2wheels1rod

Match The Hatch For 'Success' This Spring

Match The Hatch For 'Success' This Spring I chose the above heading very carefully, after all what actually is 'success' - it will mean different things to each of us - for me, success is just getting time away from the office and losing myself on the river for an hour or so! To others, success may be catching a 'personal best' fish or a known fish which eluded you last season. Generally speaking, the anglers who can adapt to any changing conditions on the water are the ones who are more successful - if you only count catching fish as a success! This is where watercraft & 'Matching the Hatch' come into play. 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 Iron Blue, an insect which will appear on a water near you in the next week or so. In this email, we are launching our Iron Blue Match The Hatch Selection - a boxed selection of 15 flies, 3 of each of the five main stages of the Iron Blue hatch. All the patterns are tied using the very best quality materials on AHREX hooks - the best hooks there are. We also give you access to all the hatch information, pattern information and watercraft, specific to the Iron Blue - all this for only £25. Grab your Iron Blue 'Match The Hatch' Selection now, so you don't miss out - we only have 50 available and if they are anything like the March Brown set, they will sell quickly. On the subject of Matching the Hatch, we had some great feedback from our first 'Match The Hatch' Selection of March Browns: Why is it so important to 'Match The Hatch'? As you can see from the image below, if we can offer a fish something similar to what it is expecting to see, then we will stand much more chance of catching it than if we use something alien to them: * This is an image of a Large Dark Olive, kindly supplied by Ben Lupton - with its imitation in the background - size and shape are the most important aspects! The more successful anglers are the ones who can successfully translate what is happening around them to tactics when on the water (be it Rivers or Stillwaters), a major part of that is deciding which fly to present to the fish. This is where matching the hatch comes into play - where possible, you should always try to offer up an imitation which closely resembles the insects the fish are actually feeding on at the time - hence 'Matching The Hatch'. We wanted to be a little different and add much more value ... In each of our Match The Hatch Selections we have included a QR code (which you scan with your phone/tablet), this takes you to a hidden page on our website which is dedicated to the selection of flies you have just bought, for example: On this page (sample above), you will find lots of information on the insect you are trying to match - how to identify it etc, a list of all the flies contained within the selection - including hints and tips on when, where and how you fish each one of them. Over the past few months we have worked very closely with our Artisan Fly Designers and produced a full range of 'Match The Hatch' Selections - all tied with the highest quality materials on the best quality hooks available (AHREX). Each of our 'Match The Hatch' selections contains patterns which cover the full lifecycle of the insect in question (Nymph, Emerger, Dun, Spinner etc). We've also presented them in a really nice box, pretty neat eh ... The second set of our 'Match The Hatch' selections is launched today and focuses on another early-season favourite in all watercourses across the UK ... The Iron Blue The Iron Blue is an insect whic h hatches throughout the season, but the main hatches are in April/early-May and then again later in the season (September & October). The Iron Blue is the one insect which you can guarantee will be hatching in virtually all weather conditions - so they (along with Olives) are a necessity in your fly box. Our Iron Blue Match The Hatch Selection is now in stock and ready for immediate delivery. It contains 15 flies - 3 each of the 5 different lifecycle stages: Iron Blue Nymph - tied on an Ahrex FW501 - Size 16 Iron Blue Emerger - tied on an Ahrex FW511 - Size 16 Parachute Iron Blue - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Iron Blue Upright - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Iron Blue Spinner - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 16 Successful river fishing is all about observation - carefully watching what is happening all around you, and then translating this information into your choice of fly and technique. As always there is no substitute for experience, but there are a few shortcuts you can use to help you gain that experience quicker. Our Iron Blue Match The Hatch (MTH) Selection will help you in your first forays of the season, these are generally the major upwinged flies on the water in April and into early May, with this selection we have you covered for all of its lifecycle stages. Here we present to you ... Our Iron Blue 'Match The Hatch' Patterns: You're probably asking yourself by now: "That's great Richard, but how much is all this going to cost me?" Well, we've kept the price to the bare minimum, each of our 'Match The Hatch' Selections are only £25 - yes, you did read that right, just £25 - to save you the maths, that's just £1.66 per fly, ignoring all of the other value you are also receiving! As a reminder, each of our Match The Hatch Selections contains: 15 Flies - Three flies for each of the five main lifecycle stages we are trying to imitate for the Iron Blue. Full Insect Information - Access to a hidden webpage which provides information on the Iron Blue, it also outlines in detail each of the patterns supplied, giving information on when and how to use them. We have other 'Match The Hatch' selections on their way to us - our Artisan fly tyers are hard at work producing them as I type this. We've just received the Mayfly pattern samples and they are stunning - you're going to love them! Tight lines & fill your boots!

