The Jack Daniels
As we're nearing the middle of February, it's time we had a word about trout.
I know, I know - we've been banging on about grayling for weeks now. And rightly so, because grayling season's been good so far (when we could actually get on the wter). But, the trout season opens in just a few weeks, and if you're anything like me, you're already lying awake at night thinking about that first cast of the season.
So let me tell you about a fly pattern that's been doing the business over in the USA, and somehow it's barely known over here in the UK.
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 'Match The Hatch' fly selection.
This email is all about the Jack Daniels Tungsten Jig, a nymph pattern that absolutely smashed it over in the USA (for early season trout) last year - and is about to do the same over here!
The Jack Daniels - did the business over there, and about to do the same over here.
(Yes, I'm aware of the irony. We did briefly consider renaming it "The Talisker" or "The Bushmills" for our market, but that felt a bit disrespectful to Cory, the guy who devised it. Plus, let's be honest - you lot know quality when you see it, regardless of what's written on the label).
Here's the fly that earned its name ...
This pattern was devised by a guy called Cory Cuje - you'll find him on YouTube as Old Dominion Trout Bum, which tells you everything you need to know about how he spends his time. Proper guide. Lives in waders. The sort who can read a river like you and I read the back of a cereal box.
Cory's got a thing about subtle flies. When the water's gin-clear, when it's clear skies - that's when he reaches for his confidence pattern.
No flash. No gaudy hot spots. Just a fast-sinking, buggy little thing that could be a caddis or a small stonefly, depending on how the fish are feeling that day.
He'd been fishing the Little Juniata River (above) - the "Little J" as they call it locally - a 32-mile limestone wild trout fishery in Central Pennsylvania. Now, if that sounds familiar, it's because limestone rivers over there fish a lot like our northern limestone streams or southern chalkstreams. Clear water. Educated fish. The sort of fishing where every mistake gets punished.
Cory was catching fish all day on this unnamed pattern he'd been tinkering with. Then, late in the session, he hooks into a proper lump. A 21-inch brown trout. The sort of fish that makes you check your knots and question whether your net is big enough.
After landing it, he and his mates were buzzing. Cory remembered that in their neck of the woods, they call 20-inch-plus trout "A Whiskey fish" - the sort of fish that demands a proper drink afterwards - just to steady your nerves.
The fly had earned its name on that brown, from that water. The Jack Daniels it was.
The reality of March fishing in the UK: the water's still cold, the hatches are sporadic at best, and the trout aren't looking up yet. They're feeding subsurface on whatever's drifting past - nymphs, larvae etc.
This is exactly when you need The Jack Daniels.
Here's what Cory tied: a jig-hook nymph that sinks like a perdigon but moves like a spider/soft hackle. A sparse CDC collar gives it life in the drift. Dark, generic, buggy - nothing to spook selective fish. He fishes it in sizes 12-18 on Euro rigs, either as point fly or a dropper.
And here's my theory: if it works on a premier American limestone wild trout fishery that sees more pressure than most British rivers, it's going to absolutely prove successful on our early-season browns.
Think about the crossover:
- Limestone-influenced water? Just like our Dales streams/Becks and southern chalkstreams.
- Clear conditions, educated fish? The 'Little J' trout are as fussy as anything on the Test.
- Cold water, neutral fish? The copper bead gets it down fast to feeding depth.
- Not sure what they're eating? Could be a up-winged larva, caddis, or small stone - covers all your bases.
- Need movement without flash? That CDC collar does the work.
It's got that perdigon sink rate we've all come to love, but with life. It's dark and subtle when early-season fish are still figuring out what they want. And it works from opening day right through to summer when they get properly selective.
I reached out to Cory to ask permission to tie and sell The Jack Daniels pattern over here in the UK, and he was absolutely brilliant about it. Not only did he give us his blessing, but he's keen for you lot to discover his YouTube channel.
And honestly? You should. Old Dominion Trout Bum is proper fly fishing content - none of that flashy, over-edited nonsense. Just a guy who knows his water, knows his fish, and shares what actually works.
If you want to see The Jack Daniels in action (and learn a few American tricks that'll work on British water), go subscribe: youtube.com/@
The recipe I'm using is tied exactly to Cory's specs - copper-beaded jig hooks, Spectra dubbing that looks black in the water, sparse CdC collar in dark grey, Coq de Leon tail, bit of black marker on the thorax, and UV resin to lock it all in.
Simple. Effective. Proven on a 21-inch brown from a limestone water - and now available over here.
We're brilliant at nicking ideas from New Zealand (hello, every tungsten bead in your box), we've half-inched plenty from the French (the leader setup, the tight-line technique), but we've been a bit snooty about American buggy nymphs, haven't we?
Well, not anymore. We've got our Jack Daniels Selections in stock now - 12 tungsten jigs in total (3 each of sizes 12, 14, 16 and 18), all tied exactly to Cory's recipe.
My hunch? This is going to become your confidence fly too. The one you tie on when nothing else is working. When the water's clear, the trout aren't looking up yet, and you need something that just... works.
Size guide for early season:
- Size 12: Heavier water, larger fish, more substantial meal
- Sizes 14-16: Your opening day workhorses (start here)
- Size 18: Later season when they get properly selective
That's a total of 12 Jack Daniels tungsten jigs at a heavily discounted price of only £21.50 (bought individually these would be £24.60), supplied in our eco-friendly packaging and includes FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK.
If you fancy a new home for your flies, we've also bundled one of our NEW Slimline Silicone Fly Boxes in with the Jack Daniels Selection - for only an extra £12.50.
That's a total of 12 Jack Daniels tungsten jigs plus a stunning slimline silicone fly box with a magnetic closure - for only £34.00 (bought individually these would be £39.60), and it includes FREE delivery.
or
*** We only have a small number of these selections remaining (28 to be exact), so you will need to be quick ***
*** I've already got mine safely stashed away in my fly box ready for opening day, otherwise, we would have had more! ***
We've been focused on grayling for weeks - and rightly so - but it's now time to get your trout box sorted - opening day is coming faster than you think.
Give it a go. Catch something memorable on that first trip of the season. Then tell me I'm wrong.
Tight lines.
P.S. Seriously, go check out Cory's channel. American techniques, British conditions - there's more crossover than you'd think. Plus, watching someone else catch fish is the next best thing to actually being on the water yourself - @OldDominionTroutBum
P.P.S. We've something really special for you later this week - it's something I've been working on for the last 6 months - I'll explain more on Thursday morning ... watch this space!
