Morning,
As the summer begin, those of you who fish regularly will have noticed that the bank-side foliage just seems to get denser every time you visit the water. These are ideal conditions for all sorts of insects to thrive, from small leaf-eating insects to hoards of beetles and ants. This is prime time for all terrestrial activity on both rivers and stillwaters.
Fly fishing with terrestrial patterns is an exciting and effective technique that involves imitating insects that live primarily on land, such as beetles and ants. When fish are focused on terrestrial insects, presenting these patterns correctly can lead to some exhilarating experiences.
Here are some tips to make the most of this approach, especially at this time of year:
• Observation: Observe the water and surrounding vegetation for signs of terrestrial insects. Look for beetles and ants falling from overhanging branches. Identifying the prevalent insects will help you select the right patterns.
• Accurate casting: Terrestrial insects often fall onto the water with a splash, attracting fish with the noise. Practice accurate casting to mimic this action and place the fly close to the bank or structure where terrestrial insects are likely to be present.
• Presentation: Allow the fly to drift naturally with the current, just like a real insect. Try twitching your rod tip gently to imitate movement, creating the illusion of a struggling insect.
• Size and Colour: Choose patterns that match the size and colour of the insects in the area. Ants and beetles are usually small and dark, so a size 14 or 16 pattern usually works best.
• Patience: Terrestrial fishing can be sporadic, with bursts of activity when insects are active. Stay patient and keep an eye on the water for any signs of fish feeding on the surface.
• Light Tippet: Use a lighter tippet to ensure a natural presentation and prevent spooking wary fish - Stroft LS is perfect for this (more about that in Thursday's email). However, be prepared for powerful strikes and potential challenges when landing larger fish.
We have updated our Beetle selection for 2026 - and they've just arrived with us (scroll down to view all of the patterns in detail):
We've updated our most popular beetles and included them all in one selection. These patterns now cover all beetle imitations you will find throughout Summer and into late Autumn.
The patterns included in our UPDATED for 2026 selection are:
• Coch-y-Bonddu Beetle - The classic beetle pattern, also known as the field chafer.
• The Kicking Beetle - A great 'active' pattern which attracts the attention of any nearby fish, due to the rubber legs which pulse when any action is imparted to the fly (either by the angler or the water current).
• Hi-Viz Beetle - A great pattern that is easy to see on those bright sunny days. Tied with a bright pink post.
• Hi-Float Foam Beetle - A beetle designed to float high in the water due to its closed-cell foam body.
Please Note: We only have 50 of these selections available - and when they're gone, they're gone until next year! Grab yours today.
Why not be ready for any Beetle, with our UPDATED Barbless Beetle Selection - we love an alliteration! We have created this selection of Beetles that work equally well on both rivers and stillwaters.
Our Barbless Beetle Selection includes 16 flies and is now available, priced at only £26 - or only £36 for the selection supplied in one of our stunning Slimline Silicone boxes (see below) - both prices include fast, free delivery to anywhere in the UK.
Click on any image or button in this email to view each of the patterns in more detail.
In the warmer summer afternoons, a beetle pattern is an essential searching pattern, when fish are not rising.
To search a river:
• From the bank, section the river into lanes about 3ft wide.
• Cast upstream and make 3 or 4 drifts in the nearest lane, repeat for each lane, working away from you.
• Step upstream and repeat the process.
To search a stillwater:
• From the bank, imagine a fan with 8 points laid out on the water.
• Cast to each point of the fan 3 or 4 times, and retrieve using the "Splash & Twitch" technique (see below).
• Move further along the bank and repeat the process.
Try The "Splash & Twitch" Technique - With each of the searching methods mentioned above, why not give the "Splash & Twitch" technique a go. As Beetles are land-based insects, they are regularly blown (or drop from trees) onto the water, and they are not that elegant when they do! Don't worry about perfect presentation, it is often better for this style of fly to splash down on the water, Keep in touch with the drift as the water brings the fly back to you and give the fly a slight twitch every now and then. You will be amazed how often this inducement will bring up a fish! Don't forget to drift the beetle under any overhanging branches.
"Dry Nymph" Technique - Most natural terrestrials start to sink after hitting the water. If your floating terrestrial pattern sinks midway through a drift, just fish it as you would a nymph. Some of the best fishing to be had on a warm summer's afternoon can be by fishing sunk beetles as you would a nymph on a long leader.
Tight lines & have fun out there.
P.S. I'll explain more about the Stroft LS tippet material in Thursday's email - you might want to grab a spool (or two) in readiness!
