Jan's Flies Issue 99
Presented from Issue 99
I suppose everybody is geared up for the new trout season. My start was during July by thoroughly cleaning up my fly tying studio. It is so nice to have everything so one can find things. It will be some time before the fish are seriously looking up so wets will be the go for me.
Exciter flies or lure flies will be my choice for action. May I suggest the use of two flies in a larger point fly with something smaller as a dropper. The point fly really needs to be at least four feet from the dropper.
Point patterns could include Yetis, Woolly Buggers, Matukas, Tom Jones, Wigram’s Robin and fur flies in various colours. For droppers, something quite small. This may be English wets, spider patterns are good tied with a really good moving hackle, nymph patterns dressed lightly as you must remember it is really early in the season and there is not much growth in any insects for the next couple of months.
Where to fish? Well, it’s a little like a raffle draw to start. If boat fishing a weighted line or at the very least a sink tip with a sinking leader some lead on the flies will help get them down. Never go past some shore fishing as trout tend to hang in shallow water as it is a little warmer than the depths further out. A floating line for shore based fishers with normal leader set up as flies being used are wets they will get down sufficiently to get the trout’s attention.
The two flies suggested are both really good fish takers. Both have been tied with a fur so the movement will be very noticeable. May I suggest both flies are fished on the point with your choice of dropper. Both flies fished slowly as the trout are quite often lethargic early in the season.
There are numerous patterns for fur flies. The one shown is very basic for the tail. Be sure that these tippets are showing nicely. Trout love orange.
The larger fly again in black with fur wing and red butt. This fly is tied in matuka style.
Furry Matuka
- Hook: Long shank size 8-10
- Thread: Black
- Butt: Red wool
- Rib: Silver wire or thread
- Body: Black antron with a whisk of red through it
- Wing: Black zonker strip
- Eye: Slip of jungle cock
Method
- Take black thread full length of shank and tie in red butt.
- Tie in silver rib.
- Dub on antron for body.
- With a length of zonker strip around one and a half times the length of the shank. Tie in so the fur is facing backwards.
- With the rub bring it forward through the fur making nice ever turns, tie down just behind the eye and cut away excess rib.
- Take one jungle cock feather and split down the middle of the eye to get two slips. Tie one in each side of the head.
- Whip finish, cut the thread away and varnish head.