Morning,

Picture this: It's a grey September afternoon (back in 2024) on my local - the Yorkshire Derwent, the kind of day where the leaves are giving up their grip and floating downstream like soggy cornflakes.

I'd been flogging the water for a few hours with every fly in my box - nymphs, wets, dries - you name it, I tried it, the fish were having none of it.

Absolutely nothing. Not even a courtesy nudge to keep me interested!

Then I spotted him (or her): a proper wild specimen for our water, only about 1lb, moving up and down the water column (not breaking the surface), clearly having a grand time taking something I couldn't quite see.

Being the inquisitive type, I waded a little closer for a better look. That's when I slipped on what I can only describe as the slipperiest (is that even a word?) rock in North Yorkshire, performed an elegant pirouette, and landed arse-first in two feet of Yorkshire's finest beer-stained water.

As I sat there - chest-deep, something caught my eye drifting near the surface - a small, redish-brown worm, about an inch-and-a-half long, probably dislodged by my graceful aquatic manoeuvre. 

A fish, I must have spooked earlier, shot out from the cover of the bank about 6-feet behind me and immediately took it with the enthusiasm of someone finding a tenner in an old jacket.

I made my way to the bankside and rummaged through my fly box - I didn't have anything which even remotely resembled the worm.

However, I did have some goodies from a recent fly fair which I'd attended ...

So, I grabbed a bare size 12 hook, some micro-chenille and some wire that was a reddish-brown colour, and began tying what can only be described as the scruffiest, most haphazard worm pattern ever created.

No vice, no proper light, just cold fingers and sheer bloody-mindedness.

The result was criminally ugly - a wonky, slightly bedraggled thing that looked like it had seen better days. Perfect, in other words, for imitating a real worm that had just been rudely ejected from its cosy home.

Introducing ... The Derwent Worm

I cast it out, still dripping and probably looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. My original quarry took it on the second drift.

That accidental creation became The Derwent Worm, and it was my secret weapon for autumn fishing last year. I've even higher hopes this year, now that we've had them tied professionally!

There's something about these patterns that drives fish absolutely wild when the leaves start turning. Whether it's the naturalistic wiggle, or simply that they look like they've had a proper adventure just getting into the water (they work equally as well on both rivers and stillwaters). The undoubted star-of-the-show with this fly pattern is the hook - a size 12 AHREX FW525 - strong, sharp and just the perfect shape.

We've now perfected the "haphazard" look (which, ironically, took quite a bit of careful tying to achieve), and I'm delighted to share our Derwent Worm Selection with you.

Each one is tied on those superb AHREX FW525 barbless hooks which are just the right shape for 'worm style' patterns, you'll wonder why you ever used anything else.

Please Note: Even though these patterns were devised (and tested) on a Yorkshire River, they are exceptional Stillwater patterns - fish them as close to the bottom as you can and give them a twitch every now and then!

Sometimes the best discoveries come from the most undignified moments. Though I still check for slippery rocks every time I wade the Derwent.

We've only got 50 of these Derwent Worm Selections available - I'm keeping a few back for myself, to use (and lose) over the next couple of months or so (the Earth-coloured ones are perfect for early-season Grayling)!

Our Derwent Worm Selection contains 3 each of the 4 colours (Red, Olive, Chartreuse & Earth) - all tied on AHREX FW525 size 12 barbless hooks - the best in the business.

That's twelve flies in total, for only £22.00 delivered in our eco-friendly packaging free of charge to anywhere in the UK.

As always, all of our flies are delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK (which can take up to 5 working days) - we also have a 1st Class Tracked Service (for only £2.50) which is usually delivered the very next day, so long as you can order before 1pm.

Please Remember: We've only 50 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - These flies can also be bought individually here if you would like to top up your selection!

*** Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at only £22 for the selection, these will not hang around for long! ***

Even More DEADLY Daddies ...

The 'daddis' are now in full flight - thanks to the recent spell of wet weather we've just had. We're rapidly running out of our stock - and we will not have any more until late-August next year, grab yours while you still can:

Our Deadly Daddies are tied on a Size 14 barbless hook (a much more accurate representation of the real insect) with a slender hackle and swept-back legs (to make the fly more aerodynamic), which still allows them to cast easily (without line twist) and create a wake on the surface when any action is imparted to them, again, another trigger point the fish home into.

Our Deadly Daddy is a twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern and is the most successful daddy long-legs pattern we've ever sold - these are the last we will have until August next year!

We've just received our final batch of Deadly Daddies for the year, and now have them available for immediate delivery either individually (£2.15), in packs of 6 (£11) or in packs of 12 (only £20).

The Peacock Daddy ...

Next to our Deadly Daddies (above), The Peacock Daddy is our best-seller (and most productive, especially on the southern rivers and stillwaters of the UK):

The Peacock Daddy. A twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern, and one which works exceptionally well all across the UK. This is a streamlined pattern, tied with a sparse hackle (which includes 2 short wings), a peacock herl body (which allows this pattern to float high on the water) and signature knotted pheasant tail legs.

We've just received our final batch of Peacock Daddies for the year, and now have them available for immediate delivery either individually (£2.15), in packs of 6 (£11) or in packs of 12 (only £20).

As always, all of our flies are delivered FREE of charge to anywhere within the UK (which can take up to 5 working days) - we also have a 1st Class Tracked Service (for only £2.50) which is usually delivered the very next day, so long as you can order before 1pm.

*** Go on, treat yourself ***

 

Tight lines and have fun on the water.

P.S. Our Derwent Worm patterns are now available, perfect for when you need something that looks like it's lived a little - much like the angler who created them.