The Black Foam Daddy - from Barbless Flies Artisan Range
Please Note: These 'daddies' - part of our Artisan Range - are tied to the exact size of the insect it imitates (in this case, a Crane Fly -Tipulidae) on size 14 AHREX hooks and using the very best materials available.
Generally seen from August through to October, Crane flies hatch in the ground on cool humid mornings. It pays to fish these when the wind is blowing, the Daddy Long Legs is not good at flying and are always blown onto the water. The legs on these flies seem to act as a trigger to the fish (especially when twitched). These flies are tied on a Size 14 AHREX FW525 barbless hook with a slender hackle and swept-back legs (to make the fly more aerodynamic), which still allows them to create a wake on the surface when any action is imparted to them, again, another trigger point the fish home into.
When Daddy Long Legs are hatching in the area, use these flies with a slightly heavier tippet than you would normally use - it will reduce the amount of twist in the leader as these flies are fairly big and wind-resistant. Daddy Long Legs are also surprisingly effective when fished as a wet fly, so don't be too quick to keep these flies dry. Once wet and submerged, if on a Stillwater, gently "figure of 8" them back (on a river, try fishing them in the surface film), and hold on!
The Black Foam Daddy. A twist on the classic Daddy Long Legs pattern. This is a streamlined pattern, tied with swept-back wings, a black foam body and signature knotted pheasant tail legs.
This fly is tied with the very best materials available and on a Size 14 AHREX FW525 barbless hook - the best in the business.