2wheels1rod

Fly fishing is food for your soul - let Luke feed it for you!

I love attending the British Fly Fair, it's always great to start the season off meeting up with old friends and acquiring new ones! For us, it all started back in January .. We were just prepping and test building our stand in the office when there was a knock at the door, it was the postman: "Is this for you?" he asked "It just says 'Barbless Flies - try Scarborough' on it". It was a 'rod-shaped' parcel and was indeed for us - it looks like the initial label had fallen off and the Post Office had made a good guess at where it should be delivered - top job Mr Postman Inside the parcel was a fly rod, from the rod-building maestro himself - Luke Bannister. This was a little different to his usual fayre though - this was a carbon 9ft 6wt, perfect as a Stillwater rod. You may remember that last year Luke introduced us to his stunning 8ft 4wt carbon river rod (see the end of this email) - which we sold out of within a couple of hours - I did keep one back for myself, which I used (with immense pleasure) regularly throughout last season. This 9ft 6wt is the latest incarnation of that rod - this time aimed at the Stillwater angler. Fast forward to Friday 7th February ... We we're setting up at the BFFI, when Luke approaches our hastily erected stand. The ensuing conversation went something like this: Luke: "Afternoon Richard, did you receive the present I sent you?" Me: "Hi Luke, I did (I then explained the missing label fiasco etc)." Luke: "It's a 6-weight I've been playing about with, what did you think to it?" Me: "I don't fish stillwaters as much now, but a good friend does. I gave him the rod to test out on a local water." Luke: "And?" Me: "He wouldn't give me it back - It was that good! Do you have any more, I'd love to show our customers it?" Luke: "That's exactly the reaction I had from a couple of guys who've used one. I do have a few which I can put your name on if you want?" Me: "Yes please!" As you may (or may not) be aware, Luke Bannister is a very well respected rod maker - he specialises in split-cane and the quality of his builds are second to none! Here's an example of Luke's previous work - one of the most expensive fly rods in the world - to save you googling, it's £14,500: When I returned to the office last week, after a couple of days laid up with the BFFI Bug - I always seem to catch a cold/flu when I get back! I called Luke to learn a little more about the new rod and the blank it is built on. It turns out that, quite by chance, he came across some really nice blanks where he'd had the chance to fine-tune the taper and then had a factory make up the rods to his exacting specifications. The specifications for his 9ft 6wt are: Action: Medium-Fast Blank: 4-Piece Hi-modulus Japanese carbon Handle: AAA grade cork Guides: PacBay Reel seat: Hardwood Up-locking Rod Tube: Cordura Segmented Rod Tube The rod taper was designed by Luke himself and the fixtures and fittings are to his own specification, with over 25 years of rod making and designing under his belt he has come up with a very versatile Stillwater rod. The butt section is powerful enough to get plenty of pressure on bigger fish, however there is some flex in the butt to help lift sunk lines as well as giving the rod plenty of that all important feel. The mid-section continues that theme up the rod to a tip that is soft enough to be forgiving on lighter tippets, but stiff enough to help generate tight enough loops that will drive into that inevitable head wind. What's not to like! All in all, I was impressed - I was even more impressed once he told me the price - only £295. I know that these will fly off his shelves - especially with Luke's seal of approval at the beginning of a fly fishing season. Luke's custom 9ft blanks are in pretty short supply and he's agreed to reserve some for us to offer our email community (i.e. you) - hence this email to you! *** I know that nobody NEEDS a new fly rod, but it's always nice to treat yourself every now and then - especially at the beginning of the season *** So here's the deal: I am placing our order with Luke at 9am on Monday morning (24th Feb), if you would like one, just order one from our site (by clicking any button or image in this email) before midnight on Sunday, or sooner as we are likely to sell all of our small allocation of both 9ft and 8ft (see below) rods. Logistics wise, once we place the order with Luke he will send the rods to us and we will then ship directly to you, so you will receive your rod in the first week of March - just in time for the season to start! Each of Luke's rods are covered by a 1-year warranty personally guaranteed by Luke himself. Should you have any warranty queries please direct those through myself in the first instance. Luke's 8ft 4wt River Rod - Offer This is an 8' #4 fly rod dedicated to the small stream/river angler. This is the very same rod which we offered at this time last year, for all of you who missed out (as we sold our small allocation within hours) we've now managed to reserve a few more for this season. You can view full details of the specification and order yours on our website here. Here's the deal: I am placing our order with Luke at 9am on Monday morning (24th Feb), if you would like one, just order one from our site (by clicking the button or image above) before midnight on Sunday, or sooner as we are likely to sell all of our small allocation of these 8ft river wonders. Logistics wise, once we place the order with Luke he will send the rods to us and we will then ship directly to you, so you will receive your rod in the first week of March - just in time for the season to start! Each of Luke's rods are covered by a 1-year warranty personally guaranteed by Luke himself. Should you have any warranty queries please direct those through myself in the first instance. I know that nobody NEEDS a new fly rod, but it's always nice to treat yourself every now and then - especially at the beginning of a new season Tight lines & remember to feed your soul every now and then. P.S. Both of the 8ft and 9ft blanks are in very short supply and we have only been allowed to reserve a very small number of each rod, if you would like one, please don't hesitate as I know they will go pretty quickly!

Our NEW Rubber Buggers Are a Game Changer!

