🏆🏆🏆 Unmatched Customer Satisfaction with over 10,000 5⭐ Reviews - Avg 4.9

🏆 Unmatched Customer Satisfaction with over 9,750 5⭐ Reviews

🚚 ✈️ Fast FREE Delivery On ALL UK Orders ✈️ 🚚

🚚 Fast FREE Delivery On ALL UK Orders

2wheels1rod

A Barbless Bonus + A Mayfly Restock

The fish up here in North Yorkshire are now starting to take the hatching (and returning) Mayflies - I watched a few small fish confidently taking Mayflies on Tuesday teatime. The last few weeks have been pretty busy for us (thank you), trying to get all of the Mayflies and other orders out to everyone in time for the hatches to start in your local area. As it had been a hectic day, I took a little time out on the way home from the office, and sat beside my favourite pool on the Yorkshire Derwent, just to decompress and have a little 'time to myself' - it made my day to sit for 15 minutes, listening to the running water and watching numerous fish taking returning Mayflies. I did have my rod in the back of the car, but thought I would leave them to enjoy the banquet on offer and see if they are still holding station at this weekend! Do You Fancy A Barbless Bonus? Then read the very end of this email ... On my local river, once the fish start confidently taking Mayflies, I've found it best to fish from around 7pm well into the dusk - so only a few hours - but recently the sport has been very good on both Sedge / Caddis patterns, along with the usual Mayfly imitations. As a quick reminder - the majority of Mayflies only live for one day. During this time they: Hatch Mature into an adult Mate; and then Die It's the ones that have had their fun and are returning to the water to lay their eggs that we are trying to imitate on an evening. They land very softly on the water and pause for a second or so to deposit their eggs - this is when the trout snaffle them up: * Above image courtesy of Ben Lupton - thanks Ben  Earlier this week (Tuesday) we received a restock of all our Mayfly patterns. We don't usually re-order Mayflies part way through the season, but with the trend and info that our Mayfly Tracker was showing it looks like the Mayfly season will be longer and more prolific than usual - so we thought we had better stock up again. You can find all of our Mayfly Individuals & Selections by clicking either of the buttons below: As we now have full stock of everything, we are focussing this week's email on a few patterns which you may find useful in the coming weeks - especially if you are fishing in the afternoon or early evening. I've picked out the ones below as the current customer favourites - so far as repeat sales go. Each of the patterns below can be bought individually, in packs of 5 or packs of 10 at reduced prices - the more you buy the cheaper they get!: Mohican Mayfly Rumour has it that this fly is the most popular Mayfly imitation of all time! A detached body mayfly imitation, super buoyant and tied to exacting standards. This fly has very short wings, this helps reduce leader-twist when casting. Make sure you have plenty of these, the trout love them! The most effective Mayfly imitation when spinners are on the water. A Mayfly Dun imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a grey poly-yarn sighter post. These Dun imitations are tied on size 12 AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Mayfly Loop-Winged Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) a little foam tied in at the head and looped wings, to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on size 10 AHREX FW503 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Expert skill: Use an 8ft to 9ft rod, along with a floating line and 8ft to 10ft of leader. Use a cut-down 9ft tapered leader (use the last 5ft) and then 4ft of 5x tippet. Fish a large cream-coloured Mayfly Emerger (remember the insects are up to 2.5cm long). Pro Tip: Remember you are looking for sections of river which are below a slow-running silty section and preferably where the river narrows. This funnel effect will act as a conveyor belt delivering the mayfly to the waiting trout. The better-sized trout will be at the head of the pool, so steadily work your way up. Once the Emergers appear on the water the fish will ignore the nymphs. Artisan Mayfly Dun A Mayfly Dun imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a grey poly-yarn sighter post. These Dun imitations are tied on size 14 AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Pro Tip: If you see spinners dancing above you, pay very close attention to the water for softly rising fish, and look for dying Mayflies caught in small pockets of dead water behind rocks or debris. If you find any, pick them up so you can get a good idea of their size and colour and then select an appropriately sized pattern. Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! All of our individual Mayfly patterns are available now (from stock) from only £1.75 each - which includes Free Delivery to anywhere within the UK - in our Eco-Friendly packaging. Go on, you know you want to! Fancy A Barbless Bonus ... Then Read on McDuff: We've had some more of these stunning car bumper stickers made, from weatherproof vinyl - would you like one? As I write this we have just taken our 70,000th order, so both Jack & I wanted to say a big "thank you" by including one of our very own "Trout Bumper Stickers" in every order we receive today (they are not available to buy separately). As a "thank you" for all of your support (and orders) over the years, we will give you one for free, just place an order with us today and we'll pop in one of our car/truck/van/lorry bumper stickers for FREE - until stocks last - we have exactly 85 of them, so there should be enough for today - but you never know! * I know, the truck needs a good wash! Have fun out there!  

Read more
A Barbless Bonus + A Mayfly Restock

Fishing With The Adams Family ... of flies

  Fishing With ...The Adams Family (of flies) I know that we are well into the Mayfly Season now - everything seems to be running a couple of weeks early - but, there are times (and waters) which don't see any significant Mayfly hatches at all - as my inbox proves!. Over the last couple of weeks I've had quite a few emails from our community pointing that exact fact out to me - so if that's the case for your water, then this email is especially for you ... PLEASE NOTE: Towards the end of this email, you will find a nice write up on how to choose the right length/make-up of your dry fly leader, along with a few tips on how to get the balance correct. The subject of today's email is a staple dry fly - supremely successful on rivers, and now gaining much more of a reputation for success on Stillwaters - The Adams. Originally tied, in 1922, by Leonard Halladay and named after his good friend Charles Adams. The image above is taken from a fantastic book called, Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies by Mike Valla, where there is a whole chapter dedicated to the Adams - if you are into rolling your own flies, this book is a worthy investment - we take lots of inspiration from it. No one is really sure which insects the Adams imitate - a good guess would be an Olive, but they really do work well, as such, the Adams is a fly which should be in all anglers fly boxes. Generally tied in two different styles, original and parachute versions: Original - With a hackle running a third of the way down the hook shank (as in the book image above). Parachute - With the hackle tied horizontally around a sighter post The way in which both of these variants are tied ensures the fly floats high on the surface - and stays there with only a little floatant added! The Adams fly is one that should be in all anglers fly boxes Our full selection of Adams-style flies consists of: Parachute Adams - Tied in the parachute style (with the hackle wrapped horizontally), with a white sighter post and in the original colours. Our selection contains 2 each of sizes 14 and 16. Adams Thorax - Tied in the original style (with the hackle wrapped along a quarter of the hook), with a tall sighting post and in the original colours. Our selection contains 2 each of sizes 14 and 16. Hi-Vis Parachute Adams - Tied in the parachute style (with the hackle wrapped horizontally), with a vivid yellow sighter post and in the original Parachute Adams body colours. Our selection contains 2 each of sizes 14 and 16. Micro Parachute Adams - Tied in the original style (with the hackle wrapped along a quarter of the hook), with a tall white sighter post and in the original body colours. These are extremely small flies! Our selection contains 2 each of sizes 18 and 20 (see the image below to get an idea for their size: Our Adams Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above, 2 each of each size). We are supplying all of these for only £22. All are supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail. Just a gentle reminder that all our products are shipped FREE OF CHARGE to anywhere in the UK The Foam Adams Family ... We've all been there - you're fishing on an evening in low light and you need something which you can see, but more importantly, will still catch! One of the great difficulties in fishing smaller dry flies is the ability to quickly spot where your fly actually is, with our NEW Foam Post Klinkhamer Selection of flies you will have no problem seeing them (the white foam posts show up extremely well against virtually any background). You will not miss a take with these - Our NEW Design Foam Post Klinkhamer Selection saves your eyesight even in the smaller sizes! All of these flies have been chosen for both their blank saving and high visibility. You will not miss a take with these - A selection of 16 flies to save your eyesight! All of these flies have been chosen for both their blank saving and high visibility in all conditions. We've all been there; you're fishing on an evening in low light and you need something which will still catch, but importantly - you need to be able to see it! One of the great difficulties in fishing smaller flies is the ability to quickly spot where your fly actually is, with this selection you will have no problem seeing these (even though they are only small). Our NEW Design Foam Klinkhamer Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above, 2 each of size 14 & 18). We are supplying all of these for only £22. All are supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail. *** Just a gentle reminder that all our products are shipped FREE OF CHARGE to anywhere in the UK *** Creating a balanced dry fly leader is both an art and a science that can significantly improve your presentation. A properly balanced leader transfers energy efficiently during casting and allows your fly to land delicately on the water's surface. The ideal dry fly leader typically follows a 60/20/20 formula: 60% of the length for the butt section (thicker diameter), 20% for the mid-section (transition), and 20% for the tippet (finest diameter). Start with a leader butt of about 0.019-0.022" diameter attached to your fly line, then step down through 3-4 progressively thinner sections. The goal is to create a gradual taper that dissipates energy smoothly rather than abruptly. The key to perfect balance lies in selecting the right materials and proportions based on your specific fishing conditions. For most trout fishing, aim for a 9-12 foot leader with a final tippet of 4X-6X depending on fly size (see below) and fish wariness. Each section should be connected with a 3-turn water knot, keeping connections minimal and smooth. When properly constructed, your leader should turn over completely with the fly landing first and the leader settling in loose coils. This balanced design not only improves accuracy but also reduces micro-drag, allowing for longer, more natural drifts that fool selective trout. Top Leader Tips If the water is small or rough, use a leader which is roughly the length of the rod. If the water is calm, extend the leader to between 11' and 15', then add 2' to 4' of tippet. Just remember: "the calmer the water, the spookier the fish, the smaller the fly, the longer and finer tippet you need.” Tight lines.

