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Danny, Champion of the World … and the Gallic Nymph 🐓

Don't Tell Danny's Dad! Morning, Today's email missive is all about a very special Gallic Nymph, which ties quite neatly into a story from my long-lost youth! When Stan (of Nymphèvolution fame) sent us his stunning WFX Nymphs last month, he also included a few goodies as samples - to entice us to order again, it always works. One of the nymphs he included was a classic Pheasant Tail Nymph, but with a very French twist ... which struck a very personal chord with me. Back in the late 1970s, "Danny, Champion of the World" was one of those books I read until the spine gave up and the pages fell out - in fact - inspired by these flies, I even revisited the book last week, and it was still just as good as I remembered it. On seeing Stan's sample patterns, memories of Roald Dahl’s tale of Danny and his ingenious father, sneaking into the woods to outwit pheasants, came flooding back to me: "In Dahl’s woods, pheasants tumbled from the trees, powerless to resist temptation. On our rivers, trout do much the same when faced with a pheasant tail nymph." It has since amused me that the same pheasant feathers which made Dahl’s birds so prized by poachers also make some of the most effective nymphs in fly fishing. If only Danny’s dad had known - those pheasants were worth more tied to a hook than roasted on a spit! Fast forward to today, and pheasant tail fibres remain one of the most important materials in fly tying. Why? Because they’re: Natural & Convincing – Their brown-olive hues with flashes of green and copper perfectly match baetis nymphs, the trout’s year-round staple. Slim & Tapered – Pheasant tail fibres wrap into bodies that are slender, segmented, and life-like. Suggestive & Alive – In the current, pheasant tail fibres shimmer and quiver, giving trout that final nudge to eat. Timeless – Frank Sawyer’s Pheasant Tail Nymph, first tied in the 1950s (see below), still catches fish worldwide — and almost every modern nymph owes it a debt. Which brings me neatly to Stan's own Gallic Pheasant Tail Nymphs. These are elegant, precise, and just buggy enough to fool even the wiliest of trout. They’re faithful to the Sawyer tradition, but with that Gallic flair - slimmer, sharper, and beautifully finished on a Hends BL454 size 16 barbless hook: Let me introduce you to Stan's Gallic Pheasant Tail Nymph Selection which includes 3 different colour variations: Black Dark Red; and White With this selection of Stan's Gallic Pheasant Tail Nymphs, you will be able to provide a very passable imitation for virtually any nymph found in UK waters. "Danny’s pheasants were the prize of the poacher’s world. Ours are the prize of the angler’s box — slim fibres that still fool fish seventy years after Sawyer tied the first one." "Where Dahl told of pheasants in the trees, Sawyer told of pheasant tails in the current. Different stories, same bird, same magic." This nymph imitation is ideally used as a dropper fly in any nymphing setup (and great for sight nymphing in slower flows). Don't forget about using these on stillwaters also - a figure-of-eight retrieve on a floating line keeps them moving naturally. These imitations are all tied on size 16 barbless Hends BL454 hooks. The tying specification for these Gallic PT Nymphs is: Fly Name: Gallic Pheasant Tail Nymph Hook: Hends BL454 N°16 Barbless Wet (2x Strong) Head Composition: 2mm Coloured Glass Bead Body Composition: Specially Selected French Pheasant Tails Body Rib: 0.1mm Copper Wire Latin Name: Baetis Weight: Light - 0.04g Please Note: As usual with both Stan's and our Bosnian flies, we never have loads of them - we've only 50 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 - I'm looking forward to trying the white-beaded ones on my local Grayling population - they seem to have a preference for white. 