Using Customer Intelligence To All Our Advantage
Morning,
Firstly, I'd like to thank all of you who bought flies from us whilst I was away last week - I know you kept the fly fairies busy!
It was a great trip around the coast of Wales (which did give me an idea which I'm currently mulling over - it's quite big, so I don't even know if it's possible - I will keep you updated).
If you do live in Wales, you have some stunning water available to you - I only saw a fraction of it but was blown away by it.
If you're anything like me, you cannot pass over a bridge without pausing to look over it - after the first 2 days of doing this my wife was sick of it (even though she is used to it over the last 20 years)!
I know that nobody like to sit through pages of "holiday snaps", so I will leave you with my favourite pic - yes, the pool was stuffed full of fish:
A pool on Afon Mynach
Being away from the office for a full week give you lots of time to decompress ... and mull things over.
One thought from the week stayed with me ...
I am in a very fortunate position, we have a reach of over 20,000 customers, where the majority are very engaged, i.e. they/you tell me immediately if we're doing things well, or not, as the case may be!
But, the main piece of feedback I receive is info on which flies customers have used that are working well - along with the obligatory 'grip and grin' photos.
In the past I've never really used this information ... but today, that changes ...
Since I returned on Saturday, I've been trawling through thousands of emails, to see if there's a common 'fly pattern' theme in the Post-Mayfly Season, i.e. July & August over the past few years.
And, there is ...
After sifting through all the emails, the one thing that struck me was virtually all of the most successful patterns used were black (with one 'caenis' exception) and either size 16 or 18.
So, the maxim of "go small or go home" turns out to be very true.
We've curated a special selection of dry flies specifically for warmer weather and lower levels, we've called it the "Summer Success" Selection, these are flies which have proven themselves over the past few years in July & August.
"They may not be the most popular - but they are the most successful"
Please Note: Take a look at the end of this email for some fantastic tips on how to fish with these and other smaller flies in your box.
In todays email I am going to take a look at dry flies which we regard as our bankers, or should that be "not blankers".
Please Note: Take a look at the end of this email for some fantastic tips on how to fish with the smaller flies in your box.
But in the meantime - here's a quick 'casting' tip:
When dry fly fishing and you need the fly in a really tight spot (i.e. under a tree branch which is 20 feet away) and there's no room for any sort of back cast, use the Bow and Arrow cast, this is essential on smaller streams and to catch those hard to target fish during the day.
How to perform the Bow and Arrow Cast:
- For short casts, reel in until you have a rod length of tippet/leader out of the tip ring, then hold the fly by the bend in the hook. For longer casts, hold the fly line just above the cork grip of the rod.
- Create tension in the rod by pulling the fly/fly line back to form a bend in the tip of the rod. You can alter the plane of the fly line by either creating tension either above or to the side of the rod.
- Point the rod tip about a foot above where you want the fly to land and let go of the fly/fly line.
- With practice you can vary the cast by playing with the amount of tension you induce and the position of the rod tip.
Practice is the key with this cast, you can even practice at home and you will be amazed how far you can accurately cast, some people can cast a Bow and Arrow further than a Roll cast! Tim Rajeff has produced a great video "How To" which you can see here.
Our Summer Success Selection is available in two different packages:
- The "Summer Success" Full Bundle - £26 - Includes all of the flies contained below, with the addition of a stunning 16ft French Leader, which is perfect for presenting smaller flies. The bundle includes everything you need for your summer river fishing; or
- The "Summer Success" Flies Only - £20 - The "Summer Success" fly selection (includes Last Hope's, Jinglers, Double Badgers etc) - full fly pattern and size details are listed below.
Our Summer Success Selection consists of 16 flies:
The Double Badger - One of the best flies, and many anglers only fly, used in the summer months. Great in warm still conditions on rivers with a low flow, spooky fish and low levels. This selection contains 2 each of size 18.
Last Hope (Light) - With a white thread body and small white hackle, this fly is a great small caenis imitation. This selection contains 2 each of sizes 16 and 18.
Last Hope (Dark) - With a peacock herl body and small white hackle, this fly is a great small gnat & caenis imitation. This selection contains 2 each of sizes 16 and 18.
The Jingler - An imitation of the Large Dark Olive, this fly is fished dry and sits just in the miniscus. This selection contains 2 each of size 16.
John Storey - This fly, named after a river keeper on the Ryedale Anglers Club, is a favourite on the Yorkshire rivers. Tied with a peacock herl body, cock hackle and mallard wing sloping over the front of the fly. This selection contains 2 each of size 18.
IOBO Humpy - It Oughta Be Outlawed (IOBO). Originally designed and tied by Jack Tucker of Pennsylvania, USA. Very simple to tie, floats like a cork and is deadly. This selection contains 2 each of size 14.
Please Note: We only have a limited number of these selections available - 25 to be exact - they will sell pretty quickly, so if you would like a selection you will need to be quick!
We have curated our "Summer Success" Selection from extensive research from our customer comments on which flies worked for them in July & August, they are all tied on barbless hooks in various sizes (see above for details).
Just click on any image or button in this email to view more detailed photos and descriptions of the flies included, and buy your selection.
If you would like one, you will need to be quick off the mark!
Go on, you know you want to!
It's ok having small flies, but do you know how (and more importantly where) to use them? Small flies require thin tippet, thin tippet also requires a rod which will protect it, so a rod with a soft tip is ideal. Low summer rivers generally mean low flows, and in these it's important when using small flies and thin tippet to de-grease at least the last 1ft of tippet.
How to use them:
- Practice the Davy Knot to tie small flies onto tippet. This knot leaves less bulk at the head of the fly, especially important when using small flies. Here's a link showing you how to tie the Davy Knot.
- Don't worry if you cannot see the fly once yo have cast it, so long as you have a rough idea where it is just lift the rod tip if you think the rise was close to your fly. Alternatively, you can always go for the "Double Dry" and fish a more visible fly with your small fly tied as a dropper, or use a small bite indicator along the line.
TOP TIP #1: If you struggle to thread small flies, try cutting your tippet at 45-degrees, this creates a small point on the tippet and usually makes it much easier the thread through the eyes on smaller hooks.
TOP TIP #2: If you still struggle to thread small flies whilst on the water, try making up some pre-tied at home - just tie each fly to an 18" length of tippet, then you can just use a water knot to tie it to your leader and you're ready to go again.
Where to use them:
- Look for cover. During the heat of the summer day fish will always head for cover, that means you will need to fish tight to the far bank and under trees, bushes etc. Practise your Bow and Arrow casting (see below) before you get to the river, this cast will come in really handy at this time of year.
- Trout will generally sip small flies from the surface fairly regularly, so watch the water and time the rises. It's thought that trout will take quite a few small flies and then retreat to the river bed.
- Try to cast the fly to as close a point as possible to the rising trout, the more accurate the better. The more your fly has chance to drift, the more chance of drag.
- Go Small or go home. If there is hardly any flow on the river and it's really low. I would always start with something "small and black", a size 18 Griffith's Gnat is as good a fly as any to start with. Start with a 9ft tapered leader and add 2ft or 3ft of tippet then your fly.
Tight lines & have fun out there.