Reel Recovery - Be Well & Fish On

Fly Fishing - Food For The Soul We all know that fly fishing has long been recognized as a therapeutic activity - often, that's the exact reason we all head out to the water. It's an open secret that angling offers numerous benefits for individuals (that's why you can now get it prescribed by the NHS) - whether recuperating from physical ailments or struggling with mental health challenges, the serene environment we usually find ourselves in and the rhythmic casting motions provide a real sense of well-being. I had a phone call from a long-term customer of ours - Michael - asking if we could help with an organisation he's been involved with for some time - it was related to fly fishing and once we heard all about it we gladly agreed. It's called ... Reel Recovery ... Michael was first introduced to the great work Reel Recovery does when working for Orvis over in the USA - Orvis are one of their major sponsors. Reel Recovery is a non-profit organisation which was formed by our fly angling cousins across the pond in 2003, it aims to help men through the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of fly fishing while also providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences of cancer with others who share their stories and experiences. It's also important to note that Reel Recovery aims its services at non-anglers by hosting free weekend retreats which are centred around fly fishing - us anglers are already feeding the soul on a regular basis and know the benefits fly fishing brings. Michael is spearheading the introduction of Reel Recovery to the UK, they will be holding their first-ever free retreat in Northumberland (at Redewater Lakeside Lodges) over a weekend in September later this year. "Reel Recovery is an international non-profit organisation that conducts free fly-fishing retreats for men living with all forms of cancer." Fishing can heal the mind, talking and sharing can heal the pain" - Retreat participants As Reel Recovery is very new to the UK, I'm hoping, with the aid of this email, to help Michael by raising awareness of Reel Recovery and the associated healing powers of angling, in all its forms. I'm sure that each of us at some point in our life has been in contact with cancer to some extent - I know I have, my grandfather, who was instrumental in teaching me to fish, was taken very early by this cruel disease, so I'm more than happy to help where I can. If you're reading this and asking yourself - "How can I find out more?" or even better "How can I help?", then all we would like you to do is one (or all) of the following: Take a look at the Reel Recovery website, by clicking on any button or image contained within this email. If you know of someone who you feel may benefit, please get them to take a look at the Reel Recovery website - https://reelrecovery.org where they can find information on the retreat in September. If you live in the North-East and would like to either act as a "fishing buddy" or help in any other way over the retreat weekend, please get in touch with Michael directly via his email ( michael@reelrecovery.org). I know he'd love to hear from you. As this is the launch of Reel Recovery in UK - with the first free fly fishing retreat happening in September - I'd love it if we could help out and get some momentum behind it. I know that our email members will be eager to help - as that's the sort of community we are. I also know that our email community consists of a very eclectic bunch of anglers - so on the off-chance there is anyone out there reading this who thinks that their company could help with sponsorship of any kind - be it tackle, time or donations - I know Michael and the team behind Reel Recovery would be really appreciative. Here at Barbless Flies we are helping as much as we can - I hope you can help us and let's show our angling friends from over the pond the power of the fly fishing community here in the UK. "I discovered that while fly fishing I was in another place. In this place there was no cancer, no pain and no fear" Thanks for taking the time to read this and please help us if you feel you can.

Dry Flies Which Work Everywhere (All Year Round) - The Universal Dry Fly Selection

Firstly, I like to thank all of you who managed to snag one of our Leather River Almanacs, when we launched it earlier this month - I hope you like it! They sold out within a few hours and we asked the 'leather guys' if we could have some more - they just landed with us and they are available now - only while stocks last though - we will not have any more this year! I really look forward to reading your reviews on them - which so far are overwhelmingly positive. Now, on to more pressing matters ... Do you fancy treating yourself this Easter to some Dry flies (and nymphs) which are my 'go to' for this time of year - and they've stood the test of time ... When we first launched Barbless Flies - all the way back in 2014 - we started with just two selections of flies. Our initial aim was to put together separate universal selections of dry flies and nymphs which you could take to any water (be it river or stillwater) in the UK, and be confident of catching fish - no matter what time of year. As the weather starts to (hopefully) warm, within the next few weeks, fly anglers from across the country will be blowing the dust off their dry fly boxes and putting them to use in anger on our rivers and stillwater. Our Dry Selection has not changed at all since we first launched it all those years ago. Until now ... We've now given it a slight tweak to make it usable in even more fishing situations you may find when using dry flies, and best of all, it's still the same great value - at only £20. Our Updated Dry Fly Selection contains four patterns. Three of which you will find in virtually every anglers fly box: Elk-Hair CdC Caddis - A very well-known and versatile fly. Can be used all year round in all light conditions. An excellent "go-to" fly. Kite's Imperial - First devised in 1962 by the late Oliver Kite to imitate the Large Dark Olives which were hatching on the River Teifi. He used this pattern all season long whenever any olives were hatching, it didn't matter if they were large, small, light, dark, Pale Wateries or Iron Blues. Rather than changing the pattern, Oliver only changed the size of the fly. CdC Olive Emerger - A very well-known and versatile generic olive imitation. Can be used all year round in all up-winged fly hatches. An excellent olive imitation. The fourth pattern in our selection is a very special one - The Indicator Caddis: This fly is a very versatile pattern, great fished as a single dry fly on a dead drift or as the dry in a Duo/New Zealand set-up, which has exceptional buoyancy and will suspend even the heaviest of nymphs. Whenever I'm fishing a dry fly if I cannot pinpoint the exact insect, this is the fly I will tie on. They really are that deadly! Our Updated for 2024 Dry Selection is now available as a selection of 16 flies (4 different patterns - see above). We are supplying all of these for still only £20 - alll supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail. *** Go on, treat yourself for the beginning of the river season *** Electric 'Early Season' Nymphs I've always found the start of the season really challenging, the resident fish of the Derwent don't seem interested in any dry flies which I present to them - no matter how well they are tied! They take a little time to 'warm up' and really switch on to my offerings. One school of thought - which I personally subscribe to, and has worked really well for me over the years - is to start to use smaller, more imitative nymphs during the early part of the day, especially when the fish seem to be a little sluggish and there's little to no activity on the surface. One such nymph which I find works really well no matter which river or stillwater you are on, is the famous Copper John, especially in Olive Green: This pattern, created by John Barr in 1993, has a world-famous reputation for catching fish. There's an urban myth that the success of this nymph is due to the copper wire being wrapped around a hook, which creates a form of magnetic field which then attracts the fish - I suppose you do have the beginnings of an electromagnet with the materials, I'm still not sold on the idea though - but the nymphs work - so who's to argue! The Copper John is a nymph which has always caught fish, this nymph is a great fly for both Trout and Grayling. Great in deep or fast water, it can also be used as a part of the Duo setup with great effect. This fly accounts for fish in virtually every river and stillwater, due to its weight and profile, with copper wire twisted around the hook shank this gives the fly a uniform weight distribution throughout the fly, and more importantly, gets the fly to the depth where the fish are. Even in the smaller sizes this fly penetrates the water and sinks. If you want to give them a go and see their fish-catching abilities for yourself, then we have our updated Copper John Selection available for you to try now: Our Copper John Selection contains 16 nymphs (4 colour variations - copper, black, olive green and red, 2 of each, in sizes 14 & 18) and is available now for only £20 - delivered in our eco-friendly packaging. That's a massive 15% saving over buying them individually - if you have a discount code from us, you can include that to save even more. *** Go on, you know you want to! *** Tight lines & have a great time out on the water this Easter.