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 (which includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK) - we do understand these are at the pricier end of the spectrum for flies, but the quality is truly outstanding. We only have 50 selections available for sale - I'm keeping some to use myself! So you will need to be quick! *** Go on, you know you want to *** 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 (inspired by Frank Sawyer) decided to try and make an imitation as realistic as he could. These nymphs are tied as a general representation of the nymphs commonly seen on our riverbeds. We only have 50 selections available for sale - So you will need to be quick! *** Go on, you know you want to *** 1. Go Upstream - On rivers, fish them upstream with a dead drift. The slim profile slips naturally into the flow. 2. Use a Long Leader - 12–15ft with 6X or 7X tippet gives you delicacy and avoids spooking fish in clear water. 3. A Bead for Depth - In deeper glides or stillwaters, this glass bead-headed version helps the fly sink steadily into the feeding zone. 4. Try a Team - Pair one of Stan's Gallic Pheasant Tail nymphs with a heavier fly as an anchor below — allowing you to cover multiple depths at once. 5. Work the Lift - At the end of a drift, raise the rod tip slowly — trout often pounce as the nymph “emerges.” 6. Don’t Forget Stillwaters - Figure-of-eight retrieves on a floating line keep them moving naturally. They’re not just for rivers! 7. Target the Margins - Fish patrol weed beds and edges for nymphs dislodged from the weeds — a pheasant tail here is deadly. 7½. Believe in the Simplicity - It doesn’t need to be fancy. A pheasant tail nymph works because it looks right. Fish it with confidence. In the 1950s, on the banks of the River Avon, a Wiltshire riverkeeper named Frank Sawyer set out to solve a problem. Trout and grayling were feeding heavily on slim, dark olive nymphs — but none of the bulky patterns of the day looked right, let alone fooled the fish. Sawyer’s answer was as simple as it was revolutionary: he stripped a few fibres from the tail of a cock pheasant, wound them directly onto the hook shank, and ribbed them with fine copper wire for strength and weight. The result was the Pheasant Tail Nymph — slim, tapered, and astonishingly lifelike. It looked like everything and nothing all at once, which is exactly what made it so convincing. The Heritage of the Pheasant Tail Nymph The genius of Sawyer’s invention was in its simplicity. No thread. No hackle. Just natural fibres in natural colours, forming a profile trout instantly recognised as food. The subtle iridescence of pheasant tail — browns, olives, and flashes of green — mimicked baetis nymphs, the backbone of a trout’s diet across the UK. Over seventy years later, the Pheasant Tail remains one of the most fished, most copied, and most successful nymphs in the world. Almost every modern nymph owes something to Sawyer’s original design — whether in body material, silhouette, or philosophy. From chalkstreams to stillwaters, Yorkshire becks to Welsh rivers, the pheasant tail continues to prove what Sawyer knew all along: sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.   Next time you’re on the water, spare a thought for Danny and his pheasants. Poached or not, pheasants have always been champions of the fly angler’s world. With one of Stan's Gallic Pheasant Tailed Nymphs on your cast, you might just feel like a champion yourself. Tight lines.

