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The Scottish Fly Fair 2018 Roundup

This year was the first year of The Scottish Fly Fair and here at Barbless Flies, we got the chance to take part as one of the Exhibitors at the event. The fly fishing fair had a fantastic atmosphere and it boasted some of the best tackle producers, fly tying brands, and fishing outfitters out there. There were some great casting demonstrations as well, all that and all under one roof. Did you have chance to catch us and have a chat about our barbless fishing flies?

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The Scottish Fly Fair 2018 Roundup

BFFI (British Fly Fair International) 2018 Roundup

Did you attend this year’s BFFI (British Fly Fair International) exhibition? Thinking about attending next year’s show already? Whether you’re a business within the fly fishing and fly tying industry or you’re passionate about fly fishing in your spare time, you’re probably already aware of the BFFI fly fair. Barbless Flies were at this year’s show and we absolutely loved it! So we thought we’d create a roundup of what all the other exhibitors thought of the show as well.

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BFFI (British Fly Fair International) 2018 Roundup

Mini Tungsten Nymphs

Mini Tungsten Nymphs Sometimes when you are grayling fishing, you need to present a small fly at depth, that's where these mini tungsten nymphs come into their own. With their small size (only 7mm long) and slim profiles, these nymphs will sink quickly. Our Mini Tungsten nymphs are tied on size 20 barbless hooks (even though these are size 20 hooks, 6x tippet - 0.13mm will still go through the eye quite easily). At this time of year, when the grayling are still fairly spread out and are not nailed to the river bed, these flies are deadly, even on pressured water. Try suspending one of these as a part of a Duo setup, French Nymphing on a long leader or short line Czech Nymphing on a dropper. We have put this selection together specifically with this time of year and grayling in mind, we present a selection of 8 Mini Tungsten Nymphs, four different patterns, two each of size 20 for £16. We are not offering these as individual flies as we only have 15 selections in stock (they are so fiddly and time-consuming to tie) so you will have to be quick! 

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Mini Tungsten Nymphs

Czech Nymphing for Grayling

Czech Nymphing for Grayling Czech Nymph fishing is a style of nymph fishing practised by keeping in close contact with the flies at close range, generally in faster riffles (so you can get closer to the fish) just under the rod tip. In most cases there is no fly line outside of the reel and a Czech Indicator/8m Leader is used. This gives you an enhanced feel for the flies as they are drifting along the river bed. Czech Nymphs are weighted flies tied on grub hooks to imitate fresh water shrimps/scuds. Typical characteristics of a Czech nymph fly are the slim profile (to allow it to sink quickly), a back covered with latex and a mono rib. As luck would have it - we've got you covered where Czech Nymphing for Grayling is concerned, with our NEW Czech Nymph Selection. We have put together a selection of 24 Czech Nymphs, eight different patterns in two different styles. We are offering these selections for £30 and only have 25 in stock - so you will have to be quick!  Our Czech Nymph selection is made up of 2 distinct type of flies Heavy Ceramics: Use these on the point of a 2 fly setup, to get your rig down quickly. Czech Nymphs: Use on a 6" dropper (about 12" above the point fly). How to fish our Czech Nymph Selection Using a specialist Czech Leader (or a short indicator) tie a length of tippet roughly equivalent to the depth of the water you will be fishing. To this add a short section (about 12" long) tied with a 3-turn water knot, use this to create a 6" dropper (shorter droppers don't tangle as much). To the point, tie in one of the heavy ceramic flies, and to the dropper use one of the Czech Nymphs. Cast/Lob the flies upstream and track them back to you, keeping the rod tip just ahead of the flies. Stop the rod tip just in front of you and let the flies drift downstream, feeling for takes all the time. Using this method, Grayling are know to take the fly as it rises through the water column (known as the "induced take").

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Czech Nymphing for Grayling

Mini Streamers - Bigger Fish?

