of 3lb." Ian Moxon So, why should you use a silk line: They have mo memory - completely limp There's no stretch - improved hookups They are denser than plastic fly lines and therefore much thinner; and Thinner lines mean much less wind resistance They float better than plastic fly lines - they float on the water surface, not in it making roll casts and mending line much easier You get 3 lines in one; When fully greased it's a floating Line, grease everything except the tip and you have a midge-tip line, don't grease it and you have an intermediate/sinking line. They can last a lifetime - so long as they are cared for and stored correctly a silk line can last a lifetime - and indeed will get better with age *** Each of our Silk lines are shipped with a handy box (to keep them in when not on the reel), a microfibre cloth (to clean/help dry them) and full line care instructions *** These lines are made in the UK (in Sheffield, Yorkshire to be precise), by Ian Moxon. We currently have a stock of line weights from a DT2 to DT12. Ian's fly lines are available from only £99.99 for the DT2's, right up to a DT12 for only £119.99 - which for a silk line is an outstanding value for money. If you would like to know more about the use and care of silk lines we have a dedicated page here. Our Deershucker Selection - Now Back In Stock The Deershucker Selection from Barbless Flies is a selection of emerger patterns especially successful in both rivers and stillwaters in the early and midseason (in sizes 14 and 16). These are ideal for fishing those spring hatches when the fish are starting to rise freely. The patterns are quite 'rough and ready' - by design. 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 floatant to the tips of the deer hair. This will cock the fly to sit correctly in the water, you need the fly to sit so you can only see the tips of the deer hair on the water surface - ideal for low water and spooky fish. Our Deershucker Selection is now back in stock again and 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 only £20. All are supplied in our eco-friendly packaging and delivered to you free of charge. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail. Go on, what are you waiting for, they're perfect for late spring and early summer! Tight lines & have fun.

FLY: The Next In The Series - Launching Today

The Mayfly & Marilyn ... I'd like to kick off this email by first thanking all of you who put your trust in us and bought the first in our FLY Series: Early Season Fly Fishing - they have been really well received - so much so, that we've had to reprint it 3 times so far, and counting ... We've had some really positive feedback on them (which we've incorporated into this next in the series): N.B. If you are a retailer and thinking "I like the look of those", please get in touch - we'd like them to be available to as wide an audience as possible. So, hanging off the coat-tails of the first in our series comes the tricky 2nd album, or in this case, the one which we think will be the most sought after of them all - because it's all about the ... Written and produced in conjunction with FlyFishMedia (think of them as the educational arm of Barbless Flies, as we run both of these sites). What can be said about the Mayfly that's not already been written ... well, I've been playing with some artificial intelligence software - I told you I was a bit geky - I've affectionately called her Marilyn (after Marilyn vos Savant - look her up) - I asked Marilyn "What does the Mayfly mean to the fly angler?" and here's what s he came up with: I think Marilyn's captured the essence of the Mayfly pretty well, especially when you consider she's no idea what one is and has never experienced the feeling of watching them in full flight for herself. Before I get too geeky, lets crack on to the main gist of this email. It's to launch the second in the series of 'Observer' style books, but dedicated to fly fishing: We're super proud to present to you the 2nd in a series of pocket-sized books at pocket-money prices (only £8.99) - all about The Mayfly: This book, written by us and co-published by FlyFishMedia, contains a detailed analysis of the Mayfly and how to fish each of the various stages you will see on the water. Book Details: Number of Pages - 80Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm) In this book, you will discover how to imitate the full lifecycle of the Mayfly, along with an in-depth 'deep dive' into each stage of the Mayfly's life cycle, including how to then imitate them with the most common fly patterns. This book also discusses the type of conditions you can expect to face and the various tips, tricks and techniques used the fish them. Our book also includes details on the most suitable equipment to use and some leader configurations to get the best from the Mayfly hatch on your own waters. Please Note: This is a physical book, printed in English. We are hoping that these will be as well received as the 1st in the series, but just to be on the safe side, we've done an initial limited print run of 200, 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 together. Go on, you know you want to! Watch & Learn Tune Up Your Mayfly Skills The Mayfly… probably the most eagerly anticipated hatch in the flyfishing year. Join six times English national rivers champion John Tyzack (AAPGAI) for an unforgettable trip to Derbyshire’s River Wye. John shows you how to get the most from a day’s Mayfly fishing, using nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners to target the Wye’s trout, many of which are wild breeding Rainbows. John also meets with the river keeper for an in-depth chat about the reintroduction and supplementation of Mayfly using techniques that can be applied on any venue. Back at the tying bench John shows in detail how to tie each of the flies used and discusses tackle selection and leader makeup. The Complete Mayfly… not only a definitive guide to tying and fishing every stage of the lifecycle but also how to ensure thriving populations of this iconic fly for generations to come. Tight lines, get out there and have some fun. P.S. We are hoping to release quite a few of these this year - roughly one every eight weeks - the next one will be with you towards the end of June.