Morning, We're going all 'Stillwater' this week - we've a really nice selection of Stillwater specific lures for you today, and a really sweet specialist Stillwater fly rod to introduce to you on Thursday - and it's a bargain at less than £300. But, for now ... You may remember a couple of weeks ago I emailed you about our Artisan Woolly Bugger Selection, I also alluded to another Stillwater-based selection we were waiting on - well, they've finally arrived. They're another twist on the ever popular Woolly Bugger - we've called them Rubber Buggers: Essentially, these are Woolly Buggers, but with added flexi-floss legs - in various colours to compliment the underlying fly. The addition of the flex-floss legs allows more water to be moved - piquing the fishes interest! 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 Artisan Rubber Bugger selection. This email is all about our twist on the ever popular Woolly Bugger, it's a specialist lure pattern which is particularly successful when fished in the early (and late) season on both Stillwaters & Rivers. In this email, we are launching our Artisan Rubber Bugger Selection - a selection of 4 patterns tied on size 10 AHREX FW581 barbless wet fly hooks - the best barbless lure hooks there are! This selection contains 12 flies in total - 3 each of the 4 different patterns - for only £20, which includes FREE delivery. *** Again, we only have 40 selections available, and they willsell out quickly *** These are all Stillwater specialist patterns (tied on the very best barbless lure hooks you can buy - the AHREX FW581) all are weighted with various coloured beads and varying materials - and they look stunning! These Rubber Buggers are an evolution of the Woolly Worm fly, a variation of the palmer-style patterns. The Palmer-Worm originated here in the UK and was imported to the USA in the early 1900s, where it was modified to include a marabou tail and weight to help it sink. Along with all our other Artisan range of flies, these Rubber Buggers are tied on the very best barbless hooks you can buy - the AHREX FW581's: AHREX FW581 Hook Specifications: Hook Length: 15.63mm Hook Gape: 6.00mm Wire Diameter: 0.75mm Finish: Black Nickel The design of our Rubber Bugger is relatively simple, consisting of a marabou tail, chenille body, a palmered hackle and flexi-floss 'legs', allowing for natural movement in the water that attracts fish. This movement, combined with the fly's silhouette, mimics a variety of aquatic prey, making it highly adaptable across different fishing environments, especially in the colder waters of February, March & April. As you will see from the patterns above (and below), these are all stunning creations. All of these flies are tied on size 10 AHREX FW581 Wet Fly hooks, topped off with a coloured tungsten beads (the 'stealth' patterns have beads the same colour as the dressing). Our Artisan Rubber Bugger Selection includes 4 different patterns, we are supplying 3 of each pattern (12 flies in total), shipped for free, all for only £20 (these patterns usually sell for £1.80 each). We only have a small quantity of these selections available (40 to be precise, with some set aside for sale individually), so you will need to be quick if you would like a set. Our Artisan Rubber Bugger Selection contains 12 flies (4 different patterns, 3 of each in a size 10). As we've only got 40 of these Artisan Rubber Bugger Selections available, we'll get straight down to the offer: A Selection of Artisan Rubber Buggers for only £20; which includes FREE Delivery to anywhere in the UK. Please Note: Each of the Rubber Buggers featured in this email (and included within the selection) are also available to buy individually for £1.80 each, in packs of 3 for £5.00, or packs of 6 for £9.00. See below for more individual pattern details and photos: Olive Hot-Head Rubber Bugger Black Hot-Head Rubber Bugger Olive Stealth Rubber Bugger Black Stealth Rubber Bugger Generally, the water levels at this time of year are starting to creep up (and flow faster), so we've also added a 3.5mm tungsten javi beads to the superb AHREX FW581 Barbless Wet Fly hook. This selection of Artisan Rubber Buggers includes 4 different patterns, 3 of each of the above. Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £20 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! FLY Series - Streamer & Lures This 4th book in the series contains a detailed analysis of how to approach fly fishing with streamers and lures in both stillwaters and rivers, targeting those bigger fish! In this book, you will discover the techniques, flies, casts, watercraft and how to approach streamer fishing in both rivers and stillwaters. Book Details: Number of Pages - 80 Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm) This book also discusses the different types of streamers and lures available on the market today, how to choose which ones and where to use them to get the most success. We've included a section on Watercraft, showing you when and where to deploy the various streamer techniques. As streamers are larger flies, we've also added a section on how to cast them - using the Double Haul. A New Luke Bannister Rod? I can't wait to share with you some info about this new peach of a Stillwater rod we've found - well, it actually found us - I'll explain in detail on Thursday! Tight lines & have a great week.

Early Season Essentials - Start curating your Early Season fly collection

Early-Season Essentials Morning, Now that the British Fly Fair is a distant (and hazy) memory - it can only mean one thing ... the new trout season is only just around the corner. It is with this in mind that today's email is one which will, hopefully, inspire you to look forward to the new season with the same anticipation as you once had (and I still have) on Christmas Eve. As always, we've a few flies for you to consider (it's what keeps us in business!), but also some really helpful tips, and a book, on how to make the most of those early season forays - which, if we're honest, don't usually live up to the expectations we place on them. Over the next few weeks, we will be bringing you some tried and tested fly selections for both rivers and stillwaters, specifically for early season trout fishing. Helping you to get a flying start by honing your early season techniques - and curating your early season fly boxes! We thought we would start off with one of the most popular selections we have available: The Early Season Selection The majority of early-season success will be fishing flies under the water, that's the reason for our selection mainly consists of spider patterns (both weighted and unweighted) - with a really nice olive imitation included for those afternoon hatches which will occur. We've also included a handy primer on Spider fishing for you to download towards the very end of this email - happy clicking! Here's a rundown of the flies included in our Early Season Selection: The JT Olive A dry fly imitation of a hatching Olive - originally tied by John Tyzack (former IFFA Rivers Champion). Tied with a mole fur body, Coq de Leon tail and a sparse CdC hackle. This fly can be used in all seasons, there's nothing better than this on a warm early season day, on its own with a tapered leader during an Olive hatch, just make sure to use some powder floatant on the CdC and it will float all day. Our selection contains two each, of sizes 14 & 16. The Endrick's Spider A version of the Endrick Spider with a tungsten bead. Teamed up with the other spider patterns in this selection will allow you to search all levels of water simultaneously, great when fishing "down and across". Our selection contains two each, of sizes 14 & 16. Snipe & Purple Spider A great sparse spider pattern for the early season. Fished on a long leader teamed up with the Waterhen Bloa & Endrick Spider, these can be deadly. Dressed in appropriate sizes and weights, the Snipe & Purple can be fished successfully throughout the season. Our selection contains two each, of sizes 14 & 16. Waterhen Bloa Generally thought to imitate the Large Dark Olive, the Waterhen Bloa is tied with yellow silk and natural mole fur and a stiff moorhen hackle. Again, teamed up with the other spiders in this selection it can be deadly. Our selection contains two each, of sizes 14 & 16. As with most of our emails, we only have a limited number of these Early Season Selections available, so if our previous offerings are anything to go by, you will need to be fairly quick off the mark! These flies are available as a selection (16 flies in total) for only £20.00 - which includes FREE delivery to anywhere within the UK. Click any button or image above to view each of these flies and the selection in much more detail. FLY: Book Series & Almanac Update The perfect accompaniment to any of your early season outings is our FLY: Series book. It's dedicated to the techniques, tips and flies you will need to consider when stepping out in March & April. You can grab you copy for only £9.99 by clicking here. The guys at the printers are hard at work - re-printing both our River and Stillwater Almanacs (along with the 2025 diary inserts) - we should have them available again by the end of next week. As soon as I receive them I will email to let you know - if you've not already bought one, they make a great addition to any fly anglers library - and easily fit in your pack, pocket or glove box. I will keep you posted ... As the majority of early season fishing will be sub-surface, one of the best techniques to cover lots of water quickly is using Spiders. Click on the image or button below to download your FREE copy of our Spider Fishing Manifesto: Tight lines.