Read more
Fishing With The Adams Family ... of flies

The 'Morning' Mayfly - Nymphs & Emergers

As I've mentioned in previous communications, I have to drive along the side of my local river to get to Barbless Flies HQ - along the way I get a very good view of the river - and can check the insects which are splattered across my windscreen to see what's hatching! As we've been pretty busy in the office over the last few weeks, I've been trying to get in for around 7am - so I can help the fly fairies get all of your orders out on time - as you can imagine, this is the busiest part of the year for us. Yesterday, however, I made a slight detour ... On my way home on Tuesday I saw Mayfly all over the place, so I thought I would take the chance to arrive at the river early and have a fish for an hour - before I got stuck into all of your orders! I was glad I did ... As we are so close to the coast, the mornings are usually quite overcast. This is great for fishing - but not so good if you want some time on the beach. I took the opportunity to fish a very silty stretch of water which I don't normally pay much attention to - the plan was to fish Mayfly nymph and emerger imitations. I tied on one of our Artisan Mayfly Nymphs (see illustration above) and had a fish on the very first cast - as the water is pretty slow in this part of the river I had to manipulate the nymph a little to impart a little life into it, but a resident wild fish scooped it up without hesitation. As well as focussing on the 'morning' Mayfly variants in today's missive, we're also extending a bit of a treat for you .. We're Continuing ... Our Mayfly Tombola You seem to have liked our 'Mayfly Tombola' idea, so we've decided to continue it until midnight tomorrow (Friday 16th May), you'll have to scroll to the end of this email to remind yourself of the details! But, back to the 'morning' Mayflies ... Morning mayfly fishing is all about subtlety and timing. Before the main hatch kicks in, trout are already on the lookout for the emerging nymphs beginning their journey toward the surface. These early hours are a golden opportunity for anglers who understand what’s going on below the water. Fish a nymph well in the right place, and you’ll often be into trout before a single dun has taken flight. Then, as the hatch builds, switching to an emerger pattern can unlock a feeding frenzy just under the surface - if you get it right. Use a two-fly setup early on – Pair a weighted mayfly nymph with a softly hackled dropper above it. You’ll cover multiple depths and imitate both the rising nymph and the drifting emerger in one cast. Fish structure, not open water – In the early hours, focus your casts around weed beds, margins, and silt patches where nymphs emerge. Trout will be sitting close, watching. Grease the tippet, not the fly – When fishing emerger patterns, apply floatant to the tippet up to a few inches before the fly. This keeps the fly riding naturally in the surface film, not unnaturally high. Choose patterns with a trailing shuck – For emergers, a CDC, Z-lon or Antron trailing shuck (like our Mayfly emerger below) gives the illusion of a freshly hatched mayfly stuck in the moment of emergence - exactly what trout are targeting. Match behaviour, not just colour – Don’t just think about matching the hatch visually. Early mayflies are sluggish and vulnerable - fish your patterns with a gentle twitch or slow hand-twist retrieve to mimic natural movement. 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 'morning' Mayfly nymphs and emergers we can supply - The Mayfly Nymph, Loop-Winged Emerger & Regular Mayfly Emerger - they are works of art, you won't know wether to hang them on the wall or fish with them!  When fishing the Mayfly hatch during the morning, there's no better fly to use than our Artisan Mayfly Nymph imitation - they are the exact size of the mayfly nymph and perfectly proportioned Here they are: Artisan Mayfly Nymph Fishing during the mayfly hatch is one of the highlights of the trout fishing calendar, but success often comes down to timing. In the early hours, before the hatch really kicks off, trout aren’t looking up yet - they’re feeding just beneath the surface on the ascending nymphs making their way toward emergence. This is the perfect window to fish a mayfly nymph imitation slowly and confidently through the margins and drop-offs. Look for signs of trout positioning themselves in the water column, often mid-depth, anticipating the rise rather than chasing adult flies. Ok, you've sold me on them, "What's the price?" I hear you ask - we are making all of these flies available to you either individually (from only £2.75), or in packs of 5 or 10 from only £12 - which includes Free Delivery to anywhere in the UK - in our Eco-Friendly packaging. Mayfly Loop-Wing Emerger As the clock ticks toward mid-morning—around 11am—you’ll start to notice a shift. Mayfly duns begin to trickle off the surface, and the trout respond accordingly. This is the golden hour for emerger patterns. At this stage, the fish become laser-focused on the struggling insects caught in that vulnerable surface tension zone. Swap out your nymphs for a well-suspended emerger or a fly with a split profile—part in, part out of the water. Keep an eye out for gentle sipping rises; those subtle dimples on the surface are a dead giveaway that trout are now keyed in on emergers, not the fully hatched adults (yet). The Mayfly Emerger   Slightly darker in colour, some mayflies die as soon as they hatch. These are an easy target for trout, sometimes they actively target these in preference to the hatching flies. In which case these are the go-to flies. A classic mayfly imitation, super buoyant with a foam body and tied to exacting standards. This pattern imitates those mayflies which die hatching. All of our individual Mayfly patterns are available either individually (from only £2.75), in packs of 5 or 10 (from only £12.00) - which includes Free Delivery to anywhere in the UK - in our Eco-Friendly packaging. Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! Go on, you know you want to! The Artisan Mayfly Selection The Artisan Mayfly Selection is a selection of the flies to imitate the FULL lifecycle of the Mayfly (nymph, emerger, stillborn, dun, spinner & spent). I fished with these flies in May/June of the last few seasons to test them out, and was amazed at the results. We are supplying two of each pattern, in total there are 12 flies supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. All of these flies are hand-tied using AHREX barbless hooks and the highest quality materials. We've put together a FULL selection of ALL our Artisan Mayflies (two each of the following): Mayfly Nymph - tied on an Ahrex FW531 - Size 10 Mayfly Emerger - tied on an Ahrex FW531 - Size 10 Mayfly Loop-Wing Emerger - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 10 Mohican Mayfly - tied on an Ahrex FW525 - Size 12 Mayfly Dun - tied on an Ahrex FW525 - size 14 Spent Mayfly - tied on an Ahrex FW525 - Size 14 The (Extended) Mayfly Tombola We've been thinking of a way to let all our loyal community - yes, that's you - get hold of one - for FREE, and then the penny dropped when I was at our local fete! Let's do it like a tombola, but instead of picking a raffle ticket that ends in either a '5' or a '0' - and winning a jar of marmalade which you will pass on to next year's raffle - let's do something a little more digital. So here's the deal: Just place an order with us before midnight tomorrow (14th May), it doesn't matter how much for - we're good like that, we would appreciate it if the order was over £20 but it's not a requirement! If your order number ends in an even number, then we will add one of our "Fishing The Mayfly" books to your order for free (usually £9.99). If you order one of our Mayfly books as a part of your order, we will refund you the cost of the book if your order number ends in an even number. That's it. We've only around 20 of our books remaining, so they will only last us a day or so. This virtual tombola will run from the time you receive this email until midnight tomorrow (Friday 16th May). Have fun out there!                    