Our All NEW Feathersmith Kit - A dry fly you can use all year!

Our season opened yesterday - it was a bit of a washout though (and I had my pasties and pork pie all ready) - oh well, there's always the weekend! Whilst the rivers are all washed out it's a perfect time to grab a brew, sit down at the vice and fill up your early-season fly box with a few dry flies which will see you right through the year. On that note ... Another Feathersmith Kit has just broken cover ... and this is a good one ... it's one of your "early season essential" patterns. But first ... I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who have used our Feathersmith Fly Tying site and taken the time to leave us a review, we especially liked this one: Following along the lines of: "flies which are successful and work almost everywhere" For this month we've chosen one of the most popular (and successful) dry flies around - especially in the early parts of the season. This is a simple but really effective pattern - I believe this pattern is so successful because of the way it sits on the water - riding high - is one which was absent from our line-up, until now. This pattern has always been a staple in my fly box and works really well in April on all rivers throughout the UK. "What's the fly?" - It's the Jingler: If you keep on reading you can find out much more about the new Jingler Feathersmith kit, but first ... Just as a quick reminder, here's what's included when you purchase one of our Feathersmith pattern-specific kits: A kit full of world-class materials (Semperfli, Ahrex, etc.) - more than enough to tie all 30 flies in the kit A 'here's one I made earlier' sample pre-tied fly - for this kit you get one of each variant sample tied flies A tutorial detailing the history of the fly you are tying A video tutorial of how to tie each variant of the fly - presented by a professional fly tyer A video tutorial of how to get the best when fishing your finished fly Contained inside each kit is a leaflet which will direct you to a secret page on our website where all the videos (and more information on the pattern) can be accessed. One quote you will hear time and again when fly tying is: "It's more expensive to tie your own flies than it is to buy them." Not anymore it isn't, our Feathersmith kits allow you to tie a stunning pattern with the very best materials available - all for less than £1 per fly - now that is great value. Introducing ... The Jingler This seventh in our series of kits focuses on the Jingler - a very versatile pattern you should have in your fly box because it's one pattern that can be fished all year round and is a great 'general impression' of a whole host of up-winged insects. The Jingler is one fly which accounts for the majority of the fish I entice to the net in a season - it is a great imitation of the March Brown, Large Dark Olive and Blue Winged Olive. It is thought that the Jingler pattern was first created over 200 years ago to imitate flies hatching on the Tweed, due to its double-hackle design this is a fly that sits high on the water, just like the real flies before they take flight. As well as being a great fly to use in both early and late season, It also has the added bonus of being pretty straightforward to tie. Our Jingler kit includes: AHREX FW503 hooks (10 each of sizes 12, 14 & 16) Semperfli Pale Olive 12/0 Thread Superfine Light Olive Dubbing Strung Cock Grizzly Hackle Saddle Grizzly Hackle Hen Natural Grizzly Hackle Pre-Tied Sample Jingler All of the above high-quality materials combined make a quality fly which is straightforward to tie. Contained inside each kit is also a leaflet which will direct you to a secret page on our website where all the videos (including Kenan's Beginners Fly tying series) can be accessed. Our Feathersmith Jingler kit is now available for only £30. At less than £1/fly, that's great value for money. *** Go on, you know you want to. Our Feathersmith kits are perfect to while away the hours when the rivers are unfishable and at less than £1/fly they offer great value *** Try Our Other Feathersmith Kits! We've now built up quite a range of Feathersmith kits. We have you covered for the most successful flies no matter what month you are fishing. Take a look at these two kits below. The Griffith's Gnat is perfect for those post-mayfly sessions, whilst the CdC Bubble Caddis is perfect for fishing the evening rise all through the season: Griffith's Bling Gnat & Crazy Palmer - Fly Tying Kit €30.00 CdC Bubble Caddis - Fly Tying Kit €30.00 *** Go on, you know you want to. Our Feathersmith kits are perfect to while away the hours when the rivers are unfishable and at less than £1/fly they offer great value *** Want To Buy, Rather Than Tie? We know that lots of you don't tie your own flies - that's why you buy the ready tied versions from us! If you want to grab a little piece of the Jingler action - we also have them available individually: More Nice Words About Our Kits! But, I've Never Tied A Fly Before! Don't worry, we've got you covered ... We know that our Feathersmith kits appeal to both the beginner and more experienced fly tyers, and since launching our first kits we've had quite a few enquiries asking if we could provide a 'basic set of skills' course to help those of you just starting out on this fantastic hobby. Kenan Haseta is a professional fly tyer and keen fly angler, he's a regular visitor to the Ribnik to test out his creations, he's also 'our man in Bosnia' and has been tying stunning 'one-off' creations for us for the last few years, his tying skills are second to none. We've asked Kenan a few times if he would share his experience and skills in video format - he's pretty shy and always wanted to be behind, rather than in front, of the camera. So we twisted his arm a little and he's agreed: Kenan has created a set of 'basic skills' videos for us, with detailed explanations of all the tools, vices, hooks, materials and how to dress a hook. Kenan's 'Fly Tying for Beginners' video series is available for FREE to everyone. In the meantime, tight threads and have fun out there.

Spider Fishing - A Primer

How to fish Spiders Spiders (or Soft Hackle) flies are one of the most popular flies in rivers today, and for good reason. They are very easy to fish and a really effective method at the beginning of the trout season! Usually fished in a team of either 2 or 3, and sometimes even 4. They are a great searching technique, especially in the early season when the rivers can be higher than normal and there are no obvious hatches.