They're Back !! The Nested 'Hot-Spot' Nymph

Morning all, We finally got back to the office late on Sunday night - after a fantastic weekend at the BFFI with our Feathersmith Kits - thank you to everyone who stopped by and said hello. It's always great to meet our customers face-to-face - one of the worst thing about running an online company is that you never get to actually meet 99% of your customers - you only know their names - which is why attending these events is such a great pleasure. Here's one of the 'fly fairies' (Jack), looking suitable tired on Sunday morning! In our office's 'safe storage locker' was a delivery which arrived on Friday - one we've been eagerly expecting for a while. It contained lots of our early-season trout goodies - which we've lined up to be photographed, but also included, within the depths. were just a few of a really popular nymph - one which you've been emailing me about since we sold out (within 1 hour) late last year, it's the: Nested 'Hot-Spot' Nymph Selections & Endrick's Spider Selections Both of these selections are perfect for targeting late-season Grayling and early-season Trout (for those of you who like to plan ahead, as it's only a few weeks away now). Let's start with the Nested 'Hot-Spot' Nymphs ... As I mentioned above, we originally launched these Nested 'Hot-Spot' Nymphs late last year and they sold out within 1 hour! So it was only right that we asked our tyers to squeeze a few more for us, and here' they are. Please Note: Those of you who asked to be notified on their return, should have already received emails allowing you to grab yours. I believe these nymphs are some of the most innovative on the market today - I've never seen any others tied with a similar bead configuration - and they catch fish! It all started in October 2023, when one of our most innovative tyers contacted me to say he'd been playing around with a few ideas and wanted to run something past me ... We all know that when fishing heavier nymphs you want to get the fly to the river bed quickly, especially true when you are targeting Grayling, but adding more weight generally means you need a bigger hook - when the nymphs we are trying to imitate are quite small, this is difficult. He had the idea of nesting one bead inside another - you first add a small bead (in our case we've used a 2.0mm Orange tungsten one), then you slide on a larger tungsten bead backwards (in these nymphs we've used a 3.2mm silver one) - this allows the smaller tungsten bead to sit half inside the recess of the larger one - clever eh! Here are a few close-ups to give you an idea: I loved this idea and earlier last year I tied a few up for myself and headed out to the water. Now our part of the Yorkshire Derwent is not really known for its Grayling fishing, so I wasn't expecting great things - but on the 2nd lob (I was Euro Nymphing) I had a small Grayling - result! I carried on fishing for the next hour - it was freezing cold - and I had a further 3 fish - all a similar size. For our river, that's a good return of Grayling! I also sent a few to a friend who regularly fishes on a stillwater, for him to test out ... he had similar success fishing these on the drift under an indicator. So they work well on both Rivers and Stillwaters - that's a bonus! With the result fed back to our tyers, we decided to go for them in four different body colours - Hares Ear, Black, Olive & Peacock - the regular colours and styles that take the majority of fish anywhere in the world. We've now got them back in stock again, but unfortunately we only have 20 selections to go around (and a few available to buy individually) - so you will need to be pretty quick off the mark! To say that our tyers have done us proud is an understatement - considering they are pretty fiddly to tie these are exceptional. You can see from the images contained in this email that the bodies are all the correct proportions, and the Hares Ear one is a little scruffy - just how the fish seem to like them. Here we present our Nested Tungsten 'Hot-Spot' Nymphs, the selection contains four different patterns: Hares Ear Black Olive Peacock We are making these available to you only as a selection. The selection contains 3 (three) of each pattern - in total, there are 12 Nested 'Hot-Spot' Nymphs in the selection - all tied on size 14 barbless hooks with 3.2mm and 2.0mm tungsten bead heads. The Nested Tungsten 'Hot-Spot' Nymph Selection is now available again for only £22.00, supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. *** We only have a small number of these available (20 to be exact), so you will need to be quick I've already got mine safely stashed away in my fly box, otherwise, we would have had more!*** The Endrick's Spider - The Early Season Trout Special! This fly pattern was originally devised by John Harwood, and used extensively in the larger sizes on the river Endrick (hence the name) to tempt Salmon and Sea Trout. Most anglers now recognise this pattern in the smaller trout sizes, it is a fantastic pattern to use in the very early trout season (March & April), either as a part of a team (used as the point fly on a Spider rig) or as a single nymph to explore pocket water. It's just so life-like, and really comes into its own when fished in faster water. Here we present our Endrick Spider Selection, the selection contains three each of sizes 12, 14, 16 & 18 - all tied on strong barbless hooks. As we're pretty anal about our nymphs, we've even weighed them: The Endrick Spider in a size 12 weighs 0.15g The Endrick Spider in a size 14 weighs 0.11g The Endrick Spider in a size 16 weighs 0.09g This Endrick Spider in a size 18 weighs 0.07g That's a total of 12 Endrick Spider's at a heavily discounted price of only £15.00 (bought individually these would be £18.00), supplied in our eco-friendly packaging and includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK. Get out there, keep warm, lob around some nymphs around and have fun!