Read more
The 'Morning' Mayfly - Nymphs & Emergers

Mayfly Tombola - 2 Detached Duns & A Spent

I managed to venture out onto the water over the weekend - it was epic! The wild fish on my local Derwent are usually pretty selective when feeding, and gently take any offering I pass by their noses. However, over the weekend I arrived at my favourite pool and could hear some very splashy rises - I couldn't see anything specific hatching but could see the fish attacking something very vigourously. After a little time spent watching, I saw a couple of Mayfly rise from the surface - so I tied on a Mohican Mayfly - and the fish went nuts for it! I only had a couple with me (as I was not expecting to be using Mayflies for at least another couple of weeks). I did have some Detached Body Duns, which I used to the very same effect. It was one of those "Red Letter Days" that keep you coming back for more! Up here in our corner of North Yorkshire we very rarely see a Mayfly before the end of May, but they seem to be appearing very early this year (as our Mayfly tracker is showing) - it must be to do with the nice and settled warm spell we are currently enjoying. As well as focussing on the 'detached body' Mayfly variants in today's missive, I've also a bit of a treat for you .. Introducing ... The Mayfly Tombola I've been thinking of a way to do something nice for all of our loyal community - yes, that's you - and then the penny dropped when I was a local village fete over easter! Let's do it like a tombola, but instead of picking a raffle ticket that ends in either a '5' or a '0' - and winning a jar of jam that you will pass on to next year's raffle - let's do something a little different. Our Mayfly Tombola will run until midnight tomorrow, you'll have to scroll to the end of this email to find out all the details! But, back to the detached body Mayflies ... On my local river I usually find the best sport to be had is in an evening - from around 6pm into the dusk - so only a few hours - but the signs are very positive for the coming weeks - I may have to leave the fly fairies to it, and take a few afternoons off! The afternoon is when the Dun / Spinners come out to play and in the evenings the "Spent" mayfly patterns are king. As a quick reminder - the majority of Mayflies only live for one day. During this time they: Hatch (Pattern Match: Emerger) Mature into an adult (Pattern Match: Dun) Mate (Pattern Match: Spinner); and Die (Pattern Match: Spent) It's the ones that have had their fun and gone to the river in the sky that we are trying to imitate on an evening. When a mayfly expires they float on the water with their wings outstretched, as below: TOP TIP: Reducing Leader Twist - when fishing with flies which have large wings - like Mayflies, this will induce twist in your leader (there's nothing you can really do to stop it). The majority of Mayfly patterns (especially the spent ones) have wings which act just like helicopter rotor blades and spin when you cast them. The best way to combat this is to: Reduce the length of your leader Increase the diameter of your leader Try shortening the overall length of your tapered leader to around 6ft and step up your tippet diameter - use 3X or 4X. Once the fish really switch on to the Mayfly they become indifferent to your tippet, so step it up where you can. 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 detached body Mayflies we can supply - The Mohican Mayfly & ayfly Dun - they are works of art, you won't know wether to hang them on the wall or fish with them!  When fishing the Mayfly hatch during the day, there's no better fly to use than a Detached Dun style imitation - and these are the best. We have these available now and ready to find a new home in your fly box. Here they are: Detached Body Mayfly Dun If you arrive at the water in the mid-afternoon - Remember you are looking for sections of river which are below a slow-running silty section and preferably where the river narrows. This funnel effect will act as a conveyor belt delivering the mayfly to the waiting trout. The better-sized trout will be at the head of the pool, so steadily work your way up. Once the Emergers appear on the water it's time to break out the detached body mayfly Dun and Spinner imitations. Ok, you've sold me on them, "What's the price?" I hear you ask - we are making all of these flies available to you either individually (from only £2.75), or in packs of 5 or 10 from only £12 - which includes Free Delivery to anywhere in the UK - in our Eco-Friendly packaging. Mohican Mayfly The Spent Mayfly If you see Spinners dancing above you on an evening, pay very close attention to the water for softly rising fish, and look for dead Spinners caught in small pockets of dead water behind rocks or debris. If you find any, pick them up so you can get a good idea of their size and colour and then select an appropriate pattern. Slightly darker in colour to the spinner, some mayflies die as soon as they hatch. These are an easy target for trout, sometimes they actively target these in preference to the hatching flies. In which case these are the go-to flies.A classic mayfly imitation, super buoyant and tied to exacting standards. This pattern imitates those mayflies which die hatching or after mating. One of the most effective Mayfly imitations when spinners are on the water. All of our individual Mayfly patterns are available either individually (from only £2.75), in packs of 5 or 10 (from only £12.00) - which includes Free Delivery to anywhere in the UK - in our Eco-Friendly packaging. Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! Go on, you know you want to! The Mayfly Tombola I hope you like the header image from this email as much as I do - it adorns the book we released last year, 80+ pages all about fishing the Mayfly - you can grab your copy here, for only £9.99. We've been thinking of a way to let all our loyal community - yes, that's you - get hold of one - for FREE, and then the penny dropped when I was at our local fete! Let's do it like a tombola, but instead of picking a raffle ticket that ends in either a '5' or a '0' - and winning a jar of marmalade which you will pass on to next year's raffle - let's do something a little more digital. So here's the deal: Just place an order with us before midnight tomorrow (14th May), it doesn't matter how much for - we're good like that, we would appreciate it if the order was over £20 but it's not a requirement! If your order number ends in an even number, then we will add one of our "Fishing The Mayfly" books to your order for free (usually £9.99). If you order one of our Mayfly books as a part of your order, we will refund you the cost of the book if your order number ends in an even number. That's it. We've only around 50 of our books remaining, so they will only last us a day or so. This virtual tombola will run from the time you receive this email until midnight tomorrow (14th May), or until we run out of books - whichever is the sooner! Our Mayfly Tracker ... An Update Over the weekend I asked you to help us with our 2025 Mayfly Tracker project - you didn't disappoint! and we've already had a fantastic response. I've updated the tracking page with the info I have received so far - click on the button (or image) below to view the updated tracker. Essentially, as soon as you see Mayfly hatching on your local water, get in touch letting me know where, and I will then plot it on a live map for all to see. If you wish to contribute, (and we hope you will) as soon as you see a Mayfly hatch on your local water, please get in touch, by sending me an email (richard@barbless-flies.co.uk) to let me know the hatch location, and I will then update the live map.   Have fun out there!        

