The Floating Fly by Malcolm Greenhalgh

This is a great book that cleverly combines the development of the floating fly, as Malcolm describes it, with examples of the latest ideas working in practice.

The book follows the history of the dry fly and refers to earlier writing on the subject, where significant developments have taken place. This is particularly useful, if like myself you are fairly new to fly fishing. Malcolm brings each thread up to date with the most recent thinking. Each subject is supported by stories from Malcolm's own experiences, either rejecting or supporting various ideas.

The latter part of the book provides details of some of the patterns that Malcolm uses, how they were developed and situations where they might be used. They are described as "Dry flies that catch fish" and give the impression that is what they do, they are not flashy flies for the angler, but in the most part very simply flies. The book does not give tying instruction, there are plenty of others to give you the infomation you need to tie the patterns.

A book well worth reading, written as though you were just chatting at the bar, very readable.

Fly Tying League Round 2

Round 2 of the Fly Tying League required three CDC Loopwing Emergers to be tied. The fly is very straight forward to tie, however I found that the CDC loopwing either worked first time or not at all and it was pointless messing about trying to make it look good.

Hook - size 14

Thread - brown

Tail - brown partridge fibres

Abdomen - Arizona dubbing

Wing - Natural CDC

Thorax - Arizona dubbing

The results of Round 1 have just been announced, I am equal 30th, a very pleasing start.

Fly Tying League Round 2

For the additional fly in Round 2 of the Fly Tying League I have tied John Goddard's Poly May Spinner.

Hook - size 12

Thread - black

Tails - 3 or 4 black microfibetts

Wings - black and white calfs tail

Body - white poly yarn

Hackle - 3 turns of black cock

Pheasant Tail Spider

The Pheasant Tail Spider.

The body is pheasant tail fibre, I used two fibres, and the hackle is Grey Partridge.

Partridge and Yellow

The Partridge and Yellow Spider

The body is yellow thread and the hackle Grey Partridge.

The hackle is a little heavy in this example.

Lurex Spider

The Lurex Spider.

I have changes the pattern slightly using white uni-floss for the body and a Jackdaw's hackle.

Greenwell's Spider

The Greenwell's Spider.

The body is yellow thread (dark waxed) with gold wire rib. The hackle from a variegated dun hen.

Black Spider

The Black Spider.

Black thread body and black hen hackle.

Phil Holding at the Fly Fair recommended that the body should go back as far as the hook point and the head should be finished with 2 half hitches to minimise bulk. Using a finer thread will also give a neater finish.

Black and Peacock

Having been busy completing some decorating, there was no tying until after Christmas.

Encouraged by Phil Holding at the Fly Fair and the Spidersplus website I have been tying a few spiders and hope to fish with them more often next year.

The first is the Black and Peacock. A peacock herl body and black hen hackle.

This, and all the following spiders are tied on 14 and 16 wet hooks.