It's Those (Woolly) Buggers - They Work Best!

Morning, Firstly, a quick apology - this email was supposed to go out to you yesterday - sorry it's late - I got too caught up in our prep for the BFFI this coming weekend. I will now slip our next email to Friday - which will have a very special offer in it for all those of you who cannot make the British Fly Fair (BFFI) in Stafford this year. Also, thank you to everyone who completed our customer survey this year, your replies were very enlightening (and entertaining). I will share the findings with you next weekend - once I've managed to collate everything and made sense of it! 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 Artisan Woolly Bugger selection. This email is all about our twist on the ever popular Woolly Bugger, it's a specialist lure pattern which is particularly successful when fished in the early (and late) season on both Stillwaters & Rivers. In this email, we are launching our Artisan Woolly Bugger Selection - a selection of 4 patterns tied on size 10 AHREX FW581 barbless wet fly hooks - the best barbless lure hooks there are! This selection contains 12 flies in total - 3 each of the 4 different patterns - for only £20, which includes FREE delivery. *** We only have 40 selections available, and they willsell out within hours *** I've taken immediate notice of one main theme from your survey responses, which was: "You are too river focussed, please do more Stillwater flies" So I'm going to rectify that immediately today, with ... our version of: It all started with ... a trip to Calgary (Canada) to see my son a few years ago. I visited a few fly shops, as you do, and the fly everyone was raving about was a pattern called The Bow River Bugger - similar to a Woolly Bugger, but much bigger (about 6-inches long) and much heavier. We originally took this pattern, shrunk it down, and produced a 'pattern-specific' fly tying kit for the Tungsten Woolly Bugger for our sister company (Feathersmith - you can see the kit here) - see below. This kit proved so popular that we've had to restock it 3 times since it was launched in October last year! The one comment we've continually received since launching our Woolly Bugger kit is - "I don't have the time to tie my own, I just want to buy them pre-tied on AHREX hooks to your usual quality" So, we've done just that - and we've just made the first batch of our new Artisan Woolly Buggers available to buy online now. These are all Stillwater specialist patterns (tied on the very best barbless lure hooks you can buy - the AHREX FW581) all are weighted with various coloured beads and varying materials - and they look stunning! The Woolly Bugger is an evolution of the Woolly Worm fly, a variation of the palmer-style patterns. The Palmer-Worm originated here in the UK and was imported to the USA in the early 1900s, where it was modified to include a marabou tail and weight to help it sink. The Woolly Bugger as we now know it is believed to have been created by Pennsylvania fly tier Russell Blessing in 1967 - then, named by his 7-year old daughter, Julie. Along with all our other Artisan range of flies, these Woolly Buggers are tied on the very best barbless hooks you can buy - the AHREX FW581's: AHREX FW581 Hook Specifications: Hook Length: 15.63mm Hook Gape: 6.00mm Wire Diameter: 0.75mm Finish: Black Nickel The design of the Woolly Bugger is relatively simple, usually consisting of a marabou tail, chenille body, and a palmered hackle, allowing for natural movement in the water that attracts fish. This movement, combined with the fly's silhouette, mimics a variety of aquatic prey, making it highly adaptable across different fishing environments. As you will see from the patterns above (and below), these are all stunning creations. All of these flies are tied on size 10 AHREX FW581 Wet Fly hooks, topped off with a coloured tungsten beads (the 'stealth' patterns have beads the same colour as the dressing). Our Artisan Woolly Bugger Selection includes 4 different patterns, we are supplying 3 of each pattern (12 in total), shipped for free, all for only £20 (these patterns usually sell for £1.80 each). We only have a small quantity of these selections available (40 to be precise, with some set aside for sale individually), so you will need to be quick if you would like a set. Our Artisan Woolly Bugger Selection contains 12 flies (4 different patterns, 3 of each in a size 10). As we've only got 40 of these Artisan Woolly Bugger Selections available, we'll get straight down to the offer: A Selection of Artisan Woolly Buggers for only £20; which includes FREE Delivery to anywhere in the UK. Please Note: Each of the Woolly Buggers included within this selection are also available to buy individually for £1.80 each, or in packs of 3 for £5.00, or packs of 6 for £9.00. See below for more individual pattern details and photos: Olive Hot-Head Woolly Bugger Black Hot-Head Woolly Bugger Olive Stealth Woolly Bugger Black Stealth Woolly Bugger Generally, the water levels at this time of year are starting to creep up (and flow faster), so we've also added a 3.5mm tungsten javi beads to the superb AHREX FW581 Barbless Wet Fly hook. This selection of Artisan Woolly Buggers includes 4 different patterns, 3 of each of the above. Please Remember: We've only 40 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - Our Artisan flies usually always sell out within a few hours of being released! Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £20 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! FLY Series - Streamer & Lures This 4th book in the series contains a detailed analysis of how to approach fly fishing with streamers and lures in both stillwaters and rivers, targeting those bigger fish! In this book, you will discover the techniques, flies, casts, watercraft and how to approach streamer fishing in both rivers and stillwaters. Book Details: Number of Pages - 80 Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm) This book also discusses the different types of streamers and lures available on the market today, how to choose which ones and where to use them to get the most success. We've included a section on Watercraft, showing you when and where to deploy the various streamer techniques. As streamers are larger flies, we've also added a section on how to cast them - using the Double Haul. The Woolly Buggers' versatility and effectiveness have made it a favourite among fly fishers targeting trout. Its adaptability has also led to countless variations in colour, size, and materials. Over time, it has become a staple in all anglers’ fly boxes around the world and remains one of the most dependable flies in fly fishing. To fish the Woolly Bugger effectively, start by choosing an appropriate colour — black and olive are the most popular choices, though colours like white and chartreuse can also be effective depending on water clarity and season. Use a sink-tip line or added split-shot to help the fly reach deeper water where fish are often holding. Allow the fly to sink and drift naturally. The Woolly Bugger can be stripped back in various ways; experiment with short, quick pulls to mimic an injured fish or slower, longer pulls to imitate small fish. Pay close attention to strikes — they can be very subtle. A slow, steady retrieve often entices fish that are more lethargic, while an erratic, faster retrieve can trigger aggressive strikes, particularly in warmer conditions. Adjust your technique based on fish behaviour, and don't hesitate to change up retrieves to find what works best for the day. The Woolly Bugger’s adaptability makes it a favourite for anglers everywhere. I've included a link to our Lure & Streamer Manifesto for you to download below. This manifesto is packed full of tips and tricks to help you get the best when fishing lures and streamers like the Woolly Bugger: Tight lines & have a great day.