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Danny, Champion of the World … and the Gallic Nymph 🐓

Designed to Catch A Fish - Not An Angler

Morning, There are days when knowing your Midge from your Muskin makes all the difference ... When matching the hatch perfectly is what turns tentative refusals into takes. We believe in that - we sell flies for that & I try to fish that way too But, there are also days when knowing every Latin name still doesn’t help! What do you do then ... you reach for the fly fishing equivalent of Coco Chanel's "little black dress". The "Little Black Dress Nymph" Syndrome Definition: A piece of clothing nymph that can be worn fished in any situation and still looks like it belongs. The fly fishing world has its own "little black dress" equivalent; these are flies which don't look out of place in any scenario. We all love to follow the rules and "match the hatch" wherever we can. But ... There are also days when none of that matters. When fish are feeding mysteriously, sporadically - or even not at all! That's when you need a backup plan that will (hopefully) outperform the main one. When the most effective thing you can tie on … is something small(ish) - and most importantly, contains Peacock Herl. But Why Peacock Herl? It's Simple Really - Its Colours Are Versatile - Simple - Confident Because it looks like food. Its shifting greens, bronzes, and purples mimic the natural translucence of countless aquatic insects. Whether you’re imitating a baetis nymph, a caddis pupa, or simply offering a general “something edible,” the fish rarely turn it down. It creates contrast. It silhouettes cleanly. It works when everything else gets ignored. Flies stand out in low light Matches nothing exactly, suggests everything vaguely Equally useful for both seasoned and newer anglers alike Designed for efficiency — not guesswork These are not the flies you reach for instead of 'matching the hatch'. They're the ones you reach for when you can't make any sense of it! Get the flies that work when the rules don't ... NEW for 2025 - Our Tungsten Peacock Herl Selection The Barbless Tungsten Peacock Herl Selection is a selection of 4 styles of blank-saving 'black(ish)' flies - they seem to produce results when nothing else does! These are for:  Match-the-hatch anglers who’ve learned that not everything can be matched  Minimalists who like one fly to do multiple jobs Realists who know that conditions aren’t always textbook This isn’t about rejecting expertise. It’s about acknowledging the moments when expertise takes a back seat to instinct. Please Note: I found that both the White & Silver Tungsten nymphs were especially successful when targeting Grayling last Winter. For only £24.00, we are supplying 16 different styles of 'black(ish)' tungsten nymphs (see below for more details) - all supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. These flies are great all year round, but work especially well for those tricky days when nothing else seems to work: Our Barbless Tungsten Peacock Herl Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (2 each of 4 different patterns in sizes 14 & 16): Black Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph Copper Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph Silver Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph White Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph Our Tungsten Peacock Herl Selection contains 16 flies in total and we are making them available to you today for only £24.00 - click any button or image in this email to see the selection of flies in more detail. As always, we offer FREE Delivery on all orders for delivery within the UK. *** We only have 40 of these selections available, so if you would like a set you will need to be quick! *** Each of the Peacock Herl Tungsten Nymphs included in our NEW for 2025 selection can also be bought individually in sizes 14 & 16 for only £1.80 each, using these links: Black Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph Copper Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph Silver Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph White Tungsten Peacock Herl Nymph *** Go on, you know you want to! *** If fly tying has a “royal” material, it’s peacock herl. For centuries, tiers have reached for those dark, iridescent fibres — from the Victorian masters on the chalkstreams, to the American pioneers on big rivers, to today’s anglers searching a stillwater bank. Even in a world full of synthetics, peacock herl remains one of the most dependable natural materials in fly tying. It’s simple, beautiful, and endlessly effective — especially when tied on slim, buggy nymph patterns for both rivers and stillwaters. For Rivers 1. Trust the Colour - That dark, iridescent green of peacock herl has fooled trout for centuries. It’s suggestive enough to mimic almost anything — from olives to caddis — so don’t overthink the “match the hatch” game. 2. Go Natural - Fish them upstream, dead-drifted under an indicator, or Euro-style on a tight line. The herl body gives just enough shimmer to tempt fish without spooking them. 3. Weight Matters - Use a lightly weighted version in shallows and riffles; in deeper glides or stillwaters, switch to a bead-head to get the fly down quickly. For Stillwaters 4. Mix and Match in a Team - Try a peacock-herl nymph on the dropper with buzzers or crunchers. It stands out just enough to be noticed but still looks “edible.” 5. Fish the Lift - At the end of a retrieve, gently lift the rod tip. That upwards movement often triggers a take as the fly looks like an emerging insect. 6. Work the Margins - Trout patrol the edges for nymphs drifting out of weed beds. A peacock-herl nymph figure-of-eighted along the margins can be deadly in autumn. 7. Don’t Over-Retrieve - These flies look their best when they’re drifting or moving naturally. On stillwaters, keep retrieves slow and steady — let the material do the work. And Finally 7½. Confidence is Key - Peacock herl nymphs are classic patterns for a reason. If you fish them with faith, you’ll fish them better — and the trout will notice. We’ve put together a hand-picked selection of nymphs tied with peacock herl bodies — slim, dark, and irresistible to trout in both rivers and stillwaters. Perfect for anglers who want a single fly type they can trust all year round.   Tight lines & make the most of your Autumn exploits!