They're Back ... Discover The Stillwater Dinkhamer (*also at home on rivers)

They're back ... We've not been able to get hold of these Stillwater beauties for quite a while - and finally, we have them back again, thanks to those masters at Caledonia Flies.We've also included a full section at the end of this email, All About Buzzers. Read on McDuff ... These are our take on Dinkhamers for Stillwaters (barbless - obviously) - we've imaginatively called these Stillwater Dinkhamers. These barbless flies make ideal indicator patterns for fishing a team of buzzers close to the surface, just in time for some nice weather! These flies are tied on a barbless size 12 hook and are specifically designed to hold up either one or a team of flies, in even the most choppy of stillwater/reservoir/loch conditions (they also work surprisingly well on rivers - using the Klink n Dink method). These flies really come into their own at this time of year when the fish are just starting to sip buzzers and are also really productive on the smaller stillwaters during early Summer - fished static! Stillwater Addicts Love Them ... Our Barbless Stillwater Dinkhamer Selection is a selection of 4 styles of commonly used suspended emerging buzzers with tippet rings tied into the tails, to allow you to hang a team of flies underneath. In total there are 8 flies (2 of each pattern) shipped free of charge and supplied in our eco-friendly packaging: Only £15.00 for the full selection of 8 Stillwater Dinkhamers; or £1.95 for each individual fly These Stillwater Dinkhamers are extra buoyant with the indicator foam posts tied to be extra long, allowing you full visibility, even in the roughest of water. If you'd prefer to buy them individually ... What Are Buzzers? Buzzers are the pupal form of midges (chironmidae) – they are the form between the larva (bloodworm etc) and the adult flying insect. They are the most abundant food supply that a Stillwater trout will encounter. Buzzers are found in all waters at all times of the year but are especially abundant in the Spring months of April, May & June – this is the best time for buzzer fishing in UK stillwaters. When you see a buzzer in its natural form, there are two things that are very apparent: They are bigger than you first expect – ranging in size from 8mm to 15mm (a size 10 to 16 hook) They are very thin Buzzers are generally seen just under the surface of the water and as far as the fly angler is concerned, we try to imitate them at the stage where they are transforming into the adult. Why Are They Important? Buzzers are important to the fly angler as this is the staple food of any trout which has been in a Stillwater for any length of time. As so, it is important to understand how best to fish them. Buzzer fishing is not just about the fly you use, it’s more about the style and how they are fished. Q. How Do I Fish Them? A. Try The Washing Line Method 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 one 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 your having problems casting it, just use a buoyant point fly (like our Stillwater Dinkhamer) and two droppers. 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. Top Tips When Fishing Buzzers When It's Still: 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 hit the bottom, just a few pulls on the fly line should bring them back to the surface, and you can start again by letting them sink. When it's Windy: Still use a floating line, but this time use a shorted 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 are right-handed (and the right shoulder if you are left-handed). Again, 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. Again, 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 the flies have drifted as far as you think possible, lift the flies slowly from the water, it's surprising how many fish take your buzzers as you're about to re-cast! Tight lines & have fun out there.

Take Your Dry Fly Presentation to the Next Level ...