Start curating your Early Season fly collection - with our Bosnian Secret Early Season Nymphs

Our 'man in Bosnia' has been at it again - with some more very tempting nymphs - especially tied for success in the early part of the trout season. We try to plan all of our fly selection at least 3 months in advance, when asked what we were planning for the start of the trout season, we wanted to do something a little different, so I asked him to surprise us and tie something which he would use himself, for early season trout in Bosnia. His reply was "I will tie you some secret patterns, which are the first nymphs I try on any river" - which had me intrigued, we had no photos to go on, so I trusted his judgement and said, "go for it". The first time we saw these was when they were delivered to us on Monday. It's safe to say we were impressed! Check out these Bosnian bad boys ... Our Secret Bosnian Early Season Nymph Selection contains 12 nymphs (4 different patterns, 3 of each in a size 14). As we've only got 40 of these Secret Bosnian Nymph Selections available, we'll get straight down to the offer: Buy 1 Selection of Secret Bosnian Tungsten Nymphs today for £22; or Buy 2 Selections for only £39.60 (that's a 10% discount). No discount codes, just add the Secret Bosnian Nymph Selections to your basket and all discounts are applied automatically. To view or buy our Bosnian Secret Nymph Selection, just click on any image or button contained within this email. Keep reading for more info and detailed images of the nymphs - you'll be glad you did ... So what nymphs are best for tempting those early season trout? Usually, trout look to nymphs when feeding in the early season/colder water. These nymphs have been tied to fish as deep as possible, with 3.5mm tungsten beads - to keep your nymph where it needs to be, on the bottom. They are all tied on the best hook available on the market today - they Ahres FW551 Mini Jig - perfect for all your early season nymphs. Early season nymph fishing is more about finding the fish, so it's important to keep on the move and only pass your nymphs through a lane a couple of times - if there's a fish there they will usually take it straight away. Top Tip: if you are fishing in coloured water, use the Red-Tag Jig nymph. Coloured water usually means that the river is running higher than usual, this nymph is designed to stand out in coloured water and trigger a more inquisitive response. Generally, the water levels at this time of year are average to high, so he's added a 3.5mm tungsten bead to the superb Ahrex FW551 Mini Jig hook fo that little bit of extra weight. This selection of 'secret' nymphs includes 4 different patterns, with 3 each of the following: Cased Caddis - Size 14 Ahrex FW551 - weight 0.37g Pheasant Tail Wingcase Nymph - Size 14 Ahrex FW551 - weight 0.35g Pheasant Tail Nymph (Bosnian Style) - Size 14 Ahrex FW551 - weight 0.37g Bosnian Red-Tag Jig - Size 14 Ahrex FW551 - weight 0.35g These specialist early season nymphs are all tied on size 14 Ahrex FW551 Mini Jig hooks. Please Remember: We've only 40 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - Our Bosnian flies always sell out within a few hours of being released! Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £22 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! If you prefer to tie your own, we have you covered - we've twisted Kenan's arm and he's produced a step-by-step tying video for each of the above early season nymphs. They are now available over on our specialist fly-tying website - Feathersmith. Click on any image below to open the relevant page on our sister site where you can watch the step-by-step tying video (you will need to enter your email address when accessing the page, to check you are on our email list - we have to hide them somehow!): Each of the above videos - along with lots of previous step-by-step videos which Kenan has kindly produced for us are available over at our specialist fly-tying website, Feathertsmith - www.feathersmith.co.uk, we have step-by-step videos for all of Kenan's Bosnian Dry Flies and Bosnian Nymphs. The Zuti Emerger is an especially good early season emerger pattern: Fishing in the early part of the season (March and April) can be very challenging, depending on which part of the British Isles you are located. Generally, the further South and West you are the better the fishing will be at this time of year – the North and Scotland always seem to lag a couple or three weeks behind the South of the British Isles as far as hatches and river fish activity go. Manage your expectations – You’ve probably been waiting for the first trip of the season for a while, and if you’re anything like me, thinking of nothing else but those first few (very rusty) casts! Don’t go expecting to ‘bag up’, once the season opens the water is generally still very cold and the fish less actively feeding. River choice is a key factor at this time, if you're lucky enough to have a choice of river, it’s always best to target the smaller streams where possible, you will stand a much better chance of success. It’s also best to time your trips to when you are more likely to see active fish in front of you – between 11am and 2pm. So, now is the time to act accordingly, have a nice and leisurely breakfast - a Full English is my preferred option - at a local caf – got to support those local businesses. Arrive at the river for around 10:30 and get set up – always keeping an eye on the water for any movement. Early Season Watercraft – Searching for those early season fish is where watercraft comes into play more than at any other time of the year. Watercraft is the art of looking, listening and watching the water (and the environment around you) and then decoding the signals to give you an indication of what is happening, then using tactics based on what you see. A typical example of this is seeing a Wagtail on the riverbanks, these birds are notorious for arriving on the river just before an Olive hatch starts, if you see one – tie on an Olive emerger and wait! Watercraft is far too big a subject to go into detail here, if you would like to read more there is a fantastic book I would highly recommend: Moving Water by Jason Randall. Finally, Even though we are forecast for some nicer weather over the next few days, don’t let any bad weather put you off, so long as the water is fishable, ignore the conditions – some of my best early-season days have been when there’s a gale blowing and it’s about to rain. Tight lines & have a great day.