Mini Streamers A streamer is a lure which usually represents a minnow/fry, which are present in both rivers and stillwaters from July/August onward. They particularly come into their own for rivers in September, and for stillwaters from September to December. To a trout, these patterns seem very much alive when any action is imparted to them - therefore these are fished quite actively (try twitching them down and across through any deep holes!). These Streamers are tied to represent small fry. They are tied sparsely and measure only 3.5 cm in length, so accurately mimic the size and form of minnows/fry. Another advantage to these streamers (with their small profile and light weight) is that they can be fished on lighter rods (2# to 4#) - no need to take 2 rods to the river when fishing light. How to fish them High Water - When the rivers are running higher than normal or coloured, try running a streamer through the back eddies. Keep out of the main flow, and think like a minnow! Also try dead drifting the streamer downstream, then retrieve it back (across the flow) with the odd twitch. Low Light Conditions - With trout feeding more confidently in low light conditions, try a streamer after the evening rise has finished. You will be surprised and what you can catch (even in just a few inches of water). Concentrate on fishing the tails of pools and shallower riffles. It's also worthwhile pulling a streamer through any flat water just as nightfall starts, again, trout feed more confidently after dusk. These flies are only available individually in sizes 10 & 12 (at £2.50 each). Click on the buttons below to view more details on our Mini Streamers. Link to both streamers are below: Mini Streamer - Pink Mini Streamer - Silver Go on you know you want to!

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Mini Streamers - Bigger Fish?

Updated Scuds - Grayling Colours

Updated Scuds Due to the success of the scud selection, we re-ordered them and now have them back in stock and in updated colours (we thought the other were all too similar colours, so now we have updated the selection to include some sweets for the Grayling in your life - Get ready for Grayling early this year. These flies are tied with either an olive or grey hare dubbing and segmented bead bodies, then a clear UV shell is applied, making them virtually indestructible! These scuds are specifically designed for UK rivers and are uncanny imitations of the natural invertebrates found throughout the UK. We present to you this selection of 8 Scuds, four different patterns, two of each, in size 14. Again, we are making the flies available to you either as a selection (for £20), or as individual flies (at £2.75 each). We know these are quite expensive flies, but we think you will agree the quality is stunning (and they catch fish!). Go on you know you want to!

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Updated Scuds - Grayling Colours

Psycho Rhyaco's

Psycho Rhyaco's Rhyacophila are Caddis larvae - found in virtually all flowing water in the UK. It’s a "Caseless Caddis" - meaning it doesn’t build itself a case from the river bed. Very similar in style, size and form to a shrimp/scud these Caddis prefer shallow riffles and often get caught up in currents, making them easy pickings for Trout & Grayling. With the help of Stan (of Ceramic Flies) we have created this selection of Barbless Rhyacophila Larvae which should be one of your first patterns to use when searching a river. These flies have segmented bead bodies and tied with black dubbing heads (just like the real thing), then a coloured UV shell is applied, making them virtually indestructible! These rhyacophila larvae are specifically designed for UK rivers and are uncanny imitations of the natural invertebrates found throughout the UK. Here we have a selection of 8 Rhyacophila Larvae, four different patterns, two of each in size 12. Due to the amount of time taken and the cost involved, we only have 25 of each fly, therefore only 12 selections are available, you will have to be quick! Once again here at Barbless Flies, we are making the flies available to you either as a selection (for £20), or as individual flies (at £2.75 each). We know these are quite expensive flies, but we think you will agree the quality is stunning (and they catch fish!). Go on you know you want to! 

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Psycho Rhyaco's

Daddies & Hoppers

September Special Offer Daddies & Hoppers Be it Rivers or Stillwaters - This time of year (September) is the prime month for these larger terrestrials. Daddy Long Legs: Generally seen from August through to October, they hatch in the ground on cool humid mornings. It pay 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).  Hoppers: Really productive flies throughout the UK and equally effective in both rivers & stillwaters. Hoppers are generally fished as you would a dry fly, or as a point fly in a team of buzzers.  Don't forget to use a slightly heavier tippet than you would normally use - it reduces the amount of twist in the leader. Daddy Long Legs & Hoppers are also surprisingly effective when fished as wet flies, 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. Both the Daddy & Hopper Selections are tied on size 10 and 12 barbless hooks with slender hackles (more aerodynamic - less leader twist), this allows them to create a wake on the surface when retrieved, again another trigger point the fish home into. Now to the offer: Buy 2 of either the Daddy Selection or Hopper Selection (either 1 of each or 2 of either), enter the promo code BIGDADDY at the cart and these selections will be discounted by 20% (offer open until midnight on Sunday 10th September). Go on you know you want to!

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Daddies & Hoppers