The first venture of the new trout season this past Saturday saw a little field testing of the new Grannom Emerger and, on watching it trundle confidently and buoyantly through a few turbulent white water riffles, I know that it will catch trout. A pity then that Saturday revealed no such trout, but then it is early season, and as such, rather hard.

It’s buoyancy was fantastic, however, one area which could have been improved on was the artificial’s visibility. Like most emerger patterns, it sits very low in the surface film, and so it becomes a little difficult to pick out the fly from the jumble of visual noise that accompany the faster, more riffley waters. Let’s add a little AeroDry.

Version #1

Version #2

Field testing continues this Saturday.

Report to follow…

I must admit that I’ve finally managed to pick myself up a copy of Hatches, albeit a little late, as I’ve been aware of its existence for quite a while now. That said, if (like me) you’re a little late in procuring a copy, I highly, HIGHLY recommend it.

All of the enclosed articles and photographs within this high-gloss magazine feature some truly jaw-dropping high-resolution photography, and the step-by-step tying guides, narratives and articles are all top-class. This magazine is a fantastic resource for fly tiers everywhere, and if you’re passionate about your tying, you might just want to take a look at a copy.

Detailed and high quality photography by the bucket load…

Advanced tying techniques and easy to follow step-by-steps…

I picked up my copy of Hatches from Phil over at The Fly Tying Boutique as his service (in my very honest opinion) is second to none (I order one day, it arrives the next). While you’re there, check out the Boutique’s range of tying materials…but be careful, you might find quite a few other things that you’ll like

As well as The Fly Tying Boutique, more information on the magazine can be found by visiting the Hatches Magazine website, although as it’s a US based magazine, you may have trouble sourcing it.

Happy tying!!!

After a very enjoyable and in depth discussion regarding Grannom patterns with the mighty Mr Meadows recently, I’ve managed to preen a few new ideas from the master himself (as is usually the case when we discuss our tying). I’m no expert, but what studies I have read show that trout will show more interest towards the nymphal and emerging stages of the Grannom and less so towards the adult, although they will, of course, still eat any adults foolish enough to land on the water’s surface. Our discussion revolved around a Grannom pattern consisting of a curved, off-yellow body and a CDC wing.

I look forward to this first main caddis hatch of the year with great excitement, and the sight of huge clouds of Grannom gently drifting upstream, or rocks appearing to move with a thick covering of the beasts always brings a big smile to my face.

Because of which, I’ve been messing around with a caddis pattern which includes the above mentioned body and wing combination, but I’ve also added a few extra ingredients to the mix, such as a spiky squirrel thorax, a rib, and a deer hair over-wing, and I’m rather eager to try out the new pattern.

This pattern is intended to be a large emerger, in fact, a little larger than the natural as I’d also like it to be able to support a tungsten bead-head nymph should the need arise. That said it should imitate the emerger stage of the Grannom fairly decently (although I’ve a feeling it may just work as an emerging Mayfly too, due to it’s size). Its ingredients should also ensure that it floats well in faster runs and should be perfect for the violent white waters of the upper Taff.

You might remember the above pattern from a recent post I published showing two simple flies with only a few ingredients. This pattern raised a little interest on the Fly Fishing Forums lately as I received a couple of private messages asking if I would mind creating a step-by-step for the pattern’s tying process. Having never done an SBS before I was a little nervous, but what the hell, and why not.

So here we are, my very first SBS, and a guide to tying a fantastic pattern which has caught me some beautiful trout throughout the end of last season and also a good number of grayling throughout this winter. If you think the fish are rising, but can’t see any airborne insects, give this pattern try.

Hook: Varivas 2200BL-B, #24
Thread: Gudebrod 10/0, grey
Body: Pearl tinsel
Breathers: Niche Midge Wing, grey
Thorax: Squirrel

1. Catch-in thread and wind down and around hook shank.

2. Tie-in your pearl tinsel, wind thread back up body to just behind the eye, wind-up tinsel and catch down.

3. Catch in Midge Wing using two turns of thread.

4. Un-twist thread by spinning anti-clockwise, split with a needle and insert a small pinch of squirrel dubbing.

5. Re-twist dubbing by spinning clockwise to spin dubbing…

6. …three turns of dubbing/thread.

7. Tie off directly behind eye (this angles the breather upwards) and trim Midge Wing to desired length.

Happy midging.