Read more
Mayfly Tombola - 2 Detached Duns & A Spent

The 2025 Mayfly Radar - Tracking The UK Mayfly Hatch

UK Mayfly Hatches "In the heart of spring, when the world blossoms with the whispers of new life, the rivers of the UK dance with a delicate enchantment known as the Mayfly hatch. These magical few weeks are fondly dubbed 'duffers fortnight' a name that hints at the grace bestowed upon even the most inexperienced anglers." - A. Fellow-Duffer, 2024 *** This email is quite long, please read to the end as we need your help! *** Fly fishing has a very tight community where we all want to help each other, as it's 'duffers fortnight' coming up we thought it was the ideal time to draw on the community intelligence to launch something new. It was during this mythical fortnight, back in 2022, that I received an email from a good customer across the pond in the USA. The email just contained a link - with the words "Watch this!" - generally this type of email gets filed in the bin (they are usually some sort of scam/hacking attempt), this one was a little different as its subject was "Mayflies Everywhere", so I copied the link into a secure browser and tentatively clicked the link - this was the result: To save you a click - It was a news report from a TV channel in Cleveland Ohio, showing biblical swarms of Mayflies - even picking them up on the weather radar - If you want to watch the news report, just click on the image above. This planted the seed of an idea in my mind - I then promptly forgot all about it until this time last year when I was walking the dog (in a howling gale) on the Scarborough cliffs - the seed suddenly germinated and I had a bit of a EUREKA moment. This worked great last year - so we're doing it again ... The idea, which like a mayfly, took two years to form, was ... what if we could track Mayfly hatches across the UK in (near) real-time, so all anglers knew when to expect the hatches? The Barbless Flies budget doesn't quite stretch to using our own radar equipment, so I thought - let's do it the analogue way! So, here's the idea: We will draw upon the community we have built over the last 10 years - yes, that's you - and ask you to supply us with the information, essentially, as soon as you see Mayfly hatching on your local water, get in touch to let me know where and I will then plot it on a map for all to see. I've setup a dedicated page on our website to host all the info - there's no need to bookmark the page as it will be liberally linked to throughout our website - but if you do want to bookmark it for future reference it's https://www.barbless-flies.co.uk/mayfly-tracker. Here's the current map (with no hatches plotted): And, here's what we hope the map will look like in the next week - it should make it very easy to track the progress of Mayfly hatches throughout the UK: If you wish to contribute - and we hope you will - as soon as you see a Mayfly hatch on your local water, please get in touch, by either sending me an email (richard@barbless-flies.co.uk)  or clicking the button below (which will open up an email) and let me know the hatch location, and I will then update the live map. You can also report a Mayfly Hatch through the dedicated UK Mayfly Hatch Tracker page on our website: This will hopefully help all anglers plan for one of the most anticipated hatches of the season. I hope you like this initiative and, as always, I would welcome any feedback you may have. Happy Mayfly Spotting! If you are in the market for some really successful Mayfly patterns, can I introduce you to: Our Mayfly Taster Selection 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 that in mind, we are introducing even more Mayfly imitations this year, so stay tuned to these emails over the coming weeks for quite a few new individual flies. We are starting this year's Mayfly season with our tried and tested Mayfly Taster Selection - one each of all the essential lifecycle stages of the Mayfly in one handy selection. This 'taster' selection allows you to find out which flies are working best for you, then you can order them individually. As soon as the trout switch on to Mayflies, these should be your 'go to' patterns. We are supplying the whole Mayfly lifecycle in a selection of 6 flies (6 patterns - 1 of each), see (and click on) images and links below for more details: We have already stocked up on Mayflies and these are available now, only £14 for the Mayfly Taster Selection. Mayfly Nymph A Mayfly nymph imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) and weighted with a bead to help this large fly sink. These nymphs are tied on AHREX FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly nymph.    Mayfly Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a little foam tied in at the head to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on Ahrex FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.   Mayfly Loop-Wing Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) and looped wings, to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on AHREX FW503 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.   Mayfly Dun A Mayfly Dun imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a grey poly-yarn sighter post. These Dun imitations are tied on AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.he hatching flies.   Mohican Mayfly A detached body mayfly imitation, super buoyant and tied to exacting standards. This fly has very short wings, which helps reduce leader-twist when casting. Make sure you have plenty of these, the trout love them! The most effective Mayfly imitation when spinners are on the water.   Spent Mayfly A Spent Mayfly imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) tied with outstretched poly-yarn to imitate the dying mayfly - there are the go-to flies when fishing on an evening. These Spent Mayfly imitations are tied on AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly. Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! Barry really liked his Mayflies: Have fun out there and remember to report any Mayfly sightings via our dedicated page!                          

Read more
The 2025 Mayfly Radar - Tracking The UK Mayfly Hatch

Very Very Caddisy & The Cutting EDGE of Fly Design

Here at Barbless Flies, May, June & July are by far and away our busiest months, you will often find both Jack and I burning the midnight oil at least 6 days a week: getting all of your orders out in a timely fashion, working on new fly patterns whilst also continuing to write books/articles and emails. I often find that by the end of the day, I am completely exhausted (both mentally and physically), so I don't often fish in the evenings - I prefer to sit quietly with a good fishing book and a glass of something Scottish!  During these three months, I try to plan my fishing trips accordingly, and fish very early in the morning - I have to drive alongside the river on my way into Barbless Flies HQ, so it would be rude not to stop for a cast or two (or three) while the mornings are still so light. The two pre-production versions of these fly patterns contained in this email are ones I first 'road tested' with great success exactly 1 year ago today! 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 'Match The Hatch' fly selection. This email is all about two different fly patterns, the Rolls Royce Caddis & The EDGE Emerger, both of which are spectacularly successful at this time of year. Both of the patterns are tied using the very best quality materials on AHREX hooks - the best hooks there are. Grab Yours here: At this time of the day, one of the most popular dry fly imitations I use (outside of the Mayfly hatch) is the humble Caddis/Sedge pattern - these are nocturnal insects that return to the water to lay their eggs, just as I'm arriving on the river. This email includes two different patterns which are perfect for this time of year, 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! 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, it is tied on an AHREX FW525 and available in three different sizes 14, 16 & 18. As we know this will be a very popular pattern, we have bundled it into a selection which includes three or 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 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 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 EDGE Emerger This version of a Shuttlecock emerging Olive is one of the best imitations I have tried on our local river - I think it's the added flash in the tail which sparks the fish's interest! We asked our Artisan fly tying masters to tie us a fly pattern which embodies all that we have setup with our "The Fly Fishing EDGE" learning centre - and this was the result - a fairly simple pattern at first glance, the detail is outstanding, and it works! Here it is: This emerging Olive imitation is perfectly proportioned and tied with a small thorax, bare body, two flash tails and a CdC Shuttlecock wing - you will need a little floatant on the CdC tips to keep this fly floating just in the surface. 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 EDGE Emerger Selections available, so act fast to secure yours! Our The EDGE Emerger Selection features a carefully curated assortment, three each of sizes 14, 16 & 18. In total, you'll receive nine expertly crafted flies, all for just £15.00, 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 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! Tight lines & have a great weekend.              

