When Reality Bites ...

I vividly remember a vision I had 12 years ago ...

I seemed to have found my calling - and it wasn't in the IT industry - it was spending time on the riverbank, with a fly rod in my hand.

What if I could turn my passion into a business? - That way I could indulge my passion for fly fishing as and when I wanted - and call it 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 Evening Rise fly selection.

This email is all about the Evening Rise, a time which any 'time-pressed' angler should aim to fish. In this email, we are launching our Evening Rise Selection - a selection of 12 flies, 3 of each of the most productive 'evening' patterns. All the patterns are tied using the very best quality materials on AHREX FW503 hooks - the best dry fly hooks there are.

 

My dream was endless days by pristine rivers, casually testing our own products while the sun dappled through the trees. I'd cast lazily from dawn to dusk, my office would be a riverbank, and my meetings would be with trout - hopefully!

Fast-forward to reality: Both Jack and I are usually elbow-deep in packaging materials, squinting at website analytics, and watching the perfect fishing day dissolve into emails about hook makes and sizes. This is especially true as the season progresses and we become steadily busier.

The closest I get to "casting" most days is lobbing the packing waste into the recycling bin!

My drive to and from the office takes me alongside my local river - the Yorkshire Derwent - where I often catch the odd glimpse of rising fish as I am passing.

Last year I found that the best way to indulge my passion - whilst also balancing a work and family life - was to grab just a few hours on the way home, usually after 6pm. 

Catching that brief window when the world seems to slow down, the fish emerge, and I can remember why I started this madness in the first place - don't get me wrong, I really love what we're building here at Barbless Flies, but it's always good to reflect, and where better than on the riverbank during an evening rise.

The Evening Rise

The evening rise is when trout seem to lose their inhibitions and begin feeding with the enthusiasm of teenagers at a freshly stocked fridge. It's as if they've been attending underwater finishing school all day, practicing proper etiquette and selective feeding, only to throw it all away as twilight approaches.

The river comes alive during these golden hours. The water's surface transforms from a peaceful mirror into what can only be described as a "fish riot" with rings appearing everywhere as the insects end their life and the fish start to break the surface.

The brevity of the evening rise really concentrates the mind. There's no time for overthinking or changing flies seventeen times. It's fishing distilled to its purest form: observe - cast - connect - repeat.

For the whole of last season I was experimenting with different flies on my evening sessions, I finally settled on the perfect selection - specific to the Evening Rise ... and here they are:

NEW for 2025 - The "Evening Rise" Selection

The Barbless Evening Rise Selection is a selection of 4 styles of commonly used flies - which seem to produce results after 6pm.

It's not about perfectly imitating exactly what's on the water (as there are lots of different insects), it’s more about how the fly sits on, and in, the water - presenting the correct silhouette.

For only £20.00, we are supplying 4 different styles of flies which are perfect for the 'evening rise' - In total there are 12 flies supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. These flies will work on evenings throughout the year, but work especially well both before and after the main mayfly hatch.

All of the flies included within this selection are tied on the best dry fly hooks in the business - AHREX FW503 (see the individual fly descriptions below for more details).

Looking back through my own River Almanac notes, by far the most successful pattern for the evenings was our size 18 Mini Sherry Spinner - It just seemed to give a great silhouette the fish just loved - especially when fished in any slack water:

Our Barbless Evening Rise Selection is now available as a selection of 12 flies (3 each of 4 specialist 'evening' patterns):

• The Evening Banker - A midge version of this popular klinkhamer style fly - these work especially well in the evenings. These have been tied with a contrasting grey Z-Lon post, which has exceptional buoyancy and sits just right on the water. Our selection contains 3 of these, all tied on a size 18 AHREX FW503 barbless hook.
• The Hot-Spot Palmer - A style of pattern which comes into its own in the evening. They are tied with a palmered style body which presents the fly perfectly on the surface film, just as a spent natural would appear. This version includes a black body and chartreuse hot-spot head. Our selection contains 3 of these, all tied on a size 14 AHREX FW503 barbless hook.
• The Mini Sherry Spinner - Another classic spent/spinner imitation. Tied on a size 18 AHREX FW503 barbless hook with a stripped peacock herl body and Z-Lon flat/spent wings. Our selection contains 3 of these.
• The Bumble Palmer - This is a style of pattern which is often overlooked, they come into their own in the evening. They are tied with a palmered style body which presents the fly perfectly on the surface film. This version includes a contrasting brown and yellow body. Our selection contains 3 of these, all tied on a size 14 AHREX FW503 barbless hook.

Our Evening Rise Selection contains 12 flies in total and we are making them available to you today for only £20.00 - click any button or image in this email to see the selection of flies in much more detail.

As always we offer FREE Delivery on all orders for delivery within the UK.

 

*** We only have 40 of these selections available, so if you would like one you will need to be quick! ***

Each of the flies included in our NEW for 2025 selection can also be bought individually for only £1.90 each, using these links:

• The Evening Banker
• The Hot-Spot Palmer
• The Mini Sherry Spinner
• The Bumble Palmer

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

     

 

 

This section is for all anglers whose calendar looks like a game of Tetris gone wrong, and want to get a little time away to embrace the evening rise.

It's proof that in fly fishing, as in life, sometimes the most magical moments come in the smallest packages of time. Just remember to pack a torch — you may need it to get back to your car!

The Evening Rise:

• Equipment choices simplify during the evening rise. Rather than carrying an extensive arsenal for every contingency, evening rise fishing often requires just a handful of proven patterns matching the hatches likely to occur. - our Evening Rise Selection is perfect. This streamlined approach removes decision paralysis and lets you focus on the fishing itself. A small box of appropriate flies (see above), a single rod, and minimal gear means less preparation time and more fishing time.
• The fish themselves often display less caution during the evening rise, making them more forgiving of imperfect presentations. This forgiveness doesn't make the fishing easy - technical challenges remain - but it does make it more accessible across skill levels. For the angler with limited practice time, this margin for error means more satisfaction within your time-constrained fishing windows.
• If your fishing time is precious and limited, make the evening rise your priority. Plan your fishing not by days available but by evenings possible. A strategic approach targeting these golden hours will yield more satisfaction than scattered full days when conditions might prove challenging. Even if you can only fish once or twice a month, choosing evenings strategically puts quality fishing within reach of even the busiest schedules.
• As darkness finally claims the river and the last rings of rising trout fade from the surface, and you make your way home, be pleased that you've participated in one of fly fishing's most hallowed rituals, connecting to waters and traditions that have remained unchanged, despite our rushed modern lives.

In the evening rise, even the busiest angler finds what we all ultimately seek on the water - not just fish, but moments of perfect alignment with the natural world and ourselves.

I know it sounds a little fanciful, but fishing the evening rise really is food for the soul.

Easter Deliveries

Please Note: As it's the Easter Bank Holiday this weekend, If you do require your flies in time for any fishing forays over the weekend, please select the 1st Class Tracked option at the checkout - it's only an extra £2.50, but you will receive your flies on time!

Royal Mail will be collecting from us as normal this Thursday (17th April), we will then not have another collection from Royal Mail until Tuesday 22nd April.

Tight lines & make the most of your evenings!