Morning,

The 'post Mayfly' lull is well and truly here!

It's been pretty tricky over the past few weeks - the Bosnian Balon Pupa's have been working really well if I've been in the fortunate position to fish in an afternoon, but, as this is our busiest time of year I only usually get chance to wet a line in a morning (or a very late evening).

I've found that the most successful pattern I have in my fly box at those times is a Caddis / Sedge imitation - preferably one tied with an under-wing of CdC.

This is especially true when delicately presented on a furled leader - you can read all about our NEW Furled Leaders towards the end of this email - it's well worth a read!

Here's why I think the Elk & CdC Caddis / Sedge pattern works so well ...

The story behind this pattern is as fascinating as its effectiveness. The foundation of this pattern traces its roots back to Al Troth's original Elk Hair Caddis, created in 1957 on Pennsylvania's Loyalsock Creek. Troth's pattern became legendary, but like all good designs, it invited improvement.

Enter Hans Weilenmann from the Netherlands, an innovative fly tyer who recognised that traditional high-floating patterns sometimes caused trout to turn their noses up.

Weilenmann's genius lay in his understanding of CdC – Cul de Canard, those magical feathers from around a duck's preen gland. His CDC & Elk was developed as an improvement to Al Troth's elk hair caddis, creating what many consider the perfect marriage of materials. The CdC provides that essential low-floating characteristic whilst maintaining the buoyancy needed for effective presentation.

What strikes me most about this pattern is its versatility. Although designed as a Caddis / Sedge imitation, Weilenmann fished it with great success during Olive hatches. I've found this to be absolutely true on our waters – it's deadly during the March Brown hatches on the Wharfe and equally as effective during summer morning & late-evening rises on our Yorkshire Derwent.

It's construction is elegantly simple: CdC fibres twisted around the hook shank create the body, with natural elk hair providing the wing and flotation. The result sits in that critical zone between surface and subsurface that selective trout find irresistible.

It's not trying to be something it's not – just a perfect imitation of an insect caught in that vulnerable moment of emergence or egg-laying.

Our version of the standard Elk & CdC Caddis imitation is one of the best floating flies we have ever seen - helped by its CdC under-wing and hollow elk-hair wings. The detail is outstanding, we're sure both you and the fish will love these!

Our Elk & CdC Caddis is now available as a selection of 9 flies (3 each of sizes 14, 16 & 18). We are supplying all of these for only £14 - which includes FREE Delivery to anywhere within the UK.

All are supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail.

Please Note: This Caddis imitation will float well even in the roughest of waters. This is a classic fly and best fished in the faster-rippled water. We do recommend you use a slightly thicker leader than normal when fishing these (as they can act like little propellers and twist your tippet)!

Go On - You Know You Need Some Of These In Your Summer Fly Box

** NEW ** Furled Leaders

Any fly pattern that is designed to sit naturally in the surface film (like the Elk & CdC Caddis), benefits enormously from a very delicate presentation. 

That's why I was particularly excited about a delivery we received earlier this week from Marcus @ The Furled Leader Company - he'd sent us a batch of his brand new Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader Packs & some NEW White Dry Fly Furled Leaders (which are virtually invisible on the waters surface).

Whether you're presenting size 18 CDC patterns on a mirror-calm chalk stream or working larger dries through broken water, these furled leaders adapt to the conditions whilst maintaining that crucial delicate presentation.

We have two NEW Furled Leaders to bring to you today, each in their own way are quite unique:

• The Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader Pack; and
• The White Dry Fly Furled Leader

Let's start with:

The White Dry Fly Furled Leader

What appears stark and visible in your hand transforms completely once it touches the water – the white material becomes virtually translucent, disappearing into the liquid medium like morning mist. This optical illusion is a game-changer when fishing to spooky summer fish in low, clear conditions.

I've found this particularly effective during those challenging summer evening sessions when the water is low and the fish are educated.

The combination of the Elk & CdC Caddis's natural presentation and the white furled leader's near-invisibility has saved many an evening that might otherwise have ended in frustration.

We have these 6' 6" White Furled Leaders available in both Regular (for 4X to 6X tippets) and Ultralight (for 6X to 8X tippets) - they're still only £10.50 each.

The Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader Pack

Small flies (like the Elk & CdC Caddis), paired with a Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader becomes a truly formidable combination. It's a partnership that honours both the subtlety of Weilenmann's design and the precision required to present it effectively to discerning fish.

The Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader Pack contains:

• 1 x Dry Fly Elite 6'6" Furled Leader (Reed / Sand) - Each leader features a tippet ring installed with a through-and-loop technique, increasing tip strength and ensuring seamless transitions. It comes ready to fish as we dress all the elite leaders with our own dressing. The shorb loop is impregnated and cured, offering lasting performance and reliability on the water.
• 1 x Tin of Conditioning Balm - A carefully crafted blend of linseed oil and pure beeswax, made specifically for the unique demands of furled leaders. This isn’t just another dressing, it’s a performance upgrade for your furled leader. The balm deeply conditions each fibre of your leader, keeping it supple, extending its life, and enhancing its ability to turn over beautifully. Each tin comes with a genuine buckskin chamois - perfect for working the balm deep into your leader fibres.
• 1 x Beechwood Leader Holder & Tin - An elegant beechwood leader holder and storage tin, treated with linseed oil, to keep your leaders organized and protected.

We have these Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader Packs in stock now for immediate FREE delivery - the full pack is only £34.

Whether you're facing a challenging hatch on the Test, working the pocket water of a Welsh mountain stream, or simply wanting to add delicate presentation to your arsenal, this Dry Fly Elite Furled Leader deserves your attention.

Sometimes the best innovations are the subtle ones – and Marcus's new leader design & taper has certainly earned its place in the pantheon of the summer greats.

*** Go on, you know you want to! ***

Tight lines & remember your sun cream - it's going to be a hot one!