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Designed to Catch A Fish - Not An Angler

The Universal 'Blank' Saver - Our Derwent Worms

Morning, Picture this: It's a grey September afternoon (back in 2024) on my local - the Yorkshire Derwent, the kind of day where the leaves are giving up their grip and floating downstream like soggy cornflakes. I'd been flogging the water for a few hours with every fly in my box - nymphs, wets, dries - you name it, I tried it, the fish were having none of it. Absolutely nothing. Not even a courtesy nudge to keep me interested! Then I spotted him (or her): a proper wild specimen for our water, only about 1lb, moving up and down the water column (not breaking the surface), clearly having a grand time taking something I couldn't quite see. Being the inquisitive type, I waded a little closer for a better look. That's when I slipped on what I can only describe as the slipperiest (is that even a word?) rock in North Yorkshire, performed an elegant pirouette, and landed arse-first in two feet of Yorkshire's finest beer-stained water. As I sat there - chest-deep, something caught my eye drifting near the surface - a small, redish-brown worm, about an inch-and-a-half long, probably dislodged by my graceful aquatic manoeuvre.  A fish, I must have spooked earlier, shot out from the cover of the bank about 6-feet behind me and immediately took it with the enthusiasm of someone finding a tenner in an old jacket. I made my way to the bankside and rummaged through my fly box - I didn't have anything which even remotely resembled the worm. However, I did have some goodies from a recent fly fair which I'd attended ... So, I grabbed a bare size 12 hook, some micro-chenille and some wire that was a reddish-brown colour, and began tying what can only be described as the scruffiest, most haphazard worm pattern ever created. No vice, no proper light, just cold fingers and sheer bloody-mindedness. The result was criminally ugly - a wonky, slightly bedraggled thing that looked like it had seen better days. Perfect, in other words, for imitating a real worm that had just been rudely ejected from its cosy home. Introducing ... The Derwent Worm I cast it out, still dripping and probably looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. My original quarry took it on the second drift. That accidental creation became The Derwent Worm, and it was my secret weapon for autumn fishing last year. I've even higher hopes this year, now that we've had them tied professionally! There's something about these patterns that drives fish absolutely wild when the leaves start turning. Whether it's the naturalistic wiggle, or simply that they look like they've had a proper adventure just getting into the water (they work equally as well on both rivers and stillwaters). The undoubted star-of-the-show with this fly pattern is the hook - a size 12 AHREX FW525 - strong, sharp and just the perfect shape. We've now perfected the "haphazard" look (which, ironically, took quite a bit of careful tying to achieve), and I'm delighted to share our Derwent Worm Selection with you. Each one is tied on those superb AHREX FW525 barbless hooks which are just the right shape for 'worm style' patterns, you'll wonder why you ever used anything else. Please Note: Even though these patterns were devised (and tested) on a Yorkshire River, they are exceptional Stillwater patterns - fish them as close to the bottom as you can and give them a twitch every now and then! Sometimes the best discoveries come from the most undignified moments. Though I still check for slippery rocks every time I wade the Derwent. We've only got 50 of these Derwent Worm Selections available - I'm keeping a few back for myself, to use (and lose) over the next couple of months or so (the Earth-coloured ones are perfect for early-season Grayling)! Our Derwent Worm Selection contains 3 each of the 4 colours (Red, Olive, Chartreuse & Earth) - all tied on AHREX FW525 size 12 barbless hooks - the best in the business. That's twelve flies in total, for only £22.00 delivered in our eco-friendly packaging free of charge to anywhere in the UK. As always, all of our flies are delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK (which can take up to 5 working days) - we also have a 1st Class Tracked Service (for only £2.50) which is usually delivered the very next day, so long as you can order before 1pm. Please Remember: We've only 50 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 £22 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! *** Even More DEADLY Daddies ... The 'daddis' are now in full flight - thanks to the recent spell of wet weather we've just had. We're rapidly running out of our stock - and we will not have any more until late-August next year, grab yours while you still can: Our Deadly Daddies are tied on a Size 14 barbless hook (a much more accurate representation of the real insect) with a slender hackle and swept-back legs (to make the fly more aerodynamic), which still allows them to cast easily (without line twist) and create a wake on the surface when any action is imparted to them, again, another trigger point the fish home into. Our Deadly Daddy is a twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern and is the most successful daddy long-legs pattern we've ever sold - these are the last we will have until August next year! We've just received our final batch of Deadly Daddies for the year, and now have them available for immediate delivery either individually (£2.15), in packs of 6 (£11) or in packs of 12 (only £20). The Peacock Daddy ... Next to our Deadly Daddies (above), The Peacock Daddy is our best-seller (and most productive, especially on the southern rivers and stillwaters of the UK): The Peacock Daddy. A twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern, and one which works exceptionally well all across the UK. This is a streamlined pattern, 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. We've just received our final batch of Peacock Daddies for the year, and now have them available for immediate delivery either individually (£2.15), in packs of 6 (£11) or in packs of 12 (only £20). As always, all of our flies are delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK (which can take up to 5 working days) - we also have a 1st Class Tracked Service (for only £2.50) which is usually delivered the very next day, so long as you can order before 1pm. *** Go on, treat yourself ***   Tight lines and have fun on the water. P.S. Our Derwent Worm patterns are now available, perfect for when you need something that looks like it's lived a little - much like the angler who created them.  

