Small(ish) Flies + Delicate Presentation = Summer Success

Now that the Mayfly season is starting to peter out throughout the UK. I wanted to try and get us ready for the more challenging part of the season - lower water and warmer weather = summer fly fishing.

This part of the season usually sees the fish quite languid (especially any stocked fish - full of Mayfly and very lethargic (at least for a few weeks).

In this missive, I'm going to give you what is, hopefully, a pretty good grounding on how to approach these conditions, and that is by using - small(ish) flies and longer (or furled) leaders.

I've no doubt that we've all seen swarms of midges above the surface of the water - especially when there are sunlit pools:

Lower summer water levels and spooky fish means using small flies.

Some waters are not as full of nutrients as others, it’s these which tend to fish better using smaller flies, due in part to the fact the water cannot sustain the natural production of the larger specimens. In these waters trout can still flourish, they just alter the way they feed. Instead of selectively taking insects as and when they please (as insects are in abundance on the more nutrient rich waters), the trout in less rich waters are more opportunistic feeders.

This is where the small fly is king.

In essence:

"lower water = small(ish) flies = delicate presentation"

The remainder of this email will take the above and hopefully shed a little light on each.

Small(ish) Flies

When you encounter low water it's time to turn to the smaller flies in your box - when I say small, I am referring to flies which are size 16 and smaller.

It is the one piece of tackle that the fish sees and makes their decision on to eat or not. The most important part of a fly is without doubt the hook, even more so when we are using very small hooks. It is important when choosing small flies to look at the gape of the hook (i.e. the distance between the hook point and the body of the hook), make sure that the tied fly still has plenty of room between the body and the hook point, if there is hardly any room between the body of the fly and the point it will make it very difficult to hook a fish.

Generally, the hooks which are sized at 16 and smaller all are ‘wide gape’ - like the Ahrex ones we use in our Griffith's Gnat Selection:

Often, the reason small flies are dismissed by anglers is that they have trouble seeing them, there are a few remedies for this:

• For most dry fly angling it is not a necessity to actually see the fly, generally you will have a rough idea of where the fly is, if you see a rise, just lift into it – 9 times out of 10 it will be to your fly!

• If you do want to know where your fly is, either use a small fly with a hi-vis sighter post, or use the ‘Double Dry’ technique, where you use a visible dry fly and then tie a smaller dry fly from the eye of the hook on a long dropper – just like the klink n dink method, but using 2 dry flies.

During the summer months, it is essential that you start to fish with smaller and more representative flies.

Having a selection of small dry flies is essential when fishing through July and into early September. We've got you covered with all the smaller flies you will need for the whole summer in our limited run Griffith's Gnat Selection (we've only 40 of them).

Our Griffith's Gnat Selection includes:

• The Black Griffith's Gnat - One of the best flies (and many anglers only fly) used in the late-spring and summer months. Great in warm still conditions on rivers with a low flow, spooky fish and low levels. Tied on an AHREX FW503 barbless hook with a high-quality small grizzly hackle and black dubbed body. Our selection includes - 3 each of sizes 16, 18 & 20.

• The Copper Griffith's Gnat - Another classic gnat/midge imitation, tied the AHREX FW503 with palmered grizzly hackle and red/copper dubbed body. Our selection includes - 3 each of sizes 16, 18 & 20.

Our Griffith's Gnat Selection is a set of 18 flies which represent all the smaller insects you will find on, and in, the water during the summer.

Both of our Black and Copper Griffith's Gnats are all tied as follows:

• Hook: AHREX FW503 Size 16, 18 & 20

• Tail: Iris Krystal Flash

• Hackle: Cock Saddle Grizzly

• Body: Black or Copper Dubbing Mix

Our full Griffith's Gnat Selection contains 18 flies in total (3 each of sizes 16, 18 & 20 of each of the above patterns) for only £30 (saving you £5 - they would be £35.10 when bought individually) our price also includes FREE delivery to anywhere within the UK!

As well as selling these patterns individually, we are also able to supply our Griffith's Gnat Selection in one of our stunning Slimline Silicone Fly Boxes for only an extra £10:

OK, so you've now got the flies, now how do you best present them to the fish?

Delicate Presentation

The problem with fishing size 18s and 20s isn't the fly. It's everything behind it. A stiff 5X tippet that drags within seconds. A tapered leader that lands in a pile. The presentation lets you down before the pattern gets a chance.

Which is why we're pairing the Griffith's Gnat this week with our NEW Ultralight Furled Leaders - because a fly this subtle deserves a delivery to match.

We've just received some stunning new ULTRALIGHT Furled Leaders from Marcus @ The Furled Leader Co:

Their Ultralight 6ft Olive Green Furled Leader has been specifically designed for anglers seeking the finest possible presentation. Exceptionally light and beautifully crafted, this leader excels when fishing small dry flies to wary trout in clear, low-water conditions - just like the ones we will see over the next month or so.

Designed for use with 6X to 8X tippets, it effortlessly turns over the smallest and most delicate of dry flies while maintaining a soft, natural presentation. The 6ft length provides excellent control and accuracy on small streams and intimate river environments where finesse is essential.

Perfectly suited to ultralight fly rods from 0-weight to 3-weight, this leader delivers smooth energy transfer without overpowering delicate tackle. Each leader is finished with a premium down-leg applied tippet ring, providing a neat connection point, extending leader life, and allowing quick and easy tippet changes.

Finished in a subtle olive green colour that blends naturally into the surroundings, this leader is the ideal choice for anglers who value delicate presentations, precision casting, and exceptional craftsmanship.

They are available now only from us @ £12.50 each.

Tight lines.