Friday 31 October 2008

Light Cahill for Izaac Walton Trust


Last night was club night, we tied flies for the Izaac Walton Cottage Trust with a view to giving them to the trust this weekend at the BFFI for fund raising.


I chose to tie a Light Cahill on a size 14 using yellow thread, wood duck for the tail and feathers, pale yellow superfine dubbing (I found the light cahill a little pale) for the body and a light ginger Whiting saddle hackle. I ensured I had a couple of layers of yellow thread over the hook before dubbing to give a depth of colour. In this instance I did not split the wings.


I always look forward to this show, and will stay over for the weekend. I like to take in as many demonstrations and talks as possible over the days but predominantly watch the tyers, you cannot fail to pick up new ideas and techniques.

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph


I have good intentions next season of returning to more basic traditional patterns, I think sometimes we over complicate our patterns. With this in mind I have been tying some Gold Ribbed Hares Ear's.


To add some interest I have tied them using Arizona Simi Seal Dubbing in amber olive for the body and Arizona Synthetic Dubbing in dark hare's ear for the thorax. The dubbing was recommended to me by a friend and I obtained some from the US. The wing case is golden pheasant tail fibres.

Tuesday 28 October 2008


Hello, welcome to my Fly Tying Blog.

I have been fishing since the age of 10, and up until 5 years ago fished mainly for coarse fish. I became increasingly frustrated with crowded banks and over fished lakes and so turned my attentions to fly fishing. For the first 3 or 4 years I fished almost exclusively on lakes, but this year I have broadened my horizons to some small rivers in the Cotswolds.

I started fly tying at an evening class run by Ian Hockley of Westlake Fly Fishing. This was a superb course covering all the basic techniques and I would recommend Ian’s courses to anybody, more details of which can be found at
www.westlakeflyfishing.co.uk/

Fly tying has really captured my imagination. I tie mainly trout flies; enjoy learning new techniques and applying them to flies that I use, but equally respecting the history behind many of our traditional patterns.

I have set up this blog to record the patterns I tie and use, and maybe provide some encouragement to others.

I hope you find your visit my blog worthwhile.