Successful Grayling Techniques - Go Small, or Go Home

Morning, I had a bit of a 'light-bulb' moment over the weekend ... it was sparked by the Javi Nymph Selection which I emailed about last Tuesday. Here in our little corner of North Yorkshire, we just caught the edge of Storm Éowyn on Friday - it was pretty windy, but thankfully we had very little rain, so my local rivers held up pretty well. So, on Saturday I thought I would blow off the cobwebs and venture to a local Grayling haunt which had proved successful for myself (and friend Andy) last month. 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 a few different techniques used to fish a small nymph at depth - which is especially useful when targeting Grayling. We are launching our Light(ish) Grayling Nymph Selection - a selection of 16 small nymphs which the Grayling seem to love and are perfect when used with the techniques below. We've only 20 sets available - so grab yours now, and read my musings later! I didn't want to be out for too long - as it was freezing! So I thought, just a few hours over midday would be perfect. On my previous trips, the pattern of choice (and the only ones the Grayling would look at) were our Pixie Nymphs, so I tied a gunmetal-beaded size 12 to the point and a white-beaded size 14 on a dropper and set about scaring the fish in the known 'hot-spots'! Safe to say, I must have really scared them, as I didn't even get a touch in the first hour, which was very unusual - so, I retired hurt to the car and pondered the situation over a Glaves' Pork Pie and a hot flask of coffee. I checked my leader configuration. It was something like this: The river in question, which I'm not going to divulge, is quite a small beck. It's not stocked and insect life is pretty sparse - even during the Spring & Summer - so the fish are all pretty small. As with all fish, 99% of their diet is provided sub-surface, and with this beck not supporting a vast array of insect-life, their diet consists of lots of small nymphs & grubs. I eventually came to the conclusion that I needed to get a small (size 16 or 18) nymph to the bottom (the feeding zone) - quickly (as the water did have a fair amount of flow to it). I decided to take note of a trick I learnt years ago - to switch the patterns around on my leader - i.e. put the heavy Javi nymph on a very short dropper and a light (very small) nymph on the point: Having my leader setup this way allowed me to get a very small nymph (a size 18 Duracell Jig in this case - see full pattern details at the very end of this email) down to the feeding-zone really quickly - it also has the added advantage of taking the odd fish on the heavy 'dropper' nymph - with both flies in the feeding-zone at the same time. I re-rigged and set off for those same 'hot-spots' and to my joy I returned to the car about an hour later having notched up 5 Grayling - result. This got me thinking, there are small patterns which most angler overlook, especially at this time of year when the conventional wisdom is to 'go heavy or go home'. So - I've put together a set of small flies which are perfect for Grayling (and early-season Trout) when fished in the same way as above. I've called it the Light(ish) Grayling Nymph Selection and we're making it available to you today for only £22 (including FREE delivery): Our Light(ish) Grayling Nymph Selection includes 16 different patterns: Duracell Jig - 2 each of sizes 16 & 18 Olive Copper John - 2 each of size 18 Regular Copper John - 2 each of size 18 Ginger Tom Jig - 2 each of size 18 Olive Quill Nymph - 2 each of size 16; and Utah Killer Bug - 2 each of size 16 & 18 A total of 16 small 'Grayling specific' nymphs, shipped for free, all for only £22. We only have a small quantity of these selections available (20 to be precise, with some set aside for sale individually), so you will need to be quick if you would like a set. Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £22 for this selection, it will not hang around for long! These nymphs are an ideal compliment to the Javi nymphs we emailed about last week: The Duracell Jig Without doubt, the star of the show - as far as my Grayling fishing this season is concerned - has been the Duracell Jig: Artisan Duracell CdC Tungsten Jig £1.95 These are very high-quality flies tied on high-quality barbless VMC hooks and are available individually in sizes 12, 14, 16 & 18. The Duracell Jig fly was created by Craig McDonald, a highly regarded member of the competitive fly fishing scene. It was originally designed for Euro nymphing and, for me, has been a game-changer this season. I believe, due to its ability to sink quickly and maintain a really lifelike movement (with its sparse CdC) in the water. The name 'Duracell' comes from the fly’s signature Hareline Ice UV Dubbing body, which has purple highlights reminiscent of the colour of a Duracell battery. This pattern has gained widespread popularity in the competitive fly fishing scene and among us mere mortals because it performs exceptionally well in a variety of water conditions. From shallow riffles to deep pools, it's a versatile pattern that consistently produces results. Tight lines & have a great week.

