Morning,
Next week, our 'on hire' campervan gets pointed north, to Scotland. Proper Scotland.
I've been looking forward to this one for a while - and I already know that my wife has resigned herself to stopping at every bridge we cross so I can peer over the parapet and 'spot fish', I also love taking these 'time-lapse' style photos. Twenty years in, she knows there's no point arguing.
But before we head off, I wanted to share something I've been working on since the season started picking up - don't worry, the Fly Fairies are manning the fort next week in my absence!
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!
The main piece of feedback I receive is info on which flies customers have been using 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 ...
I've been trawling through thousands of emails, looking for common 'fly pattern' themes in the warmer months of the year - July & August in this case - over the past few years.
And there is one ...
After sifting through everything, the thing that struck me was this: virtually all of the most successful patterns were either really dark or really light - but they were always small.
Sizes 16, 18, 20 and even 22's.
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.
So the maxim of "go small or go home" turns out to be very, very true, especially at this time of year.
Taking all of this information into account, I've curated a selection of dry flies specifically for warmer weather and lower levels - all of which we will experience over the coming weeks.
I've called it the "Summer Success" Selection - these are flies which have proven themselves 'keepers' in my (and our customers') dry-fly box over the past few years in July & August.
"They may not be the most popular - but they are the most successful."
In today's email, I'm going to take a look at the two dry flies I regard as bankers, or should that be "not-blankers".
Our Summer Success Selection consists of 16 flies across two very different patterns:
The Freebird - A klinkhamer-style fly that comes into its own in the evenings. Tied with a bright yellow Z-Lon post for exceptional buoyancy, it sits perfectly in the film - dark turkey biot body, black superfine thorax, dark dun hackle. It's a subtle fly with just enough visibility for the angler.
These are all tied on AHREX FW505 & FW507 barbless hooks - the very best that money can buy. This selection contains 2 each of sizes 16, 18, 20 and 22 - I've checked, and you can easily thread 3lb (6X) tippet through the eye of the size 22's.
Five Shades of Grey - The same klinkhamer silhouette as the Freebird, but dressed in grey throughout - grey biot body, Adams grey superfine thorax, grey micro fibbet tail, dark dun hackle, and a grey C-Lon post. A stunning general imitation of upwinged flies, it's particularly deadly on summer afternoons and early-evenings when fish are sipping quietly and you need something that looks like everything and nothing at the same time.
These are all tied on AHREX FW505 & FW507 barbless hooks - the very best that money can buy. This selection contains 2 each of sizes 16, 18, 20 and 22 - I've checked, and you can easily thread 3lb (6X) tippet through the eye of the size 22's.
Our Summer Success Selection is available in two different formats:
The "Summer Success" Full Bundle - £32 - Includes all of the flies above, with the addition two stunning 15ft Tapered Leaders - one each in both 5X & 6X diameters, which are perfect for presenting smaller flies. Everything you need for your summer river fishing.
The "Summer Success" Flies Only - £28 - The fly selection only. Full pattern and size details are listed above.
Please Note: We only have a limited number of these selections available - 40 to be exact, AHREX hooks in these smaller sizes are getting harder to find - 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 AHREX barbless hooks in sizes 16, 18, 20 & 22.
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.
Each of the flies within our Summer Success Selection are also available to buy individually:
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:
1. 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.
2. Don't worry if you cannot see the fly once you 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 - trailing behind, or use a small piece of bite indicator putty 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 to 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:
1. 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 before you get to the river, this cast will come in really handy at this time of year.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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", the size 18 Freebird is as good a fly as any to start with. Start with as long a tapered leader as you can handle and add 2ft or 3ft of tippet then your fly.
Tight lines.