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The Universal 'Blank' Saver - Our Derwent Worms

It's Dynamite & Deadly - Harry & The Daddy

Morning, We have two NEW flies for you today - one has Swedish origins (thanks to good friend Niklas for putting me onto it) and the other is absolutely DEADLY on both Stillwaters and Rivers at this time of year - you'll have to read right to the end of this email to find out what it is! Following along the line of "flies which are successful and work almost everywhere", today we're launching a pattern which is gaining notoriety on both Rivers and Stillwaters - especially in the late Autumn hatches: You may never have heard of it - most anglers who use it want to keep it a secret! I've been road-testing the above Swedish-inspired pattern since this time last year, and it's performed flawlessly - it's especially good for imitating those late (and early season insect hatches) on both Rivers & Stillwaters. This is a simple, yet deadly pattern - I believe this pattern is so successful because of the way it's tied, very, very sparsely. This pattern has its origins in Sweden and has been a staple in my own fly box since last September - someone has to test the flies out! Originally only available as a kit (which we regularly sell out of over on our Feathersmith site), I'm constantly asked for the 'pre-tied' version - so we're launching it today. "What's the fly called?" Introducing ... The Dynamite Harry The Dynamite Harry - is a very versatile pattern you should have in your fly box because it's one pattern that can be fished all season long and is a great 'general impression' of a whole host of up-winged insects found on the water from April through to October (except a Mayfly)! This little gem of a fly has its origins in the dark forests of Dalarna in Sweden. The fly is kind of an "all-around" fly, depending on the size you use - we have them from a size 12, right down to a size 18 - it can mimic most winged critters from small midges to emergers and duns. The key to this pattern is to get a very light fly with a delicate footprint. The fly has gone from being a secret in the originator, Jörgen Danielsson´s flybox, to a fly which adorns many fly anglers' boxes in Sweden and beyond. This version of the Barbless Dynamite Harry has been tied with instructions from Mr Danielsson himself - and he has even given the finished fly his seal of approval. Please Note: These Dynamite Harry flies have been tied with an extra-long tail. Some anglers prefer the tails long, whilst others prefer the tails very short and tight to the hackle - we've had them tied this way, so you can shorten the tail with a pair of sharp scissors if you so wish. Top Tip: If you are cutting the tails to size, cut them at a 45-degree angle sloping upwards - it seems to help the presentation on the water. As well as being a great fly to use throughout the summer months, it also has the added bonus of being pretty attractive to early-season Grayling! As well as being a great fly to use throughout the summer months, it also has the added bonus of being pretty attractive to early-season Grayling! We've only got 40 of these Dynamite Harry Selections available - I'm keeping a few back for myself, to use (and lose) over the next 6 weeks or so (our river season finishes at the end of October)! Our Dynamite Harry Selection contains 3 each of sizes 12, 14, 16 & 18. That's twelve flies in total, for only £20.00 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! As always, all of our flies are delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK (which can take up to 5 working days) - we also have a 1st Class Tracked Service (for only £2.50) which is usually delivered the very next day, so long as you can order before 1pm. *** Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at only £20 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! *** The 'NEW' DEADLY Daddy Generally seen from August through to October, Crane flies hatch in the ground on cool humid mornings. It pays to fish these when the wind is blowing, the Daddy Long Legs is not good at flying and are always blown onto the water. The legs (and green hot-spot on the tail) on these flies (as seen below) seem to act as a trigger to the fish - especially when twitched. These Deadly Daddies are tied on a Size 14 barbless hook (a much more accurate representation of the real insect) with a slender hackle and swept-back legs (to make the fly more aerodynamic), which still allows them to cast easily (without line twist) and create a wake on the surface when any action is imparted to them, again, another trigger point the fish home into. Our Deadly Daddy is a twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern and is the most successful daddy long-legs pattern we've ever sold - these are the last we will have until August next year! We've just received our last batch of Deadly Daddies for the year, and now have them available for immediate delivery either individually (£2.15), in packs of 6 (£11) or in packs of 12 (only £20). As always, all of our flies are delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK (which can take up to 5 working days) - we also have a 1st Class Tracked Service (for only £2.50) which is usually delivered the very next day, so long as you can order before 1pm. *** Go on, treat yourself *** We've now built up quite a range of Feathersmith kits and we have you covered for the most successful flies no matter what month you are fishing. The absolute 'stars of the show' as far as our kits go are: The Dynamite Harry (as seen earlier in the email); and The Red-Neck Hares Ear Nymph Click either of the images below to view the kits in more detail: *** Go on, you know you want to - our Feathersmith kits are perfect to while away the hours when you've a little downtime and at less than £1 per fly they offer great value *** In the meantime, tight lines and have fun on the water.        