'Big Boy' Javi Nymphs - Perfect for Winter Grayling

Now that Winter is finally with us and the frosts are starting to become more regular, the Grayling will have started to shoal up in the deeper pockets. No, that's not one of our Yorkshire rivers (I wish they were that clear) - it's actually one in Slovenia (where these Javi nymphs are really successful). With the rivers generally a little higher than normal and the flow often stronger, you're going to need something a bit heavier if you want to target the Grayling (or early-season Trout) in these conditions. Rivers are usually at this level all the way through to the first few weeks of the Trout season. 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 Javi nymph selection. This email is all about the Javi-beaded nymph, a specialist pattern (direct from Eastern Europe) which is particularly successful when fished in Winter and in the early parts of the trout season. In this email, we are launching our Artisan Javi Nymph Selection - a selection of 4 patterns tied on size 14 VMC 7077 barbless jig hooks - the best barbless jig hooks there are! This selection contains 8 flies in total - 2 each of the 4 different patterns. *** We only have 40 selections available, and they will sell out within hours *** We also have a Special Offer - for each of the first 20 orders for our Artisan Javi Nymph Selections I will also include a hand-tied (by me) in-line indicator leader - all this for only £20 (including FREE delivery)! I'd like to introduce you to this Javi Selection from our 'Artisan' fly tyers, these Grayling (and early-season Trout) nymphs are absolutely deadly on my local rivers - so I thought it was about time to let the secret out of the bag - read to the very end of this email to find out how best to fish them. This selection is so named because of the distinctive teardrop tungsten bead used in the tyings (a Javi bead), just like these from Hends: Javi beads are tapered tungsten beads and solve the problem of making a smooth body-to-head transition behind the bead. Using this type of bead creates a more naturally shaped fly and also positions weight along the whole length of the fly. Couple this with a wide-gape jig hook, and these flies are deadly in deeper, faster flowing rivers, try them on yours! As you will see from the patterns below, these are all stunning creations. All of these flies are tied on VMC 7077 Jig Hooks in a size 14, topped off with a 3.5mm Javi Tungsten Bead. They weigh between 0.6g and 0.7g each. Our Artisan Javi Selection includes 4 different patterns, we are supplying 2 of each nymph (8 in total), shipped for free, all for only £20 (these nymphs usually sell for £2.75 each). We only have a small quantity of these selections available (40 to be precise, with some set aside for sale individually), so you will need to be quick if you would like a set. We know these are not cheap flies (Javi beads are so expensive - they do give you the equivalent of 3-times the weight of a standard tungsten bead), but you will be astounded at the quality - we can guarantee you will be climbing those trees to retrieve them! Special Offer - for Today Only Special Offer for Today Only - The first 20 orders we receive today for the Artisan Javi Nymph Selection, will include a hand-tied (by myself) in-line indicator leader. This style of indicator leader is perfect for detecting those subtle bites when fishing at depth with heavier flies. Our Artisan Javi Nymph Selection contains 8 nymphs (4 different patterns, 2 of each in a size 14). As we've only got 40 of these Artisan Javi Nymph Selections available, we'll get straight down to the offer: A Selection of Artisan Javi Nymphs for only £20; including FREE Delivery; and An in-line indicator leader (tied by myself) included with the first 20 orders. To view or buy our Artisan Javi Nymph Selection, click on any image or button in this email. Keep reading for more info and detailed images of the nymphs - you'll be glad you did ... this selection of Javi Nymphs includes a couple you may not have seen before: Spanish Bullet Javi This is a classic pattern used by the Spanish fly fishing team and is great when used in coloured water. This nymph needs to quickly get to the bottom so it has been tied to incorporate a 3.5mm tungsten javi bead. To top off this outstanding fly it has been coated with a UV resin to make it sink even faster! Hare's Ear Javi An absolute classic pattern (the Hare's Ear Nymph) - this one is tied with a hare mix body, olive collar and a small red hot-spot. This nymph is tied with a gunmetal 3.5mm tungsten javi bead. To top off this outstanding fly it has been left scruffy - just like they are supposed to be. Purple Death Javi Grayling are known for having a liking to the colour pink - but they are also very well-known for taking nymphs which incorporate the colour purple. This nymph is tied with a.silver-coloured 3.5mm tungsten javi bead. To top off this outstanding fly it has been coated with a UV resin to make it sink even faster! Pheasant Tail Javi Another twist on a real classic - the Pheasant Tail nymph is ideal when the visibility is low and you need something to spark a little interest. his nymph is tied with a gunmetal 3.5mm tungsten javi bead. To top off this outstanding fly it has been left scruffy - just like they are supposed to be. Generally, the water levels at this time of year are starting to creep up (and flow faster), so we've also added a 3.5mm tungsten javi beads to the superb VMC 7077 Barbless Jig hook. This selection of Javi nymphs includes 4 different patterns, 2 each of the following (we've also been geeky and weighed each of them): The Spanish Bullet (with a 3.5mm Gunmetal tungsten Javi bead) - weighs 0.66g The Hare's Ear (with a 3.5mm Gunmetal tungsten Javi bead) - weighs 0.62g The Purple Death (with a 3.5mm Silver tungsten Javi bead) - weighs 0.60g Pheasant Tail (with a 3.5mm Gunmetal tungsten Javi bead) - weighs 0.64g These specialist Trout & Grayling nymphs are all tied on Size 14 VNC 7077 Barbless Jig hooks and are perfect for both running and the deeper stillwaters. Please Remember: We've only 40 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - Our Artisan flies usually always sell out within a few hours of being released! Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £20 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! If you have ever tried to cast a heavy multi-fly rig, you will know that you are just asking for trouble, if you cast in your normal style. Heavy flies and tight loops are a recipe for disaster - here are a few tips which you can deploy to make life a little easier when casting heavy rigs: Widen Your Casting Arc - This opens up your loops and by default keeps the heavy rig away from the rest of your leader (and your fly rod - the last thing you want is a heavy bead hitting your pride and joy). Slow Down - By slowing your casting stroke you are immediately slowing down your line speed, this, in-turn reduces the kick (and associated slack line) which happens when a heavy nymph changes direction as a result of the cast. Increase The Fly Line Size by 1 - Over-lining the rod by one size can improve your presentation when casting heavy rigs. Lift & Cast - Lift your rig to the surface of the river first, before starting the cast. By beginning your cast with your rod tip low, and taking up any slack in the system your cast will be more efficient. Use The Lob Cast - Simply, this is a low backcast to get the whole rig downstream of you. Wait for the river flow to take up the tension in the entire system, then push your rod tip forwards as you would for a normal cast, this will see your rig cast in an arc (or a 'lob') and enter the water, already under tension and ready to fish. The benefit of this cast is it keeps the entire rig away from your rod and is much easier to control, with the added advantage that the point fly enters the water first and is fishing effectively straight away. The above techniques are best practised on a quiet stretch of water where there is no overhanging vegetation, get used to handling heavier rigs (you will need to later this month and into January & February!). Tight lines & have a great day.