So You Want To Match The Hatch - It Just Got A Whole Lot Easier

So You Want To Match The Hatch? You may remember back in January I asked (via our email community) for feedback on areas where we could improve. The one improvement which stood out above all others was for us to produce a range of 'Insect Specific' selections. You may also remember that I emailed out confirming that we would have the first one ready in early March ... It's now early March ... and the first one is ready. But first ... Why is it so important to 'Match The Hatch'? It is a long-held belief - and one to which I wholeheartedly subscribe - that the more successful anglers are the ones who can successfully translate what is happening around them to tactics when on the water (be it Rivers or Stillwaters), a major part of that is deciding which fly to present to the fish. This is where matching the hatch comes into play - where possible, you should always try to offer up an imitation which closely resembles the insects the fish are actually feeding on at the time - hence 'Matching The Hatch'. We wanted to go just that one step further and offer you some added value - after all, it would be quite easy for us just to put them all in a box and deliver them to you (just like all our competitors do), and then you're on your own! But we wanted to be a little different and add much more value ... So, in each of the Match The Hatch Selections we have produced there is a QR code (which you scan with your phone/tablet), this takes you to a hidden page on our website which is dedicated to the selection of flies you have just bought: On this page (sample above), you will find lots of information on the insect you are trying to match - how to identify it etc, a list of all the flies contained within the selection - including hints and tips on when, where and how you fish each one of them. Over the past month we have worked very closely with our Artisan Fly Designers and produced a full range of 'Match The Hatch' Selections - all tied with the highest quality materials on the best quality hooks available (Ahrex). Each of our 'Match The Hatch' selections contains patterns which cover the full lifecycle of the insect in question (Nymph, Emerger, Dun, Spinner etc). We've also presented them in a really nice box, pretty neat eh ... The first of our 'Match The Hatch' selections were delivered to us last Friday, and focus on an early-season favourite all across the UK ... The March Brown Our March Brown Match The Hatch Selection is now in stock and ready for immediate delivery. It contains 15 flies - 3 each of the 5 different lifecycle stages: March Brown Nymph - tied on an Ahrex FW501 - Size 12 March Brown Emerger - tied on an Ahrex FW511 - Size 12 Parachute March Brown - tied on an Ahrex FW501 - Size 12 March Brown Upright - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 12 March Brown Spinner - tied on an Ahrex FW503 - Size 12 Successful river fishing is all about observation - carefully watching what is happening all around you, and then translating this information into your choice of fly and technique. As always there is no substitute for experience, but there are a few shortcuts you can use to help you gain that experience quicker. Our March Brown Match The Hatch (MTH) Selection will help you in your first forays of the season, these are generally the only upwinged flies on the water in March and early April and with this selection we have you covered for all of its lifecycle stages. Here we present to you ... Our March Brown 'Match The Hatch' Patterns: You're probably asking yourself by now: "That's great Richard, but how much is all this going to cost me?" Well, we've kept the price to the bare minimum, each of our 'Match The Hatch' Selections are only £25 - yes, you did read that right, just £25 - to save you the maths, that's just £1.66 per fly, ignoring all of the other value you are also receiving! As a reminder, each of our Match The Hatch Selections contains: 15 Flies - Three flies for each of the five main lifecycle stages we are trying to imitate for the March Brown. Full Insect Information - Access to a hidden webpage which provides information on the March Brown, it also outlines in detail each of the patterns supplied, giving information on when and how to use them. We have other 'Match The Hatch' selections on their way to us - our Artisan fly tyers are hard at work producing them as I type this! We have identified the main insect imitations which are successful throughout the UK and will have the following selections winging their way to us over the next couple of months: Iron Blue Mayfly - these are stunning, I just had the samples through! Blue-Winged Olive Midges We are currently working with the tyers to create other Match The Hatch selections for the most popular late-season insect hatches. Tight lines & fill your boots!

Use the force" - On Your Local Water This Weekend

Flies from The Dark Side After quite a few 'river' related emails, we've something for all of you Stillwater anglers this week. With the majority of the UK rivers still closed - for at least a couple of weeks, the Stillwaters will be more popular with anglers wanting their fishing fix. We are in a pretty fortunate position as a fly supplier - we get to see the trends of which flies are popular at all times of the year. I noticed a big uptick in stillwater lures/attractor patterns over the last couple of weeks - we also received lots of feedback from customers saying they are working really well, so I thought I would dedicate this week's email to flies from the 'Dark Side': There are certain flies, which in some quarters are very much frowned upon. It is not our place to judge anyone, and as far as we are concerned, so long as the fishery allows it, it's fair game. These flies seem to be unpopular with the ‘purists’ but they undoubtedly work really well in certain situations. Here we aim to give you an idea of what these flies are and how to use them. Please Note: These flies work equally as well in flowing water - especially in the early season when the water levels are high and more coloured. The Mopster It is thought by some that the mop fly is used to represent blooms of daphnia (very small plankton like animals which trout feed upon in stillwaters), however we are not really convinced by that, but the mop fly is very successful in its own right – that’s why you will see it in every competition Stillwater anglers fly box (where allowed and in the right sizes) – because it just works. We are more of the belief that the mop fly is a fly pattern that acts similar to a lure, in that fish are naturally inquisitive and are attracted to anything which enters their world and causes a bit of commotion. We've just received these NEW Artisan Mopster flies in the office - tied with Semperfli's specialist Mopster Chenille (an entirely new chenille with multicolored guard hair tinsels protruding from the material). The specification for these flies just shows their quality: AHREX FW541 Size 10 (Barbless of course!) 4.6mm Brass Bead - we don't want them to sink too quickly! 0.4mm Lead-Free Wire Semperfli 8/0 Classic Waxed Thread Semperfli Mopster Yarn Ice Dubbing These are stunning flies and we are really pleased to add them to our Artisan range: Love them or hate them these bright-coloured Mopsters are sure to provoke a response on those days when nothing else seems to work. We are making our Artisan Mopster patterns available individually for £1.95 each, or as a selection of 12 (4 of each colour) for only £20. *** There's no getting past the fact that all these flies work really well - especially in the conditions we are currently experiencing! *** How To Fish The Mopster Fly There are two methods used when fishing this style of fly: Method 1 - With A Floating Line: Use a floating line with a leader of about 5ft or longer, this is up to you always use the length you feel most comfortable with casting, remember presentation is better than distance. Where possible, fish more than one fly, remember to make your dropper a more drab colour - this allows each fly to act as an attractor so if the fish don’t want the drab fly they will take the shiny fly etc. After you’ve cast out your flies, give the line a pull to straighten it out, this allows you to keep in touch with the flies and easily detect any takes. Then countdown down for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 seconds to allow your flies to sink through the water column. If you get interest repeat that count again. Always keep in mind that when you are fishing a mop-style fly static this can lead to deep hooking the fish so keep in touch with the flies so you can feel the most gentile of takes. Method 2 - Underneath An Indicator: Fishing the mop fly underneath an indicator can be deadly. Lots of anglers don't consider this method, but it 100% works: Set up a leader of about 9ft with the mop fly set up at around 1ft or so under the indicator in summer, you will need to fish much deeper in the winter. Fishing static under an indicator is really successful but please be aware that you can deep hook fish using this static method. Please check your fishery allows this method first. Another great way to fish them under an indicator is to tweak the fly every 10 seconds this limits the chance of deep hooking as you are more in contact with your fly. The last tactic to try is the slow or very slow figure of eight retrieve. This is very effective and you almost eliminate the deep hooking problem altogether as you are in constant contact at all time with the fly. Tight Lines.

