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The Floating Fly

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Read more about the article The Floating Fly

The Floating Fly

  • Post author:Gareth Lewis
  • Post published:16th May 2021
  • Post category:Fly Fishing/Fly Tying/Magazines/Publications/Small Streams/Trout
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Last year I was invited by Christopher Rownes to contribute to The Floating Fly, a collection of thoughts on dry fly fishing from an amazing and venerable group of dry fly anglers from across the globe. An absolute privilege to be asked to contribute, however, I have a lifetime of…

Continue ReadingThe Floating Fly

garethlewisflyfishing

Fly fishing, dry flies, rivers, mountains. Images and nostalgic fairy tales from the river and vice. @fulling_mill Signature Tyer and Pro Community.

Today I’m half way to 90, and I’m kinda bowled ove Today I’m half way to 90, and I’m kinda bowled over by all of you lovely people’s birthday wishes! Thank you! For those of my fishing friends out there, this is where it all started…35 years ago (thanks @pmlewis18 for this absolute belter of a photo), and for my non-fishing friends, well, laugh hard! Thanks my dudes, you are all wonderful! Much love x
Mayfly season is a go...finally, and they're looki Mayfly season is a go...finally, and they're looking up! The wonderful Active Mayfly Dun (aka Monnow Mayfly), tied on the new @fulling_mill Complete Dry Long Shank. The perfect hook for this pattern. #flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #mayfly #ephemeradanica #danica
It was a day of fish stationed in tricky territory It was a day of fish stationed in tricky territory. But a few trout were fooled, laughs were shared with a beer, and after a fight with a fat 19” girl that got my heart rate up to 110bpm, it feels like she’s finally waking up.

#flyfishing #flytying #trout #patagoniaflyfishing
Another year, another Monnow Rivers Association So Another year, another Monnow Rivers Association Social, done and dusted. As always, it’s a tough one to put into words. Comradery, belly-aching laughs, and several newbies inducted into this beautiful river catchment that many of us call home. Until next time, see you on the river.
Snowshoe and hare's ear...doesn't get much simpler Snowshoe and hare's ear...doesn't get much simpler, nor does it get more effective. @fulling_mill Eco Warrior dub (Pepperbox), 70D yellow thread rib, snowshoe hare's foot wing, all bound to a Czech Nymph hook. #flyfishing #flytying #snowshoehareemerger
The postman’s been busy today! A great new edition The postman’s been busy today! A great new edition of @troutandsalmon just dropped, with an awesome article from the one and only @alexthrifty! 🙌🏻 

#flyfishing #flytying #troutandsalmon #troutandsalmonmagazine
It was an amazing opportunity to be able to pen a It was an amazing opportunity to be able to pen a few words for the annual @wildtrouttrust Salmo Trutta magazine, and an essay concerning a river very close to my heart. If you love trout and aren’t a WTT member…why not?

#flyfishing #flytying #wildtrouttrust #salmotrutta #wildtrouttrustsalmotrutta
A fantastic @fulling_mill day of tying demos and c A fantastic @fulling_mill day of tying demos and customer discussions at @garry_evans_fly @garryevanstackle this past Saturday. Lots of great chats and smiles as we showed off some of the fantastic FM materials and products. Thanks to all who popped by over the day!

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill
I don't tend to tie stripped quill bodies very oft I don't tend to tie stripped quill bodies very often, but I do enjoy their segmented look. These are part of a recent @wildtrouttrust auction lot and cover any emerging upwings nicely. Tied on the @fulling_mill Czech Nymph hook model, Coq de Leon tails, FM stripped quill body and Eco Warrior Dub thorax, and CdC wing and thorax cover. #flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill
'We talk about "Reading Water," and it's a good an 'We talk about "Reading Water," and it's a good analogy as long as you realize it's more like reading a novel than like the instructions on a box of pancake mix. Meaning piles up in layers, and the truth that’s revealed can’t be distilled out into anything simpler than the whole thing.' John Gierach, The View from Rat Lake
And that’s a wrap! A huge thanks to @pete_tyjas an And that’s a wrap! A huge thanks to @pete_tyjas and @troutandsalmon for a fantastic weekend. What a weekend and thank you to all who visited, chatted trout and dry flies, and an extra thank you to the wonderful staff at @foxandhoundshotel 🙌🏻

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #troutandsalmon #troutandsalmonmagazine
It’s go time! Slide deck and presentation are read It’s go time! Slide deck and presentation are ready to rock for this weekend’s @troutandsalmon Spring Gathering at the @foxandhoundshotel in Eggesford, Devon, where I’ll be discussing the significance—and possibly the insignificance—of fly tying. Looking forward to chatting with visitors travelling from far and wide, and I’ll see you tomorrow evening to kick off what promises to be a fantastic weekend featuring a host of excellent speakers, demonstrators, and a laid-back atmosphere. See you there!