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It's Dynamite & Deadly - Harry & The Daddy

A Rolls-Royce for Only £1.95 !!!

Morning, Here at Barbless Flies, September & October are usually pretty busy 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 Winter fly patterns whilst also continuing to write our 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)!  During these early Autumn months, I try to plan my fishing trips accordingly, and fish in the morning - I have to drive alongside the river on my way into Barbless Flies HQ, so it would be rude not to leave a little earlier and stop for a cast or two (or three) while the mornings are still light(ish). The first of the fly patterns contained in this email is one which I first 'road tested' with great success exactly 1 year ago - and it has found a permanent base in my fly box ever since. TL;DR - Too Long; Didn't Read   I know that some of you are pressed for time and save our emails to read later in the day, by this time our selections are sometimes sold out (I get lots of emails from customers pointing this out to me). I've put this section at the beginning, so you can grab your flies now - and save reading my musings for later, safe in the knowledge that you have already secured your fly selections. This email is all about two different fly patterns, the Rolls-Royce Caddis & The Indicator Caddis, both of which are spectacularly successful at this time of year. Both of the patterns are tied using the very best quality materials on super-strong (and sharp) barbless hooks - I know, I'm the one who makes the selections up! You can grab yours here: SPECIAL OFFER: Buy both The Rolls-Royce Caddis & Indicator Caddis Selections today for only £25 - that's right, it's a huge discount - we've a VAT bill to pay, so please fill your boots! You can only get the offer by clicking the button below. This offer expires at midnight tonight: 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 usually arriving on the water. This email includes two different patterns which are perfect in the mornings and evenings at this time of year (on both Rivers & Stillwaters), the first of which is ... The Rolls-Royce Caddis There are many different variations of Caddis/Sedge fly, but today we have one of the very best Caddis/Sedge patterns available - it's the 'Rolls-Royce' of Caddis patterns. It was originally devised in the USA (where it's called the Cadillac Caddis), so we've anglicised it and renamed it to the Rolls-Royce Caddis - it's the combination of a detached body and elk-hair wing which makes it deadly when fished on the faster more ripply 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! This Caddis / Sedge imitation is perfectly proportioned and tied with a small detached body and elk-hair wings - it will not need any extra floatant to keep it riding hight all day (or morning) long. Caddis - Top Tips Caddis (or Sedge) flies are best used in either the early or late part of the day, as this is when the flies are at their most active. These Caddis flies are deadly in the smaller sizes just at twilight or sunrise! When fishing with a Caddis fly, it's always worth giving it a little twitch every now and then if you are not getting attention from the fish. When you watch the naturals, their flight is very haphazard and they always land on the water with quite a commotion - they are not the daintiest of movers! Keep this in mind when covering rising fish. Our Rolls-Royce Caddis pattern has been tied by our Artisan tyers using the highest quality materials, they are tied on a super-strong (and sharp) barbless hooks and available in three different sizes 14, 16 & 18. As I know this will be a very popular pattern, we have bundled it into a selection which includes three of each hook sizes - nine flies in total:  We've only got 40 of these Rolls-Royce Caddis Selections available - I'm keeping a few dozen back for myself, to use (lose) over the next 6 weeks or so (our season finishes at the end of October)! Our Rolls-Royce Caddis Selection contains 3 each of sizes 14, 16 & 18. That's nine flies in total, for only £15.00  & delivered free of charge to anywhere in the UK. Keep reading for more info on the Caddis/Sedge - you'll be glad you did ... 