Kingfisher Sparklers!

Perhaps these are a bit unconventional for fooling broon trout! But I'm gonna experiment with these Kingfisher Sparklers, when we get out the other side of this nightmare! I only tied them on doubles because I've ran out out of suitable hooks!
I reckon everybody has been panic buying flytying hooks because everywhere I looked today online all the popular sizes and makes were all out out of stock!
However I managed in the end to find one box on Kamasan B175s. Those must have been the last ones as I couldn't purchase a second box!
They should arrive by Wednesday. If this crisis continues these hooks wont last long and ill be all over the flytying sites looking for more!

Dunkeld Sparkler

I must say I'm not a purist in any shape or form.

However when I fish for brown trout, my flies of choice are always trad wets! However my head may have been turned recently.

During this lockdown I've been spending more time than I should do on flytying sites and youtube which has made me have a rethink with regards to my approach to flyfishing for brown trout!

These last few days I've read and watched videos of modern day fly patterns which have made me think I should really have a go at tying and fishing these patterns.

Therefore today I tied a couple of Dunkeld Sparklers. 

This one Ive uploaded is the neatest I tied. I'm gonna try them in smaller sizes too. I really like the look of this and see no reason why a wild brown trout would refuse such a pattern.

I'm sure that if our flytying and flyfishing predecessors had the modern materials at their disposal such as we do today then they wouldn't hesitate to use them!
I cant wait to get to the othe side of this current crisis and give a few of these modern trout patterns a go among some of the classic brown trout waters

Lockdown & Priorities

Now that the country is in complete Lockdown due to these unprecedented times I though this would be as good a time as any to resume my blog which I have neglected the last couple of years!
There are a few reasons I've deserted my blog these last couple of years. The main reason being that I haven't been fishing much at all and up until now the flytying gear has been in storage too.
To be quite blunt my interest in Fly fishing was beginning to disappear and that troubles me. Why could something that I was so passionate about be the last thing I would want to do? I suppose other stuff and life in general has taken more importance!
I recently was diagnosed with shingles, a couple of weeks before this current lockdown came into force. Therefore I've been stuck in the house for the best part of  month and it's at times like this that it makes you think and wonder about what's important I life. My family comes first and it's been rather concerning of late as my wife has been working through this crisis as she is at the sharp end working in a pharamacy. My son has recently been made redundant and has a health issue that concerns my wife and I.
However life must go on! Being grounded this last wee while has made me realize that we should make the most of every opportunity we get to do the things that we really enjoy and learn to never ever take anything for granted.
Therefore my thoughts have once again been turning to Fly fishing and flytying!
I've been digging out old photos and videos of past fishing trips etc and organizing my fishing gear etc and planning days away to well loved Lochs when this Covid19 crisis is over!
I've also been reading through my flytying books which has inspired me to get the vice out and start tying again!
Pictured here are variatons of  the Kate McLaren pattern I saw described in George Barron's excellent book! At the end of the line!
We've just got to hope that this crisis will be over sooner rather than later and I for one am looking forward to getting out on the otherside! Here's to more Fly fishing, flytying and blogging!

The Red Arrow

Just the otber night a fly pattern thst was brought to may attention was "The Red Arrow"
Its a fly of Irish origin devised by Longford dentist, Syl Higgins. Aparently this pattern is deadly on the point early in the season. I was advised that I had tied the hackles too long on the first two I tied. So I tied another couple which are hopefully closer to the original.

At the end of the line!

Angling has a rich history of literature and I'm lucky enough to have a number of classic angling books in my collection!

I'm particularly keen on books that deal with the art of flytying. Flytying books are a wealth of information on not only the dressings but the history of flies. Among my favourites are "Lets Fish the Clyde" by Bert Sharp, Mike Hardings "North Country Spiders" and Stan Headley's " Flies Of Scotland."

One book which has been available for a couple of years and was brought to my attention recently by the excellent Flytyer John Ferguson of Dalmellington , is  "At the end of the line" by Ex-International fisherman and flytyer George Barron.

I recently met George and had a brief chat with him at the Glasgow Angling Centre where he was giving flytying demonstrations. 