Read more
Very Very Caddisy & The Cutting EDGE of Fly Design

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

A Taster for Mayflies? I saw my first Mayfly over the weekend, but it wasn't on the river - it was in the car park at Barbless Flies HQ! It's fairly common to see the odd lone Mayfly braving the easterly winds we usually have here, but nothing which will stir too much interest from the fish - I'm hoping the nice weather which is forecast for the coming weekend will really spur them on - but up here in North Yorkshire, we don't generally get to cast a Mayfly imitation in anger until the last week of May. However, things seem to be happening a little earlier this year - so, you never know! I always get really excited when I see a big yellow DHL van pull up outside the office, as this can only mean one thing ...  As of last Thursday, we've now received all of our NEW Artisan Mayfly patterns I thought it was a good idea to give you the chance to try a "taster selection" of our stunning new Individual Mayflies, so you can see which ones work best on your local waters. Think of them as an 'amuse-bouche' of the fly fishing world, giving you a few of our wide range of mayflies, and allowing you to see which ones work best on your waters. It will not be long now until the trout start to realise exactly what they are missing out on and start to 'look up' in earnest. We are starting the 2025 Mayfly season with a taster selection of our Artisan Mayflies. In total there are 6 patterns (covering each of the Mayfly lifecycle - from nymph to spent), supplied in our eco-friendly packaging, for only £14.00 (which includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK) - that's a 17.6% discount on buying them individually, just click on any image or button below for a closer look. Towards the end of this email, we also have a very special set of Mayflies - we're calling it our Luxury Artisan Mayfly Selection which is stuffed full of our Artisan Mayflies and supplied in one of Jeff Jones' Oak fly boxes - hand-made in Wales. The quality of these mayflies has to be seen to be believed, they are all tied on AHREX hooks - the best in the business - we're sure you cannot find better quality anywhere else! We are supplying this Taster Selection of Mayflies as a selection of 6 flies, each one a different stage of the Mayflies lifecycle. We usually run out of Mayflies, but this year will be different, we are determined to have them available to you for the full Mayfly season - they are all in stock and our shelves are groaning under their weight, we literally have tens of thousands of them - so fill your boots! Why not grab a Taster Selection today, see which ones work on your water, then top-up your box throughout the season - at only £14.00 for the Full Artisan Mayfly Taster Selection, they are a bargain! Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! So, What's Included In The Taster Selection? One each of These Bad Boys: Mayfly Nymph A Mayfly nymph imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) and weighted with a bead to help this large fly sink. These nymphs are tied on Size 10 AHREX FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly nymph.   Mayfly Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a little foam tied in at the head to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on Size 10 AHREX FW531 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.!   Loop-Wing Emerger A Mayfly emerger imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a little CdC loop tied in at the head, to allow the fly to sit correctly on the water. These emergers are tied on Size 10 AHREX FW503 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.   Mayfly Dun A Mayfly Dun imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) with a grey poly-yarn sighter post. These Dun imitations are tied on Size 14 AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.   Mohican Mayfly A detached body mayfly imitation, super buoyant and tied to exacting standards. This fly has very short wings, this helps reduce leader-twist when casting. These Mohican Mayfly imitations are tied on Size 12 AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.   Spent Mayfly A Spent Mayfly imitation in White/Cream & Brown (the natural colours) tied with outstretched poly-yarn to imitate the dying mayfly - there are the go-to flies when fishing on an evening. These Spent Mayfly imitations are tied on Size 14 AHREX FW525 barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly.   We are supplying this Taster Selection of Mayflies as a selection of 6 flies (imitating each of the Mayfly lifecycle stages). We have already stocked up on these Mayflies and they're available now, at only £14.00 for the Mayfly Taster Selection - which includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK. Go on, you know you want to! Fancy A Little Luxury? Why not treat yourself, or a good fishing friend, to a Luxury Artisan Mayfly Selection. A really nice hand-made (by Jeff, in Wales) Oak fly box, stuffed full of Mayflies: Our Luxury Artisan Mayfly Selection is a selection of flies to imitate the full lifecycle of the Mayfly (nymph, emerger, crippled, dun & spent). We are supplying this full selection, giving you three each of our wide range of Artisan mayflies, allowing you to see which works best on your waters. In total, there are 18 Mayflies supplied in one of Jeff Jones' Hand-Made (in Wales) Oak Fly Boxes. All of these flies are tied using strong AHREX (FW503, FW525 & FW531) barbless hooks, in the appropriate size for the insect stage (sizes 10 & 14) using the best quality materials available on the market. We are supplying this Luxury Selection of Artisan Mayflies as a selection of 18 flies (three of each of the Mayfly lifecycle stages). We have already stocked up on these Mayflies and they're available now, at only £75.00 for the Luxury Selection - which includes FREE delivery. TOP TIP: Reducing Leader Twist - when fishing with flies which have large wings - like Mayflies, this will induce twist in your leader (there's nothing you can really do to stop it). The majority of Mayfly patterns (especially the spent ones) have wings which act just like helicopter rotor blades and spin when you cast them. The best way to combat this is to: Reduce the length of your leader Increase the diameter of your leader Try shortening the overall length of your tapered leader to around 6ft and step up your tippet diameter - use 3X or 4X. Once the fish really switch on to the Mayfly they become indifferent to your tippet, so step it up where you can. Generally, once the fish are confidently taking mayflies they will not be shy of leaders, try dropping your leader length right down and using a thicker diameter. Try removing your tapered leader altogether and just using 4ft to 6ft of 5X tippet direct to your fly line with some of the larger flies - like the Mohican Mayfly.   Have fun out there - it's about to get really good! P.S. If you would like to buy any Mayflies individually - from only £1.75 each - you can find them all by clicking the button below:  

Read more
A Mayfly Amuse-Bouche - Just a Taster of Our NEW Mayflies Patterns

A Stunning Emerging Buzzer Selection - For all you Stillwater Addicts

Last weekend I saw the first signs that Spring is really with us as my wife and I took our dog (Ronnie) for a walk around a local stillwater. The sun was just at its peak, and towards the back of the lake - sheltered from the light breeze - there were clouds of buzzers, all hatching in the dappled sunlight. As the buzzers are just starting to get going and the fish are activley looking to hoover the emergning insects up, we've a specialist pattern for all you Stillwater addicts today, we've just received these stunning buzzers into Barbless Flies HQ this week (we've been waiting to see these in real life - they really are stunning!) - ones you may not have seen anywhere else (especially in barbless form) - Emerging Buzzers. Read on McDuff for more info, images of the selections, and some background info on buzzers and how to get the best out of them when fishing this 'emerging' style of pattern ... We only have a very limited supply of these emerging Buzzers (and once they are gone there will be no more until next year), so if you would like some, you will need to be quick!! This style of midge/buzzer imitation is another that is not made available very often, it is an imitation of the adult midge as it ascends the water column. These are really successful in the shiny colours and are best fished just under the surface, either as a part of a team or suspended under one of our Dinkhamers (see the end of this email). 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 Just to whet your appetite, here's a look at them - they are all perfectly proportioned and fantastic representations of the real emerging insect: This selection of Emerging Buzzers (one of our most popular Stillwater fly selections), has been put together by popular demand. The selection contains two each of all our Barbless Emerging Buzzers (click on any image or button to get a closer view of the flies): Black Emerging Adult Buzzer Claret Emerging Adult Buzzer Copper Emerging Adult Buzzer Olive Emerging Adult Buzzer Orange Emerging Adult Buzzer This is the perfect selection of flies for fishing any buzzer hatch - especially in May or June, just keep them in (or near) the surface film and let the wind do the rest! This selection contains 10 Barbless Emerging Buzzers (all in a size 12), supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Available now for only £18 - which includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK - you will need to be quick though, as we only have a few selections available. Go on, you know you want to! A 'Washing Line' With A Dinkhamer Twist ... We've called these flies 'Dinkhamers' as they are klinkhamer style flies tied with tippet rings in their tails - specifically for use with the Klink n Dink method of suspending a nymph/buzzer underneath. They can also be used as a part of a 'Washing Line Rig' when used on a stillwater: To keep these flies floating, all you need to do is run a small amount of floatant through the hackle and post - you will be amazed at how many fish take the Dinkhamer! Our Dinkhamers are available individually in a choice of sizes (size 14 for suspending smaller nymphs/buzzers; and size 12 for use in the larger rigs) or these flies are also available in various selections. Individual Dinkhamers - from only £1.65; and Dinkhamer Selections - from only £18.00 All our flies are shipped in our eco-friendly packaging and delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK. 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. 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. 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