The Holy Grail - Flies Which Work Everywhere

The Holy Grail - of flies When we first launched Barbless Flies - all the way back in 2014 - we started with only two selections of flies. Our initial aim was to put together separate universal selections of dry flies and nymphs which you could take to any water (be it river or stillwater) in the UK, and be confident of catching fish - no matter what time of year. As the weather starts to warm, within the next few weeks, fly anglers from across the country will be blowing the dust off their fly boxes and putting them to use in anger on our rivers and stillwater. In this email I'm going to take a look at what I would consider as 'essential' patterns which should be the cornerstone of patterns in your fly box. Let's start with - Nymphs Nymphs, especially weighted ones, should be one of the first patterns you should consider for your fly box. It was calculated that 90% of a trout's diet is made up of nymphs, so if you cannot see any fish rising it is a safe bet they are taking nymphs. When looking at the myriad of nymph patterns available, there are only really five that you need to consider for all UK waters (most others are all variations on one of these five), these are: Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph - The best fly for the river? This fly probably accounts for more fish than any other flies I use. It represents a wide range of river nymphs and is ideal for both Trout & Grayling. Fished on its own or as a part of a duo (New Zealand Rig), this fly is deadly. Nymphs, especially weighted ones, should be one of the first patterns you should consider for your fly box. It was calculated that 90% of a trout's diet is made up of nymphs, so if you cannot see any fish rising it is a safe bet they are taking nymphs. When looking at the myriad of nymph patterns available, there are only really five that you need to consider for all UK waters (most others are all variations on one of these five), these are: Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph - The best fly for the river? This fly probably accounts for more fish than any other flies I use. It represents a wide range of river nymphs and is ideal for both Trout & Grayling. Fished on its own or as a part of a duo (New Zealand Rig), this fly is deadly. Orange-Head Mary - Great nymph for when the water is not so clear, the orange tungsten bead really stands out and creates the trigger point for curious fish. Best fished near to the bottom as a single nymph or teamed up with the Hares Ear Tungsten nymph (see below). Copper-Head Mary - This fly (originally designed by Simon Robinson) has found its way onto may anglers "must-have" list of flies, trout and grayling find it irresistible fished as a part of a duo or trio setup. Olive Quill Nymph - This pattern is a darker olive version representing a baetis nymph or any olive coloured medium to small mayfly or caddis larva. Hare's Ear Nymph - The Hare's Ear Nymph is a generic nymph in that it represents many mayfly 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. The more scruffy this fly is, the better it is at catching fish, and this one is pretty scruffy! The only choice you need to make is the size of the nymphs to tie to your tippet. But don't worry we have you covered with three separate selections of the above five patterns: Tungsten Nymph Selection - Our best-selling 'generic' nymphing selection, contains 30 nymphs, 2 each of the five patterns above in sizes 14, 16 & 18 - all for only £30. Jumbo Tungsten Nymph Selection - Our heavyweight nymphing selection, contains 20 nymphs, 2 each of the five patterns above in sizes 10 & 12 - all for only £20. Micro Tungsten Nymph Selection - Our micro-nymphing selection, contains 15 nymphs, 3 each of the five patterns above all in size 18 - all for only £16. Tungsten Nymph Selection €30 Jumbo Tungsten Nymph Selection €20 Micro Tungsten Nymph Selection €16 When choosing which size of nymph to buy, it's always best to base it on the characteristics of river you are fishing: Faster Flowing Rivers - Go for the Jumbo Tungsten Nymphs Regular Flowing Rivers - Go for the Tungsten Nymph Selection Low Flows / Summer Fishing - Go for the Micro Tungsten Nymphs Each of the above selections are also available with one of our Slimline Silicone fly boxes, this option is available on the product page for each selection. Happy Birthday To U You may have noticed that in the very first paragraph of this email, I highlighted the year we were first launched - 2014, which means this year is ... We've been working on something really special over the last year to mark the occasion. It's a charity thing, and we're hoping that you can help us get it off to a flying start: I'll tell you all about it on Saturday... Until then ... Tight lines.