A few days later I got in touch with him online and he arranged for a signed copy of his excellent book to be sent to me.

It's a fantastic piece of work dealing with classic loch style wet flies a style that I like to fish and tye too. 

It's been a joy to pour over the last few days, picking out a few patterns to tie and to keep in mind for future use. 

Im not gonna claim to have managed to tie exact copies of the flies there in contained in this book but what I can say is that this book has inspired me to keep busy at the vice and will keep me tying during the dark winter months until the new fishing season arrives next year! 

Naming rights!

Just tied the one so far tonight. Again I never followed any set pattern. Just a style I like to tie! Im calling it The Gallivanter!
Ive noted recently that when posting up flies publicly you need to be careful about naming them. In some quarters its sacrilidge to claim a pattern to be such and su ch for unless one sticks to the exact dressing you really cant claim the flee to be what you say it is. Which to be honest I totally get, because that just causes confusion! Lets put it this way, You buy a new car, a Vauxhall Astra! You really cant tell everybody you've got a new Porsche! 😂 Some  folk take this fly tying game a bit too serious its really only just a bit of fun! Anyway I hope you like my Gallivanter!

Tying at the station!

As mentioned earlier the flytying sesson is now underway.I've recovered my old tying station box from the loft that my wee pal made for me years ago! It was getting unused and neglected up there. Got it back set up in the spare room! Great to have my stuff all organised again! It really makes a huge difference to have a proper tying station with everthing to hand. Im currently starting to fill a box with traditional wets. Heres a flavour of my time at the vice!

Fly Tying Season

The new Fly tying season is almost upon us so Ive been in pre season training recently and been warming up by tying a few in my favourite bumble style as well as a couple of patterns I normally struggle with, muddlers and winged patterns!
I'm Reasonably pleased with my Connamara Black but really pleased with my progress with the muddlers after receiving some advice and tips about these patterns.
The new týing season starts on Sunday 7th October!

A fisher in the hills

Warning this report contains no tales of rising, catching or losing troot!
I was keen to get to Galloway  yesterday for what I imagine will be a last day at the broonies this season!
It was a disappointment troot wise as I returned home piscatorially challenged!
The 100 mile road trip South West, took longer than anticipated as did the extremely boggy climb and walk up to the loch which sits at over 1,000ft above sea level.
I was concerned about the cattle with calves blocking my way on the upward path which runs along a dyke. I seriously thought about turning back. Then I  noticed more of them coming up behind me sounding not best pleased. I had no option but to carry on. Much to my relief they moved sideways up the hill to let me past.
Eventually I made it to the  loch which looked absolutely stunning in this wonderful location.
I arrived at the back of twelve then had lunch, strung my rod and tried to find an area that was comfortable to fish.
Fishing was tough from the bank as the underfoot conditions were difficult with rutted bog, high slopes and rock. I was informed a few day earlier that the next loch further up was better for bank fishing however it took me long enough to get to the first loch. I couldn't get to the area I wanted to fish as I couldn't get across the burn as it was running fast and high and I was just in my wellies. Eventually I reached  the West shore where a big burn rushes in and managed to spend some time around that area starting off with a floating line then switching to a sink tip but all to no avail.
I really didn't  fish it hard and was just contented admiring the wonderful scenery.
Time was limited as It was a two hour walk for me back down  to the car.
On the way back I saw two mountain goats which bolted when startled!
Thankfully and much to my relief there was no sign of the Coos!
The walk back was horrendous I slipped and fell all over the place on the way down until I made it back to the forest track and then the car!
The scenery on the other hand made it all worthwhile!
Hope to return to this area next year in the early summer and hopefully have a tale or two to tell of troot!

At the vice again!

I'm yearning to travel to the southwest corner of Scotland to have a last cast at the troot before the season ends.
With this I  mind I've being tying a few flies for a trip to a couple of hill lochs that are on my radar!

A Zulu from Orkney!

Came across a pattern called the Orkney peach tailed coch zulu (which is a bit of a mouthful for a human never mind a troot) online tonight. Its  a pattern I don't have so I tied one up however I didn't have any peach so a light orange tail will have to do! Looks like a useful and  interesting pattern to have in the box!