During a couple of days’ window of returning from a trip to Greece and before flying to Frankfurt, I joined the Hereford Branch of The Fly Dressers Guild on Monday, 21st September, to demonstrate the wonderful world of all things tiny dry flies.
During the evening, of course, we discussed several fly patterns I love to use, but also how to fish them in different water and climate conditions, and, most importantly, how trout will happily devour these meagre morsels in huge quantities.
As always, my primary focus when targeting rising trout with dry flies is the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Likewise, I utilise GISS (General Impression of Shape and Size), so I almost always use a generic pattern rather than a specific imitation, rarely care about dry fly colours (I like to keep them drab unless I’m imitating a specific hatch such as Danica), and I am a HUGE advocate of ‘presentation before pattern’. If the perfect pattern is presented incorrectly to a feeding trout (or isn’t presented at all), or the fish is spooked by bad casting or wading, the choice of pattern is pointless. If our cast is perfect, the drift is drag-free, and our fly gives an approximation of ‘food’, I’m pretty confident the trout will at least give our presentation a look.
The patterns I discussed on the night are detailed below, and I’ve included them in high quality that you can enlarge. If you’re interested in watching a previous video I made covering this very topic, feel free to take a look at the video below and follow along. Likewise, if you don’t tie your own flies, but like to purchase these very patterns, you can browse my signature tyer range of fly patterns via Fulling Mill Signature Tyer Range – Gareth Lewis.
Hereford, as always, you were a blast. Thank you for having me!
Fly 1 – RS2 (Rim’s Semblance 2)
- Hook: Fulling Mill Ultimate Dry 5150, Size 20 (or Complete Dry 5160, Size 22)
- Thread: Fulling Mill Pro GSP, 30 Den, White
- Tail: Microfibbets
- Body: Fulling Mill, Tactical Dry Fly Dub, Grey Olive
- Wing: Fulling Mill Parapost Yarn, White
- Thorax: Fulling Mill Eco Warrior Dub, Pepperbox
Fly 2 – Cripple
- Hook: Fulling Mill Tactical Midge 5145, Size 20-24
- Thread: Fulling Mill Pro GSP, 30 Den, White
- Shuck: Fulling Mill Ultra Dry Yarn, Light Dun
- Body: Fulling Mill, Tactical Dry Fly Dub, Grey Olive
- Hackle: Whiting Farms Genetic Dry Fly, Grizzle or Speckled Badger
- Wing: Fulling Mill Parapost Yarn, White
Fly 3 – Paradun Emerger
- Hook: Fulling Mill Tactical Midge 5145, Size 20-24
- Thread: Fulling Mill Pro GSP, 30 Den, White
- Wing Post: Fulling Mill Parapost Yarn, Fluoro Orange
- Shuck: Either Krystal Flash or Fulling Mill Ultra Dry Yarn
- Body: Fulling Mill Ultra Dry Yarn, Light Dun
- Wing: Whiting Farms Genetic Dry Fly, Grizzle or Speckled Badger
- Thorax: Fulling Mill Eco Warrior Dub, Pepperbox
Fly 4 – CDC Chironomid/Midge Emerger
- Hook: Fulling Mill Czech Nymph Black 5065, Size 20 (or Tactical Midge 5145 in smaller sizes)
- Thread: Fulling Mill Pro Thread Twisted 70D, Black
- Body: Fulling Mill Pro Thread Twisted 70D, Black
- Wing Buds: Fulling Mill Parapost Yarn, White
- Wing: 2x CdC, Natural
- Thorax: Fulling Mill Eco Warrior Dub, Pepperbox