Read more
A Stunning Emerging Buzzer Selection - For all you Stillwater Addicts

The Danica Dance - Part 1

Ready ... Set ... Go ...Mayfly Anyone? I've started to hear of the odd Mayfly coming off the rivers of the South and South-West - I also saw a single on up here in North Yorkshire on Saturday when I was on the water - so thought it was about time that I started to turn your attention to the larger flies in our boxes - The Mayflies. 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! I recently wrote a little piece about the Mayfly season over on our The EDGE Learning Centre (only £7.50 per month if you would like to subscribe, there are also some freebie articles available) here's an excerpt: "Beyond the natural phenomenon, this period has also evolved into something approaching religious observance within the fly fishing community. Anglers book their holiday time months in advance. Fishing clubs hold special events. Time-honoured traditions are maintained and passed to new generations. What makes this period so culturally significant is how it connects modern anglers to centuries of tradition. When you cast a Mayfly pattern during Duffers Fortnight, you’re participating in a ritual that generations before you have experienced in nearly identical fashion. The same excitement, the same rises, the same satisfaction when a brown trout breaks the surface to take your fly – these experiences create a thread through time connecting today’s anglers with those who fished these same waters centuries ago." We are starting this year's Mayfly season with our tried and tested Mayfly Lifecycle Selection which we've slightly tweaked / updated for 2025 - it includes all the essential lifecycle stages of the Mayfly in one handy selection. As soon as the trout switch on to Mayflies in the early parts of the season, these are the flies you should be reaching for. As a quick reminder, the Mayfly (or Ephemera danica to give it its scientific name) has a very specific lifecycle which all fly anglers need to know (please also see the end of this email for more details on each of the Mayflies lifecycle stages and how to fish them):   The Mayfly Selection was one of the very first selections of flies which we produced - all the way back in 2014. Dave Wiltshire kindly reviewed our Mayfly Selection quite a few years ago and it is still exactly the same now (with only a few minor tweaks for 2025) - 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 We are supplying the whole Mayfly lifecycle (Nymph, Emerger, Dun & Spinner) in a selection of 16 flies (4 stages - 2 of each in sizes 10 & 12), see (and click on) images and links below for more details. We have already stocked up on these Mayflies and they're available now, only £24 (including FREE delivery within the UK) for the full Mayfly Lifecycle Selection. Get them while you can, as we did run out last year! The Mayfly Lifecycle Selection The Mayfly Nymph A Mayfly nymph imitation in dark olive and weighted with a bead to help this large fly sink. These nymphs are tied on long-shank barbless hooks and correspond to the actual size of a Mayfly nymph.   The CdC Mayfly Emerger This fly sits in the surface film of the water and immitates 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.   The 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!   The 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.   Here's a review we received from Kevin of our Mayfly Selection: Tight lines and make sure you're ready for the Mayfly bonanza.  

Read more
The Danica Dance - Part 1

Wolfram - The Fly Anglers Springtime Friend

Wolfram (aka Tungsten) With the river season now in full swing. I thought it would be a good idea to look forward to targeting trout in the tricky conditions which are prevalent during late April and Early May - specifically 'pre-Mayfly' trout when the water is usually still cold. Targeting trout in these conditions usually means 2 things: You will be using nymphs; and They will need to be small(ish); and Need to be presented somewhere near the bottom That usually means nymphs equipped with some form of bead - usually Tungsten. Tungsten is most commonly found in lightbulb filaments, but us fly anglers have used one of its properties to our advantage - tungsten is a very dense mineral and when powdered and formed into beads (usually by metal injection moulding) they can weigh up to four times that of the same sized brass bead. 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 Spring Tungsten Nymph Selections. This email is all about Tungsten and how it has transformed the 'nymphing' game - especially when the fish are not looking up. We've revamped our most successful Tungsten Nymphs and have just received them at Barbless Flies HQ, ready for a swin on a water near you: *** Grab yours today, these are the most popular flies we have ever sold - and they never hang around for long! *** Before I get onto the nymphs themselves - and which ones to use - I want to take you back to school for a History & Chemistry lesson ... When you look up the element Tungsten in the periodic table, you will see it has the symbol 'W'. This is due to the element historically being known by two different names - Wolfram & Tungsten, officially the name Wolfram was dropped in 2005. The name 'Wolfram' comes from a different mineral, wolframite, which also has a high content of the element we now call tungsten. Wolfram is believed to be derived from the German for 'wolf's foam'. Many centuries ago mid-European tin smelters observed that when a certain mineral was present in the tin ore, their yield of tin was much reduced. They called this mineral 'wolf's foam' because, they said, it devoured the tin much like a wolf would devour a sheep! Whereas, the word Tungsten is derived from the old Swedish name for 'heavy stone', a name given to a known tungsten-containing mineral. Tungsten is the name which has now stuck - I'm not too worried about what it's called, all I know is that fishing in Spring would be much more difficult without it! As well as its obvious weight advantage, the real properties which make tungsten ideal for nymphs are: Its Compact Size: Tungsten beads are small and can be used to add weight without significantly increasing the overall size of the fly. This is particularly important in smaller nymphs, where imitating natural insect sizes is crucial for success. Its Versatility: Tungsten beads are available in various sizes, shapes, and colours, providing fly tyers with a wide range of options to create different nymph patterns. This versatility allows us to match the specific characteristics of the insects we are trying to imitate. Improved Sensitivity: The density of tungsten allows for better sensitivity when fishing nymphs and other subsurface patterns. We can more easily detect subtle takes or changes in the behaviour of the nymph, leading to increased hook-up rates. Their Consistency: Tungsten beads are known for their consistency in size and weight, providing a reliable option for fly tyers. This consistency helps maintain the balance and performance of the nymph in the water. Generally, when targeting trout in the earlier parts of the river season, keep in mind the following: The faster and deeper the river, the heavier the nymph Target the area behind any type of structure in the water (think boulders, bridge supports & weed beds) Where allowed, it’s better to fish a team of flies (spiders) in the early season, with the heaviest fly on the point. I've put the first point above in bold, as it's the most important part. So, which nymph patterns should be your first choice? Our most successful Tungsten Nymphs ever! We've just received a delivery of our most popular (and successful) tungsten nymphs, updated for 2025 with new materials,  in all sizes - ideal for any 'pre-Mayfly' conditions you will face. The selections below all contain patterns from our most popular tungsten nymph selection, in sizes ranging from 10 (Jumbo) to 18 (Micro) - click on any image or button below to see the full details of the nymph patterns included: These are the first nymphs I use in the earlier parts of the season. Each of the above Tungsten Nymph Selections contain the following patterns in various sizes: Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph Copper Pheasant Tail Mary  Olive Quill Nymph Orange-Head Pheasant Tail Mary Hare's Ear Nymph  The various configurations in each selection are: Jumbo Tungsten Nymph Selection - contains 20 nymphs - 2 of each of the above 5 patterns in sizes 10 & 12, for each of the five patterns below for only £24 - that's a 22% discount on buying the nymphs individually!. Tungsten Nymph Selection - contains 20 nymphs - 2 of each of the above 5 patterns in sizes 14 & 16, for each of the five patterns below for only £24 - that's a 22% discount on buying the nymphs individually!. Micro Tungsten Nymph Selection - contains 15 nymphs - 3 of each of the above 5 patterns in size 18 for only £18 - that's a 22% discount on buying the nymphs individually!. The Ultimate Tungsten Nymph Selection - contains 50 nymphs - 2 of each of the above 5 patterns in sizes 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 for only £59.50 - that's a 25% discount on buying the nymphs individually!. Click any image or button in this email to go directly to the nymphs. *** Stock up on these while you can, they always sell out fast! *** Go on ... fill your boots - and your 'pre-Mayfly' boxes - we've only limited quantities of these so grab yours whilst you still can! Tight lines