This weeks emails all have a very Italian feel to them - it seems like we almost planned it! Let me introduce you to a very good friend of ours, Massimo Magliocco: Massimo (who was a student of Roberto Pragliola), with his 40+ years of experience, has become a point of reference in fly casting in Italy and abroad. He collaborates and regularly contributes to some of the most important fishing magazines in the world. He's also written a book called “Dry Fly Fishing in fast water” - but, more of that at the end of this email. Welcome to our latest collaboration with Massimo - The Multi-Loop Dry Fly Leader Please Note: The last time we had these leaders, they all sold out within 1 hour! We've got a few more this time, but you will still need to be quick off the mark if you would like one (or more). When fishing longer leaders on rivers the curse of the dry fly angler is - drag. One major issue when using leaders longer than 7ft is micro-currents that are not known or seen by the angler. This new leader (devised by Massimo Magliocco - a world-class Italian angler) has three “chain-link" style connections which also step down in tippet size to create the taper. Think of it as a hand-tied Leader with joints. These joints, create a leader that drifts through multiple micro-currents that never cause drag on the fly - the leader sections can all move independently of each other, without acting on the fly, which would otherwise cause drag. Did that pique your interest, if so read on McDuff ... The leader is a crucial element of importance (which is not completely appreciated) when dry fly fishing, fighting that scourge of the dry fly - drag. These leaders are specially designed and hand-tied with one thing in mind - eliminating drag wherever possible. This leader is unique, instead of knotting together gradually reducing diameters of line, to form the taper, this leader is tied with loops. The loops are micro-perfection loops (around 1mm in diameter) and are used to join the various parts of mono when making the knotted leader. Starting from the principle that in order to fight drag (apart from specific anti-drag casts) it is also necessary to have a specific leader with certain characteristics regarding length and the kind of taper, the more rigid the leader is the more difficulty you will have avoiding drag. Today's self-tied leaders tend to have a maximum of 4 knots and an attempt has been made to tie knots with a much slimmer profile. One more step was missing in order to make the leader more supple, which would allow it to adapt to currents in the case of the dry fly, and underwater currents in the case of the nymph. Massimo had the idea to connect the various sections of mono not with any of the classical knots but by means of micro-perfection loops. A leader made with this system may seem useless but you really need to try it out! The big problem with drag arises not so much in rough waters but rather in calmer ones where it's important to reduce the wake effect caused by the fly and by the tippet. In these calmer waters, there are micro-currents which are invisible to the naked eye. These micro-currents are usually generated by rocks which are 50 - 60 cm under the surface and the water seems to flow down quite normally and in places where you would normally cast without considering the consequences. In other words, strong currents are easy to see whilst these minor ones are not, especially to the untrained eye and it is on the latter ones that a looped leader comes into its own. The micro loops act as hinges, they also hold very well when setting the hook and playing the fish. So they hold well; there is no collapsing of the loop when casting and they still transmit the energy of the cast. Massimo's biggest doubt was accuracy – but even with this he had no problems, so long as the tension during casting is kept constant (which is a problem even with classical knotted or tapered leaders) if the tension during casting is lost, the whole structure collapses. He then started evaluating the advantages this new leader gives, especially with regard to drag. Eventually he tested both classical tapered leaders and multi-looped leaders in the same conditions and got some extraordinary results, especially in those conditions with the treacherous micro currents and strange surface tensions. We have these Multi-Loop Leaders in three distinct sizes 7.5ft (for smaller streams and rivers) up to 12ft (for larger streams and rivers). Specification of the leaders and their profiles can be seen in the table below: Massimo's leaders are available from our site for only £10.99 each which includes FREE delivery, these leaders are all hand-tied - those micro perfection loops are really fiddly and these leaders take quite some time to tie and quality check. Click on any of the links or images within this email to view the leaders on our site along with much more detail on leader connections and configurations etc. Go on, you know you want to! Read All About It ... Most anglers who fish in Northern Italy are very adept at dry fly fishing in the fast-flowing mountain rivers. Massimo has honed his skills on this style of river and transferred his skills onto paper (or electronic paper if you prefer): This publication by Massimo Magliocco (available in both paperback and eBook format) contains a detailed analysis of how to fish dry fly on fast-flowing waters with complex currents. Until recently it was thought to be impossible to fish a dry fly on such waters effectively. In this publication, you will discover how to combat drag in turbulent flows, how to identify the food lanes, how to understand the importance of rocks and other things that will make you realise that it is possible to fish with dry flies in the so-called fast water. Number of Pages - 192Paperback Format (only 5 available) - Measures approx 19cm wide x 26cm highDownload Format - eBook/PDF, other formats available on request Tight lines & have fun. P.S. I need to fess up - the header image on the email I sent on Tuesday was actually a photo of Blackthorn (not Hawthorn as I believed it was) - thanks to the hundreds of you who emailed me to point it out! Let's just say that Alan Titchmarsh has nothing to worry about and it's a good job I'm not running a Garden Centre! P.P.S. As this is another email with a very Italian flavour, why not learn some of the specialist casts that Massimo uses on the fast-flowing mountain rivers - these casts are perfect for the 'less than ideal' conditions we face here in the UK: Don't ever again walk past that fish that's confidently feeding tight up to the bank, and under a tree. Using the Italian Style Casting techniques will give you the skills to target fish that were out of reach before. Massimo Magliocco takes you through all of the basics of Italian Style Casting, building 'from the ground up' each cast. Showing you the dynamics which make up the cast. Including when and where to use each one. Special Email Subscriber 50% Discount OfferNow only £19.95 (was £39.95)

Innovative Scuds

The Bacchus Bug Selection

Barbless. Clothing