For more info, link in bio.

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #troutandsalmon #troutandsalmonmagazine #troutandsalmonspringgathering
Wanna come fishing with me? Want to support the go Wanna come fishing with me? Want to support the good folks at the @wildtrouttrust? You can do both... check out the link in my bio for this year's WTT auction. Happy bidding!

#flyfishing #flytying #wildtrouttrust
We watched dippers, wagtails and kingfishers. We c We watched dippers, wagtails and kingfishers. We cast dry flies to trout that weren’t really there. Afterwards, our faces ached from too much laughing, and our heads might’ve throbbed slightly from one too many drinks. But after months of hibernation, our personalities had returned. Our souls were restored.

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #patagonia #patagoniaflyfishing
The first of this year’s charity auction lots is w The first of this year’s charity auction lots is winging its way to its new owner and should cover most dry fly scenarios throughout the year. Fly, my pretties…

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #MonnowRiversAssociation @FullingMill
It’s been a (YouTube) minute, but business is resu It’s been a (YouTube) minute, but business is resumed, and I’ve a great lineup of videos to come in readiness for the new season. Starting off with the fantastic X Caddis, it’s a simple, robust pattern when targeting rising trout feeding on surface-trapped prey items. Remember, keep it simple.

[LINK IN BIO]

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #XCaddis @fulling_mill
19 days. 19 days and I’ll hopefully be flipping th 19 days. 19 days and I’ll hopefully be flipping these at rising trout on small mountain streams…they’ll be just about the only waters that’ll be fishable by then. The Snowshoe Hare Emerger—with just two ingredients, this is the working man’s ‘get it done’ fly. Brutally efficient, matching everything and nothing, and incredibly hardy. When I need a hammer to get the job done, this is the pattern.

@fulling_mill's Eco Warrior dubbed body and thorax, a snowshoe rabbit foot wing from @flytyingedmadrigal, all lashed to a FM Czech Nymph wire. Rib optional, probably not even needed. Done. 19 days.

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #snowshoehareemerger
With the start of the 2026 trout fishing season fa With the start of the 2026 trout fishing season fast approaching, join us for a full weekend of talks, screenings, demonstrations, good food and great company! What better way to celebrate the start of the new season!

I’ll be joining a host of fantastic speakers at @troutandsalmon Spring Gathering at the @foxandhoundshotel, from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th March. I’ll be tying, talking and demonstrating all things dry flies, trout and wild rivers, and I'm excited to hear about your own fishing, hope to see lots of excited faces, and have many great conversations!

To book tickets or check accommodation availability, simply call the Fox and Hounds Country Hotel on 01769 580345, or for more information on the event, see the link in my bio.

#flyfishing #flytying #troutandsalmon #troutandsalmonmagazine
Packing done, and the journey to Stafford for the Packing done, and the journey to Stafford for the @british_fly_fair_international begins tomorrow. Doors open at 09:30 on Saturday morning, and I’m looking forward to tying and chatting all things dry flies, trout and rivers. If you’re planning to attend this year’s show, grab a coffee/beer and pop by my stand in Hall 3 to geek out over dry flies and fishing stories!

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #BritishFlyFairInternational #BFFI
When those magical summer evenings of dun-covered When those magical summer evenings of dun-covered waters start, and visibility is needed to help identify our fly from the billions of naturals, sometimes a fluorescent-post paradun can help. It doesn’t mean a trout will actually choose your imitation over the others (that’s another challenge), but at least you’ll be able to spot your fly NOT being taken...

Tied on @fulling_mill's Ultimate Dry, with Coq de Leon tails and Whiting Genetic Dry Fly hackle, Fulling Mill’s Tactical Dry Fly dubbed body, their new and awesome CDC Dubbing thorax, and a bright as hell Parapost Yarn in Fluorescent Orange.

Only one week until the UK’s @british_fly_fair_international event (7th and 8th February). If you’re planning to attend, feel free to pop by my stand in Hall 3. I’d love to hear about your own fishing!

#flyfishing #flytying #fullingmill #paradun
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