Read more
Wolfram - The Fly Anglers Springtime Friend

The Leisenring & Hindy Effect - The Ascending Flymph

It's A Flymph ... We've something a little different for you this week, which is equally at home in both rivers and stillwaters - it's a Flymph. Please Note: Flymphs are designed for both Rivers & Stillwaters - there's a section at the very end of this email detailing all you need to know about "Fishing a Flymph" and we've also included a section on a nymph which is really doing the business at the minute on rivers - The Spring Jig. I came across the term 'flymph' when doing a bit of research on a pattern we have planned for Autumn this year, and then a couple of days later it cropped up again on a Facebook post by a friend - ii'm sure it's secretly listening to me - who had tied some up and was having great success with them on both rivers and in stillwaters. So I contacted him to get the low-down on the pattern and what it is about them that makes them so successful. If, like me, you'd never heard of such a fly before then Read on McDuff ... I purchased a copy of the definitive text on the Flymph (The Art of Tying The Wet Fly and Fishing The Flymph;  by J.E. Leisenring & V.S. Hidy, 1971). Within the book a Flymph is defined as: "A wingless artificial fly with a soft, translucent body of fur or wool which blends with the under-colour of the tying silk when wet, utilising soft hackle fibres easily activated by the currents to give the effect of an insect alive in the water, and strategically cast diagonally upstream or across for the trout to take just below or within a few inches of the surface film."  So essentially a flymph is a spider / soft-hackled wet fly that is fished just under the surface - similar to what we know today as an emerger pattern (or a Cruncher in stillwater circles). As these are a pretty new to us pattern to us, I thought we would dip our toes in the water with the most popular design and get our Artisan fly tying masters to show us their interpretation. Here is the final product - we've called it the Hare's Ear Flymph: It seems that the way these nymphs are tied (and fished) is the key to their success. They are tied with quite thick bodies wrapped in flat tinsel and soft hackles (very different to traditional spider patterns). They are then cast 'up and across' when on rivers (or around weed beds and any moving water on stillwaters), and allowed to sink a little. With their bodies being tied quite straggly (to trap air) it can be difficult to sink them at first - that's where that bottle of Xink that you've never used before comes in handy! By keeping in touch with the fly as it moves in the water column, you can detect takes immediately. You can also impart action on the flymph by slowly raising and lowering your rod tip whilst the flymph is in the water - similar to an 'induced take'. The flymph was created by James E. Leisenring and Pete Hidy in the 1930s and 1940s. Leisenring was a master fly tier from Pennsylvania who, along with his fishing companion Hidy, developed this style of fly to better imitate the vulnerable transition stage of aquatic insects. They observed that trout often feed most aggressively on insects during their emergence phase - when insects are rising from the streambed toward the surface but haven't yet reached it. During this phase, the insects are particularly vulnerable as they shed their nymphal shucks and transform into adults. The flymph was designed to have specific characteristics that differentiate it from standard wet flies or nymphs: Soft, mobile materials that pulse and move naturally in the water A translucent appearance that suggests the emerging insect Often tied with hackle fibers that suggest the forming wings of the adult fly Usually fished with a "swing" technique in the water column These flymphs are tied on a Size 16 AHREX FW503 - the perfect size to imitate the majority of natural emerging insects. They are now available in three forms: Individually - for £1.90; or Pack of 6 - for only £10.00; or Pack of 12 - for only £18.50   *** If these prove to be as successful as we expect, then we will have our guys tie them in lots of different pattern variations *** The Spring Jig ... From reports I'm getting back to Barbless Flies HQ, these Spring Jigs are really doing the business on the rivers at the moment - fill your boots: The Spring Jig is a generic nymph, in that it represents many olive and caddis nymphs, and is often used as a searching pattern. Its shaggy appearance resembles many species of nymphs when they shed their skins or shucks as they progress into the next stage of their life. These nymphs are tied on a Size 14 AHREX FW551 jig hook with a 2.5mm gunmetal tungsten bead. They are now available in three forms: Individually - for £1.95; or Pack of 3 - for only £5.25; or Pack of 6 - for only £9.75 *** Fill Your Boots *** Flymph fishing bridges the gap between nymph and dry fly techniques. These flies are designed to be fished in the water column — typically just below the surface — where they mimic emerging insects that are vulnerable and highly attractive to feeding trout. The soft hackles and natural materials create a lifelike presentation that can be deadly effective when fish are keyed in on emergers. Here's a quick rundown on how to get the best from them in either Rivers or Stillwaters:  Tackle and Leader Setup Rod and Line Selection: Rivers: 8.5-9ft 4 or 5 weight rod with a medium-fast action works well Stillwaters: 9-10ft 5 or 6 weight rod offers better casting distance Line: Floating line for most situations; occasionally an intermediate sinking line for deeper stillwater presentations Leader Setup: River Setup: 9 to 12ft tapered leader ending in 4X-5X tippet (5X for clearer water, 4X for slightly coloured conditions) Stillwater Setup: 12 to 15ft leader to allow the fly to sink naturally without line influence Tippet Material: Fluorocarbon for subsurface work provides less visibility and sinks better than monofilament River Techniques Upstream Cast and Swing Cast upstream at a 45-degree angle Allow the fly to sink slightly as it drifts downstream Control slack line to maintain contact with the fly As the fly passes your position, let it swing across the current The take often comes at the beginning of the swing Across and Down Cast directly across or slightly downstream Mend line as needed to control the drift Let the fly swing through the target area After the swing completes, let the fly hang for a moment before recasting Vary the retrieval speed with small strips or twitches to imitate struggling emergers Pocket Water Presentation Cast to the head of small pockets where feeding fish hold Use a shorter line for better control Allow minimal drag-free drift before the swing begins Watch for subtle takes as the fly drops into the pocket Stillwater Techniques Figure-of-8 Retrieve Cast to likely feeding areas and let the fly sink to desired depth (count down) Begin a slow figure-8 retrieve with your line hand Vary the speed to find what triggers strikes Incorporate occasional pauses to mimic struggling insects Wind Drift Method Position with the wind at your back Cast and allow the wind to naturally move your fly across the water Add minimal tension to your line to stay in contact Subtle rod tip movements can impart lifelike action to the flymph Static Presentation Cast to a suspected feeding area and let the flymph sink Keep a direct line to the fly but with minimal tension Allow natural water movements to animate the fly Watch for line movement indicating a take Particularly effective during sparse hatches or when fish are rising subtly The most important aspect of fishing a flymph is maintaining proper line control while allowing the fly to move naturally in the water. Because takes can be subtle, especially in stillwaters, staying alert and maintaining contact with your fly without creating unnatural movement is essential to success.   Tight lines & have a great weekend.