Successful Grayling Grub(s) - Currently Catching & Back In Stock

Morning, Just a really short one for you today ... while we get ourselves (and our gear) prepped for the British Fly Fair in a couple of weeks. I've had some fantastic reports of Grayling in tight shoals and feeding well in the slower stretches of water. With that in mind .... the Grayling nymphs below are all working wonders at the moment - especially the Grayling Pink Nymph in a size 16! Fill. Your. Boots. Special 20% Discount Offer:The Grayling Book ... This 5th book in our series of FLY: books contains a detailed analysis of how to approach fishing for Grayling - including their behaviour, the environment, rigs and flies to use. So we can clear some space on the shelves for new stock arriving, we're applying an automatic 20% discount (until midnight tonight): FLY Series: Fishing For Grayling Now only £8.00 £9.99 This pocket-sized book will give you all the information you need to effectively target Grayling in UK rivers. Grayling were once thought of as a pest and were removed from rivers all across the UK - in the misguided thought that they interfered with spawning trout. However, Grayling fishing is now on the up and is a great way to extend your fishing season - it's also my favourite quarry and I always look forward to the colder months in search of Grayling. Go on, you know you want to! Winter Grayling Grub(s) Grayling Pink Nymph only £1.50 each Another great nymph for grayling, ideal when fished on the dropper of a tight-line rig (with the grayling bomb). This fly also acts like a spider fly, with the hackle tied in the middle of the hook. This nymph in a size 14 weighs 0.09g and in a size 16 weighs 0.06g The Bacchus Bug Selection £26.00 The Bacchus Bug is a derivative of the popular Disco Shrimp, which in turn is a variant of the well-known Czech-style nymphs (weighted flies) tied on strong grub hooks to imitate freshwater shrimp and scuds. Our Bacchus Bug Selection contains 16 Bacchus Bugs in four patterns, two each of sizes 14 and 16. Grayling Copperknob Nymph only £1.50 each A fantastic searching pattern. Similar to the popular red-tag pattern, this is tied with a red tail and hare's ear body, weighted with a bead and copper wire. This nymph in a size 14 weighs 0.06g and in a size 16 weighs 0.04g The Silver Bacchus Bug only £1.80 each The Bacchus Bug is a derivative of the popular Disco Shrimp, which in turn is a variant of the well-known Czech-style nymphs (weighted flies) tied on strong grub hooks to imitate freshwater shrimps & scuds. Grayling Special Nymph only £1.50 each Grayling Special Nymph. This pattern is a great searching pattern for grayling. Its slim profile allows it to sink through the water column quickly. We have had real success with this fished on its own upstream. This nymph in a size 14 weighs 0.07g and in a size 16 weighs 0.06g Go on, you know you want to! Tight lines & have fun