🇬🇧 British Made Furled Leaders - from Deepest Darkest Cornwall 🇬🇧

Morning Chaps & Chapesses, As the river season is nearly upon us, I thought it would be good to concentrate this week on what I would consider 'Early Season Essentials', items which should be in and around your fly box for those early season trips. The top of the 'early season' list for me, is something a little odd that many of you may never have come across before - a furled leader. Early season is all about getting the correct presentation - especially to wild fish which may never have seen a fly before. Weather conditions when fishing in the early season can be a little hit and miss - just like your casting technique - so having the ability to perfectly present a fly in any weather is essential. That's where a furled leader comes in ... As luck would have it we have just received a large parcel from Luke Bannister containing lots of his hand-made (in Cornwall) stunning Furled Leaders - for those of you who ordered one of Luke's rods, they will be arriving with us tomorrow and be with you later this week. Here's a quick message from Luke: Since I have taken over the making of Furled Leaders from Rod Dibble, who some of you will no doubt know. Over the years Rod developed some excellent tapers and has been kind enough to pass on all of his leader designs, as well as his Furling boards, so that I can continue to make them in the same way. The range goes from the Mono which is the leader that I have made for some time, through to the highly regarded Ultralight & Super Delicate which were developed with the help of a quite extraordinary fisherman - Stuart Crofts." Luke Bannister If you want to know more about furlies, read on McDuff ... There are several reasons why you should choose one of Luke's furled leaders when fly fishing in the early part of the season, instead of a standard monofilament tapered leader: Improved accuracy and delicacy: The soft, flexible nature of a furled leader allows for a smoother transfer of energy from the fly line to the fly, resulting in more accurate and delicate presentations. This is especially important when fishing with smaller, lighter flies, where even the slightest disturbance in the water can spook the fish. Better turnover: Furled leaders are designed to turn over flies more smoothly and efficiently than monofilament tapered leaders, which can be especially helpful when casting large, heavy flies. No memory: Unlike other tapered leaders, furled ones have no memory whatsoever. Just unravel it and you're ready to go. No knots: As furled leaders have no knots they cause less disturbance of the water surface when retrieving any line. More durable: Furled leaders are generally more durable than monofilament tapered leaders and can last for many seasons without breaking or wearing out. This can save the angler money and time in the long run, as they won't need to replace their leader as frequently. Customizable: Furled leaders can be customized to suit the angler's specific needs, with different lengths, tapers, and materials available, some even have built-in indicator sections. This allows the angler to tailor their leader to the type of fishing they will be doing and the specific species they are targeting. Overall, while monofilament tapered leaders can certainly be effective, furled leaders offer several advantages that can help improve an angler's success on the water - especially in the early season. But which Furled Leader should you choose? Here's a quick run-down of how to make your decision. Furled leaders are generally chosen based on the line weight you will be using: 5wt and Above: Go for a Mono Furled Leader 3wt to 4wt: Go for an Ultralight Furled Leader 2wt and below: Go for a Super Delicate Furled Leader Early Season Nymphing: Go for either a Hi-Viz Tip Furled Leader or Hi-Viz Butt Furled Leader As for choosing the correct length for your furled leader: as a general rule of thumb, take the overall length of the leader you currently fish with (including tippet) and divide it by 3, that is the length of furled leader to choose - i.e. if the overall length of your desired leader (including tippet) is 12ft, then go for a 4ft furled leader etc. To fine-tune it a little further, also consider the fly you will be using if it's big and bushy (like a daddy long legs), then go for a slightly longer furled leader than the formula above. For example, fishing a big bushy fly on a 5wt line with a total leader length of 12ft, use either 5ft or 6ft mono leader. Note: I would never go for a furled leader that is less than one-third of the overall length of the leader, even when fishing size 18 and 20 dry flies. But then, I'm not that blessed in the casting department! It always pays to have a few different lengths handy, just in case you need to change tac midway through your session on the water. Our Furled Leaders from Luke Bannister are now back in stock and available again for only £8.50 each - a bargain for the quality and improvement in your fishing pleasure. Just click on any of the above images or buttons in this email to view Luke's furled leaders in more detail. Give one a go, you will not be disappointed! Early Season River Fishing Our FLY: series of books have now been restocked, ready for the new river season starting. We've taken a subject within Fly Fishing - in this case "Early Season River Fishing" - donned our budgie smugglers and done a deep dive into it: In this book, you will discover how to identify the species of insects which are commonly found in UK rivers between March and mid-May. How to then imitate them with the most common fly patterns. This book also discusses the type of conditions you can expect to face and the various tips, tricks and techniques used the fish them. Book Details: Number of Pages - 78Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm) This book also includes leader configurations that use multi-fly rigs to get the best from the early season conditions. Each of our FLY: series of books is available for only £9.99. Click on any of the green buttons above to view (and buy) our FLY: Early Season River Fishing book. Small Streams & Small Flies = Early Season Success Another of our FLY: series of books which have now been restocked, ready for the new river season which is nearly upon us. This book contains a detailed analysis of how to approach fly fishing in small streams, using small flies throughout the season. This book also discusses the type of conditions you can expect to face on small streams and the various tips, tricks and techniques used the fish them. Book Details: Number of Pages - 78Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm) We've also included leader configurations specifically designed for use on small streams with smaller flies. Each of our FLY: series of books is available for only £9.99. Click on any of the green buttons above to view (and buy) our FLY: Small Streams & Small Flies book. Get prepared, and ready for some fun!

It looks like we've opened Pandora's Box ...

As you are already aware, a few weeks ago I sent an email asking all of you for your feedback. As always, you were more than forthcoming with your comments (both good and bad - which is exactly what we wanted), but it turns out that I inadvertently opened Pandora's Box: One of the overwhelming themes of your comments were surrounding our fly-tying kits and step-by-step fly-tying videos - an area of our sport to which we hadn't previously paid much attention. As an example, we had comments along the lines of: "It's a bit like Lego for fly tyers" "Your tying kits are great, but how do I top them up once I've tied all the flies" "I wish you would do for fly tying what you've done for pre-tied flies" This last comment stopped me in my tracks, so I replied to the customer who commented, asking if he could expand on what he meant. Essentially, he wanted us to provide the same service, education/information and quality products specifically aimed at fly tyers (just like we do at Barbless Flies for pre-tied flies). Now, I'm no expert fly tyer, however, I do manage to fool the odd fish into taking one of my creations - so why couldn't we give it a go? I could improve my tying skills alongside our customers on the same journey - it could be a lot of fun! As we already had a brand of sorts for our fly-tying kits (Feathersmith), the obvious name for this new venture was already there: So rather than dipping a toe in the water we've dived straight in, we've taken our profits from the last couple of years (the fly fairies are not impressed - they were hoping for a party), invested in stock, called in a few favours and surrounded ourselves with people who do know how to tie a mean fly - and created a new fly tying one-stop-shop, which we're launching today and it's called - Feathersmith: This site is completely separate from Barbless Flies - if we're going to do this, we are going to do it right and have a separate site dedicated to fly-tying in all its various (art) forms. We've negotiated access to some great products from very well-respected brands such as: Renzetti Marc Petitjean Semperfli Stonfo Vicuna Dubbing; etc We're catering for all skill levels, from complete beginners (there's a 7-step video course to get you up and running quickly) to the more advanced tying skills - with lots of step-by-step video tutorials on the site for you to learn from and use the skills in your own creations: As well as being a permanent home for our fly-tying kits (more of which to follow in the next couple of weeks), this is also a home for virtually all of your fly-tying requirements, we've: Vices - Renzetti, Stonfo, Scottie etc Tools - Renomed, Stonfo etc Hooks - BEKKR High-Density Tungsten Beads Top Quality Materials - CdC, Dubbing Blends, Threads, Silks, Yarns etc We've even got a special offer for the first 50 customers to the website of a free pair of precision fly-tying shears: As mentioned above, we're well stocked with lots of the best quality tools and materials - so many that this email would get pretty boring to list them all - so I'd like to just pick out a couple for your attention: We've managed to source the entire range of Renzetti vices, all made in the USA and available from only £280. If you don't already know, Renzetti are probably the best vice manufacturer in the world, the quality of engineering behind these is outstanding. As well as stocking the most popular Traveler series, we've also managed to get hold of 2 super rare Special Edition vices (the Olive Green and Blue anodised ones below), we only have one each of these and they are available today for £395 - if you want one (and who wouldn't), grab one quick, they will not hang around at this price: For more detailed images and specifications of the Renzetti vices, please visit our website by clicking on any image or button above. Vicuna Dubbing are artisans, producing high-quality fly-tying dubbing products in small quantities by hand, using locally sourced alpaca in East Anglia (UK). Alpaca wool has a naturally hollow fibre allowing it a certain amount of buoyancy in the water; however through processing the material it absorbs water slightly allowing wet fly patterns to sink with ease. On the cast, the dubbing sheds water easily - allowing that perfect presentation every time. For more detailed images and colours of the Vicuna Dubbing products, please visit our website by clicking on any image or button above. Be Inspired ... Fly tying is all about inspiration. I think this quote I once heard sums it up perfectly: "At its core, fly tying is an art form that marries creativity with functionality, transforming the tying vice into a canvas and feathers into brushstrokes." If you would like to be inspired and follow my own fly-tying enlightenment, please consider joining the Feathersmith email community - I will only send at most 1 email per week - each one will be inspiring and educational! Being a member of the email community also has its benefits - you get free access to all of our step-by-step fly-tying videos. Click the button below to join: Tight threads and wish us luck!