Read more
The Leisenring & Hindy Effect - The Ascending Flymph

Time Is Precious, Use It Wisely - The Evening Rise

When Reality Bites ... I vividly remember a vision I had 12 years ago ... I seemed to have found my calling - and it wasn't in the IT industry - it was spending time on the riverbank, with a fly rod in my hand. What if I could turn my passion into a business? - That way I could indulge my passion for fly fishing as and when I wanted - and call it work!   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 Evening Rise fly selection. This email is all about the Evening Rise, a time which any 'time-pressed' angler should aim to fish. In this email, we are launching our Evening Rise Selection - a selection of 12 flies, 3 of each of the most productive 'evening' patterns. All the patterns are tied using the very best quality materials on AHREX FW503 hooks - the best dry fly hooks there are.   My dream was endless days by pristine rivers, casually testing our own products while the sun dappled through the trees. I'd cast lazily from dawn to dusk, my office would be a riverbank, and my meetings would be with trout - hopefully! Fast-forward to reality: Both Jack and I are usually elbow-deep in packaging materials, squinting at website analytics, and watching the perfect fishing day dissolve into emails about hook makes and sizes. This is especially true as the season progresses and we become steadily busier. The closest I get to "casting" most days is lobbing the packing waste into the recycling bin! My drive to and from the office takes me alongside my local river - the Yorkshire Derwent - where I often catch the odd glimpse of rising fish as I am passing. Last year I found that the best way to indulge my passion - whilst also balancing a work and family life - was to grab just a few hours on the way home, usually after 6pm.  Catching that brief window when the world seems to slow down, the fish emerge, and I can remember why I started this madness in the first place - don't get me wrong, I really love what we're building here at Barbless Flies, but it's always good to reflect, and where better than on the riverbank during an evening rise. The Evening Rise The evening rise is when trout seem to lose their inhibitions and begin feeding with the enthusiasm of teenagers at a freshly stocked fridge. It's as if they've been attending underwater finishing school all day, practicing proper etiquette and selective feeding, only to throw it all away as twilight approaches. The river comes alive during these golden hours. The water's surface transforms from a peaceful mirror into what can only be described as a "fish riot" with rings appearing everywhere as the insects end their life and the fish start to break the surface. The brevity of the evening rise really concentrates the mind. There's no time for overthinking or changing flies seventeen times. It's fishing distilled to its purest form: observe - cast - connect - repeat. For the whole of last season I was experimenting with different flies on my evening sessions, I finally settled on the perfect selection - specific to the Evening Rise ... and here they are: NEW for 2025 - The "Evening Rise" Selection The Barbless Evening Rise Selection is a selection of 4 styles of commonly used flies - which seem to produce results after 6pm. It's not about perfectly imitating exactly what's on the water (as there are lots of different insects), it’s more about how the fly sits on, and in, the water - presenting the correct silhouette. For only £20.00, we are supplying 4 different styles of flies which are perfect for the 'evening rise' - In total there are 12 flies supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. These flies will work on evenings throughout the year, but work especially well both before and after the main mayfly hatch. All of the flies included within this selection are tied on the best dry fly hooks in the business - AHREX FW503 (see the individual fly descriptions below for more details). Looking back through my own River Almanac notes, by far the most successful pattern for the evenings was our size 18 Mini Sherry Spinner - It just seemed to give a great silhouette the fish just loved - especially when fished in any slack water: Our Barbless Evening Rise Selection is now available as a selection of 12 flies (3 each of 4 specialist 'evening' patterns): The Evening Banker - A midge version of this popular klinkhamer style fly - these work especially well in the evenings. These have been tied with a contrasting grey Z-Lon post, which has exceptional buoyancy and sits just right on the water. Our selection contains 3 of these, all tied on a size 18 AHREX FW503 barbless hook. The Hot-Spot Palmer - A style of pattern which comes into its own in the evening. They are tied with a palmered style body which presents the fly perfectly on the surface film, just as a spent natural would appear. This version includes a black body and chartreuse hot-spot head. Our selection contains 3 of these, all tied on a size 14 AHREX FW503 barbless hook. The Mini Sherry Spinner - Another classic spent/spinner imitation. Tied on a size 18 AHREX FW503 barbless hook with a stripped peacock herl body and Z-Lon flat/spent wings. Our selection contains 3 of these. The Bumble Palmer - This is a style of pattern which is often overlooked, they come into their own in the evening. They are tied with a palmered style body which presents the fly perfectly on the surface film. This version includes a contrasting brown and yellow body. Our selection contains 3 of these, all tied on a size 14 AHREX FW503 barbless hook. Our Evening Rise Selection contains 12 flies in total and we are making them available to you today for only £20.00 - click any button or image in this email to see the selection of flies in much 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 one you will need to be quick! *** Each of the flies included in our NEW for 2025 selection can also be bought individually for only £1.90 each, using these links: The Evening Banker The Hot-Spot Palmer The Mini Sherry Spinner The Bumble Palmer *** Go on, you know you want to! ***           This section is for all anglers whose calendar looks like a game of Tetris gone wrong, and want to get a little time away to embrace the evening rise. It's proof that in fly fishing, as in life, sometimes the most magical moments come in the smallest packages of time. Just remember to pack a torch — you may need it to get back to your car! The Evening Rise: Equipment choices simplify during the evening rise. Rather than carrying an extensive arsenal for every contingency, evening rise fishing often requires just a handful of proven patterns matching the hatches likely to occur. - our Evening Rise Selection is perfect. This streamlined approach removes decision paralysis and lets you focus on the fishing itself. A small box of appropriate flies (see above), a single rod, and minimal gear means less preparation time and more fishing time. The fish themselves often display less caution during the evening rise, making them more forgiving of imperfect presentations. This forgiveness doesn't make the fishing easy - technical challenges remain - but it does make it more accessible across skill levels. For the angler with limited practice time, this margin for error means more satisfaction within your time-constrained fishing windows. If your fishing time is precious and limited, make the evening rise your priority. Plan your fishing not by days available but by evenings possible. A strategic approach targeting these golden hours will yield more satisfaction than scattered full days when conditions might prove challenging. Even if you can only fish once or twice a month, choosing evenings strategically puts quality fishing within reach of even the busiest schedules. As darkness finally claims the river and the last rings of rising trout fade from the surface, and you make your way home, be pleased that you've participated in one of fly fishing's most hallowed rituals, connecting to waters and traditions that have remained unchanged, despite our rushed modern lives. In the evening rise, even the busiest angler finds what we all ultimately seek on the water - not just fish, but moments of perfect alignment with the natural world and ourselves. I know it sounds a little fanciful, but fishing the evening rise really is food for the soul. Easter Deliveries Please Note: As it's the Easter Bank Holiday this weekend, If you do require your flies in time for any fishing forays over the weekend, please select the 1st Class Tracked option at the checkout - it's only an extra £2.50, but you will receive your flies on time! Royal Mail will be collecting from us as normal this Thursday (17th April), we will then not have another collection from Royal Mail until Tuesday 22nd April. Tight lines & make the most of your evenings!

Read more
Time Is Precious, Use It Wisely - The Evening Rise

Want to get in touch or visit us?

Email: richard@barbless-flies.co.uk Tel: +44 0330 66 00 587

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri, 9AM to 5PM

Copyright © 2026,  Barbless Flies

Powered by a shoal of Grayling

Back to top

Registered Company Number 09938280 - VAT Registration Number 300 0092 84

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Union Pay
  • Visa