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 for only £1.95 each, if you would like to top up your selection! Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at only £15 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! Want to know a little more about the Caddis/Sedge? What is it? There are around 30 distinct Caddis/Sedge species found throughout the UK, Europe and Russia. These Caddis flies are known as "humpless case-maker Caddis flies". These flies are easily identified as they will generally be the only fly on the water flying as if it is drunk (i.e. very haphazardly). Please Note: You will often see these flies referred to as either Caddis or Sedge; they are both the same and are interchangeable as far as the fly angler is concerned. Location(s) They are found in every part of the British Isles. They can be especially prolific in Central, Southern and South West England; in Wales and Northern England (Ribble and Eden), and in parts of Scotland. Most Caddis flies are only found in running water, they prefer gently running water, so you do not usually find them hatching in very high and fast-flowing rivers. The various caddis flies usually start hatching at the beginning of April and will continue through right until the end of September. When do trout take them? Trout will take Caddis in any one of its three stages (nymph, emerger and dry). Caddis will generally hatch during the warmest part of the day (anytime between 11am and 3pm), so this is when to try an emerger pattern. Caddis usually hatch from shallower water and don't give the trout much of a chance to intercept them on their way to the surface. The best time to use a caddis imitation is either in the evening or in the early mornings when the adult females return to the water to deposit their eggs - time to give your new Tri-Colour Caddis flies a try. These flies should be fished as you would any other dry fly, and they should be used as soon as you start to see the insects on the water; this can be anytime from about 18:00 until after dark and very early in the morning. This email includes two different patterns which are perfect for this time of year, the second one is the one fly which I keep in my personal fly box at all times ... it's called: The Indicator Caddis/Sedge "If I could only use one dry fly for the rest of my life, this is the one I would choose."; R.Fieldhouse (2025) This pattern has taken fish in virtually every river I have fished. If you open my fly box, you will see loads of these - all in various sizes. They just seem to always present the right silhouette and don't sink!  Here it is: A very versatile pattern, great when fished as a single dry fly on a dead drift or as the dry in a duo/New Zealand set up, which has exceptional buoyancy and will suspend even the heaviest of nymphs. We are making this pattern available today in sizes 14, 16 & 18, and also as a selection: We've only got 50 of these exclusive Indicator Caddis Selections available, so act fast to secure yours! Our Indicator Caddis Selection features a carefully curated assortment, three each of sizes 14, 16 & 18. In total, you'll receive nine expertly crafted flies, all for only £14.00, with free delivery to anywhere in the UK! Please Remember: We've only 50 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - These flies can also be bought individually here for only £1.75 if you would like to top up your selection!   SPECIAL OFFER: Buy both The Rolls-Royce Caddis & Indicator Caddis Selections today for only £25 - that's right, it's a huge discount - we've a VAT bill to pay, so please fill your boots! You can only get the offer by clicking the button below. This offer expires at midnight tonight: Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at only £25 for both selections, these will not hang around for long! Tight lines & have a great weekend. P.S. I've a stunning pattern to show you on Thursday - It's one which has been 'dynamite' for me all season while I've been testing it - I'll keep my powder dry until Thursday.    

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A Rolls-Royce for Only £1.95 !!!

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