Take A Lucky Pixie With You On The Water

Confidence - The Key To Success? I'm firmly of the belief that confidence is the secret ingredient to success in fly fishing. It’s a slight mindset shift, but can be the difference between casting with purpose and thrashing the water into a foam which you local barista would be proud of! Fish may only have small brains, but they somehow always seem to sense when you're not feeling it. Let’s talk about how to fish (for Grayling) with the swagger of someone who knows their Pheasant Tail Jig from their Partridge & Orange. I putting these emails together I always try to make sure that they are: Entertaining (hopefully), Educational; and Relevant If you're the same as me, you will have a special fly box, full of flies which are your "confidence" patterns - i.e. the ones which you just know, when the going gets tough, they will 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 fly selection. This email is all about the Pixie Nymph - a fly which has now cemented itself in my "confidence" fly box - read on to find out why. Grab yours Today before they run out - we've only 30 Selections available: My "confidence" box only contains about 4 different patterns, all in various sizes and weights - if you're interested I've listed the patterns at the end of this email. My "confidence" fly box has now got a new addition to it - The Pixie Nymph: Working in the fly fishing industry, you read (and hear) all sorts of stories about 'killer flies' and 'deadly patterns' - it's only when I hear the same thing from a number of different (independent sources) that I start to take a little notice. The Pixie Nymph is one of those patterns ... I first came across this pattern a few years ago in a forum post (the pattern was originally devised by Phil Dixon) and someone had posted that it worked really well on the Welsh Dee for Grayling. Then, on a phone call earlier this year with a customer (thanks Marc) he mentioned that I should think about stocking it as it worked really well on the southern chalk streams (again for Grayling) for the customers he guided. Back in September last year I tied a few up and gave them a swim on my local Yorkshire Derwent. I picked up lots of small Brown Trout with them (and the odd out-of-season Grayling - which are very scarce on that particular river) - so there could be something in it! The initial pattern I tied up had a white bead - rather than the more common orange one - as it was the only colour I had to hand! After it's success in September I sent the recipe and a few samples over to the guys who tie for us and asked them to tie up a full set of various colours in sizes 12 & 14. The finished patterns arrived with us on Christmas Eve (in that DPD delivery I mentioned previously). I had a trip planned (to a good Grayling river about 45mins away from us) over the Christmas break with good friend Andy, so I thought I would give them a swim and see what happens. At this point you'll be expect me to say that I cleared the river of fish - but that's not what happened ... Now, Andy is a very proficient angler - he can catch fish in a puddle - both of us arrived at the river for 10am, went our separate ways along the river, and started fishing - we caught up with each other again for a spot of lunch at around 1pm, both of us empty handed with not even a sniff of a fish! It was going to be one of those days! With about an hour of daylight remaining I fished out the Pixie Nymphs from my chest-pack and tied one on, not expecting much, but I'd thrown virtually everything else at the fish with no response, it couldn't do any harm. About 3 casts later I had the smallest Grayling you could imagine in the net! About 6 inches long, but perfectly formed. A couple more casts ... Another Grayling, this one a little bigger and very welcome. Both fish taken on the Pixie nymph - one to the white bead and one to the gunmetal bead. Catching up with Andy a little later, he'd also had a couple of fish to a similar looking nymph. I always look on the bright side - I consider this a success, it would have been very easy to blank on what was a very tough days fishing - but the Pixie nymph seemed to do the trick. With that (and a very successful trip using them just after new year), the Pixie Nymph has now cemented itself in a special section in my "confidence" fly box. My "confidence" Fly Patterns As mentioned above, I have a special fly box, full of my "confidence" patterns - i.e. the patterns I reach for when all else fails. As promised, here's what they are: Trout Patterns: Indicator Caddis - perfect when fishing late-spring and summer mornings and evenings. IOBO Humpy - This pattern seems to work when all other fail, especially during the day when the suns out and the going gets tough. Split-Wing CdC Olive - takes a little looking after and pretty delicate, but there's o better pattern when the Blue-Winged Olives appear. Red-Neck PTN - the ideal pattern for early (and late) season trout, seems to catch fish anywhere in the world! Grayling Patterns: Duracell Jig - I use these when the water is coloured (which is very regularly with our peat-stained rivers) Green Bomb Tungsten Jig - A clear water specialist fly, seems to work really well on chalk streams. Pheasant Tail Javi - The fly I reach for when the waters deep and running fast. And now ... The Pixie Nymph - Just seems to work when the river is quiet and nothings moving. The Pixie Nymph ... As you probably know by now, we're pretty geeky when it comes to nymphs! The Pixie Nymph colour variations included in our selection are: Copper Bead - 2 each of sizes 12 & 14 Gunmetal Bead - 2 each of sizes 12 & 14 Orange Bead - 2 each of sizes 12 & 14 White Bead - 2 each of sizes 12 & 14 We've kept the price of these nymphs as low as we can, and we have something to suit all budgets. How much I hear you ask - £1.50 for each individual fly, £20 for the full selection of 16 or £42.50 for the full selection including one of Tacky's specialist Double-Sided nymph boxes. We have 10 dozen of each Pixie Nymph and have reserved 60 of each for sale as individuals only, so we only have only have 30 of these full selections for sale - they will never be produced in large numbers due to the time taken to tie/make each fly, so grab yous now - while you still can! Please Note: These flies have been specifically tied for fishing in the water levels and flows we experience through Autumn and Winter here in the UK and are ideal for both rivers and stillwaters. *** As always, all orders are shipped free of charge to any location within the UK *** If you would like a set, you will need to be quick off the mark! Here are a few more images to really tempt you: Go on, you know you want to! These Pixie nymphs are designed to catch fish, at depth. Therefore it is important when fishing these nymphs to follow these few tips to make sure the presentation of the nymph is as realistic as possible. The key to fishing with any tungsten beaded nymph is the make sure the fly is presented in the best way possible. Here are a few tip to allow you to get the most when fishing with this style of fly: Choose Your Water: This style of fly is particularly proficient when fishing small pocket water, i.e. lots of short runs where you need to get the fly down quickly. Fly Presentation Techniques - 1: To get the fly as deep as possible, as quickly as possible, you need to make sure the fly enters the water before your leader - to do this make sure to stop your rod tip much higher than usual. This will force the fly to enter the water first and also put the rod in the correct position to keep you in contact with the fly as soon as it enters the water. Fly Presentation Techniques - 2: For the fly to sink as quickly as possible, it needs to enter the water at its maximum velocity. To do this add a single haul to the final cast before presenting the fly - this will speed up your line and in-turn the flies entry to the water. Fly Presentation Techniques - 3: When fishing with a heavy beaded fly, you need to present it on (or near to) the bottom, when the fly enters the water it is usually better to lead the fly through the water - keeping in contact so you can detect any takes. The speed with which you lead the fly varies depending upon the speed of the water, but I usually lead it through just slightly slower than the water is flowing. Remember, that the water on the bottom will always flow slower than the water on the surface and you need the nymph to react as normally as possible. This style of nymph is generally used in the faster stretches of water, due to its slim profile, it will sink very quickly and can get to the river bed fast. This allows you longer drifts each time you cast. However, using these flies will also allow you to fish those slower parts, which anglers usually pass by. Tight lines, wrap up warm & put a Pixie in your life.

A Change Of Plan - Stillwater Success (almost) Guaranteed

If you've been a member of our email community for any length of time, you will be aware that there is a fair amount of planning which goes into our emails - we usually plan them around 3 months in advance. So ...

Fishing in Faster/Higher Water - You Need Help From 'The Heavy Mob'

At this time of year, fishing can be very challenging, mostly due to the variable amount of water in the rivers. Assuming it is safe to actually fish - as floods can considerably weaken the riverbanks, then most fish will be nailed to the bottom of the river and you will need nymphs with a little more weight to reach them. This is where fly choice and technique come into play:

They never forget where their nuts are buried - Pink Squirrels

There's a fly pattern over in the USA which works wonders for virtually all fish that swim in rivers (and especially for UK Grayling) - over the pond it's become a bit of a closely guarded secret in the guiding community!

Innovative Scuds

The Bacchus Bug Selection

Barbless. Clothing