There's a question that comes up every season, usually when the water's low, the sun's high, and the fish have had several 'post-mayfly weeks' to look at everything in your box.
What patterns do I actually trust?
Not what I should tie on. Not what the internet says is working. What do I, personally, reach for when I need a result and I'm not in the mood for an experiment.
For me - and I suspect for a lot of you - the answer comes down to two flies.
The Parachute Adams and/or Elk-Hair CdC
They do different things. Completely different things, actually. And that's exactly why, between them, they cover most of what summer throws at you.
The Parachute Adams Is An Impressionist
The Parachute Adams - It doesn't imitate any one fly. It suggests all of them. The grey body, the mixed hackle, the white parachute post - in the right light, on the right water, it could be a medium olive, a pale morning dun, a sedge in a hurry, or frankly nothing in particular. Fish don't seem to mind. They take it anyway.
When you can't quite tell what's hatching, or nothing obviously is, the Adams gives you something to stand behind. It's the fly equivalent of a confidence fly - at least it is for me.
We carry it in two versions. The standard Parachute Adams (in sizes 14 & 16) for most situations, and the Micro Parachute Adams (in a size 18) for those flat, clear, gin-low summer days when you need to drop down a size or two to get away with it. All of these are in our Parachute Adams Selection, which is probably one of the better value boxes we do at only £15.
We have just received a full restock of both our Parachute Adams & Micro Parachute Adams in sizes 14, 16 & 18, they're still only £1.75 each (and that includes FREE delivery) - you can grab yours here, before we sell out again!
The Elk-Hair CdC Caddis Is An Imitator
Where the Adams shrugs, this fly commits. It's built to represent a caddis — and it does it well. The elk hair wing gives it that distinctive low, splayed silhouette of a sedge sitting on the film, while the CDC underneath traps air and keeps it riding high without much help from you. It looks like the real thing because, from a trout's point of view, it essentially is.
From late afternoon through dusk on a summer evening, when caddis are bouncing on the surface and fish are slashing at them in that unmistakable way, this is the fly you want on. Stop guessing. Put it on. It's that simple.
This fly is specifically designed to represent a caddis - and it does it well. The elk hair wing gives it that distinctive low, splayed silhouette of a sedge sitting on the film, while the CdC underneath traps air and keeps it riding high without much help from you. It looks like the real thing because, from a trout's point of view, it essentially is.
We have just received a restock of our Elk & CdC Caddis in sizes 14, 16 & 18, they're still only £1.75 each (and that includes FREE delivery) - you can grab yours here, before we sell out again!
So, to sum up today's email: The Adams for when you're not sure what's happening & the Elk-Hair CdC for when you are.
Between them, they've probably saved more summer sessions than I can count. Worth having both in your box this July.
Tight lines.
P.S. If you haven't tried fishing the Micro Adams on a size 18 in flat, clear water - it's worth an afternoon of your time. Infuriating when it doesn't work, really satisfying when it does.