The Psychedelic Furs Had The Right Idea - They Are Pretty In Pink

They had the right idea - although I doubt they were thinking of Grayling flies at the time they wrote it! After the success last year of our Black & White Tungsten Herl Selections - which you can find here and here - we also spent the early part of the Grayling season testing some flies which are their equivalent, but in shades of Pink. But first ... Special FREE Flies Offer Take a look towards the end of this email for a special 'today only' FREE flies offer, we've also included some top tips on fishing single-nymph Grayling rigs - you'll find all the details at the end of this email. Our pink beaded nymphs are tied with Peacock Herl bodies (with a wire rib) and use tungsten beads in two different shades of Pink - we've got Baby Pink and Hot Pink. Peacock Herl comes from the tail feathers of a peacock and is one of the most used materials in fly tying due to its fantastic fish attracting blue and green colours. It is perfect when used for bodies of nymphs, peacock feathers naturally shed water (see image below), and when tied in the body of a nymph this traps air around the nymph when underwater - making it very realistic of a nymph about to ascend the water column to hatch. I had some fantastic success testing these out and now the colder weather is upon us these will really come into their own. I fished them on my local River Derwent and found that the Hot-Pink version was great for our 'peaty' coloured water - especially in the slower, deeper flows. These nymphs are tied on smaller hooks than you would normally expect - which are ideal for targeting those late season Grayling in the slower, more sedate water - which is where they like to hang out at this time of year. The key to fishing for Grayling in this late part of the season is actually finding them - they will be shoaled up, so when you do find them - keep still and keep casting! By contrast, the Baby Pink ones seem to work better when the water is clearer - and, as I was told last week, seem to do pretty well when suspended under a bushy klinkhamer on stillwaters! So we've put them together as a selection ... Here we present our Pink Tungsten Herl Selection, the selection contains two different patterns: Hot-Pink Tungsten Herl Baby Pink Tungsten Herl For each of the above patterns we are supplying 3 each of sizes 14, 16 & 18 - that's a total of 18 tungsten nymphs at a heavily discounted price of only £24.00 (bought individually these would be £27.00), supplied in our eco-friendly packaging and includes FREE delivery + FREE flies (see below). *** We only have a small number of these available (40 to be exact), so you will need to be quick *** Special Free Flies Offer ... SPECIAL OFFER: For today only - we are including 3 of these (worth £4.50) with every order received: The Grayling Pink Nymph This is one of the most successful of the Grayling nymphs I've used. Fish it tight to the bottom and try to let it bounce! *** Go on, fill you boots - and your fly boxes *** Single Nymph Grayling Rigs I always find it very difficult to detect takes when fishing a single nymph at longer ranges (which is why I seldom do it), but I always fish a single nymph at short range using a tight-line method. To fish this you need to use the downstream water load cast, it's an easy way to send your flies back upstream for another drift without making a back cast. How to perform the downstream water load cast: Cast your rig out as normal At the end of the run, let your nymph drift all the way past you so it hangs in the current (and the fly line and leader tensions up). In one smooth motion, lift your rod up and use the built-in tension to flip your nymph back upstream. This simple cast is really efficient (especially in competitions) and ideally suited for short-line nymphing techniques. With the downstream water load, your flies spend more time in the water. Tight Line Nymphing Tight-line nymphing is one of the best techniques to use when searching for Grayling. Here’s how it’s done: Cast your nymph upstream, then As the nymph comes back towards you keeping the rod tip just ahead of the nymph and lead it back towards you keeping the line tight (this where you will detect your takes either by feel or by watching your in-line indicator for any abnormal movement). Stop the rod tip just in front of you and let the flies drift downstream, feeling for takes all the time. As the nymph drifts past you and downstream, it will start to rise in the water column, this is where lots of Grayling will be caught (known as the induced take). Then use the downstream water load cast to make your next cast and repeat the process. Get out there, lob around some tungsten and have fun! P.S. To read more about Grayling fishing, click the image below to view our River Master - Grayling series:

Innovative Scuds

The Bacchus Bug Selection

Barbless. Clothing