My last visit to the river was before it started raining, and that was nine days ago. Add to the equation the development of multiple .NET applications and the creation of a new small streams article, and you have a very busy Gareth.

We’ll leave the tediousness of discussing web development on this website for another day (maybe the day when Hell freezes over), but in regards to the small streams article I’ve been writing, feedback has been very heartening indeed, almost to the point where I feel people actually enjoy reading what I write. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

So far four web-based fishing forums, as well as numerous fishing partners, etc, have all given it the thumbs up; I’ve had multiple emails from individuals asking if I offer guiding services and also emails querying if a video of the article is available! ‘Chuffed’ doesn’t quite cover this sort of reaction to the article, and if I’m honest, I’m a little amazed.

Now that I’ve forced myself to stop writing (I find the writing bit easy, it’s the stopping I have issues with) due to worries that the content and overall objective of the article will become a little diluted, all that’s left to be done is to submit said piece to the magazines. My fingers are crossed.

For now, guiding services aren’t available (I don’t think I’m in an experienced enough position to even think about giving that one a go), although a video relating to the article is definitely on the cards thanks to a mate with a great idea and a nice video camera. Time will tell.

For now, and after nine evenings of writing, my thoughts are drawn to the images of my last fishing trip, where it rained extremely heavily but the local inhabitants (the first of the season) were happy enough to try and eat a size #18 Para Adams before I eventually got rained off the water.

Happy British Summer Time everyone.

Our good friends over in the Gwent Angling Society will be running their annual fly tying night on Friday 16th April. All are welcome, and this year’s tyers include none other than UK fly fishing superstars Gwilym Hughes, Louis Noble, Jonathan Davies, Keith Passant, and Dave Wiltshire, to name just a few. Needless to say, I’ll be there!

The cost of the event will be just £10 (which includes a hog roast – worth the entry fee on its own), with all monies going towards Gwent Angling Society and for the betterment of it’s waterways and habitats. Held at Ponthir Village Hall, the evening starts at 7.00pm.

For further details on the event click here or, alterntively, download a copy of the event poster by clicking on the below poster image.

Well brothers and the sisters of the angle, we have a new member in our ranks, one who persevered through rain and high winds during his first ever fly fishing trip.

Earlier today I took Ben (Mrs FFISW’s 12 year old brother) for his first ever outing, and what better place to go than to a wild and remote upland reservoir. Although the fishing conditions were far from perfect, Ben fished like a pro, did all his own casting and even managed his first brown trout! I think we now have a new fly fisherman on board.

Very, very well done Ben!

The fabulous Upper Neuadd

Ben doing the hard graft…

…and the result!

When Hans van Klinken designed the revolutionary LT Caddis in 1984 (later re-named the Klinkhåmer Special by Hans’ colleague, Hans de Groot) he couldn’t have known how it would change the world of fly fishing and fly tying.

Designed to be a big, buoyant pattern for fast waters, it mimics the emerging caddis (Trichoptera) during its ascending/emerging pupa stage. If you think this pattern is too big, just turn a few rocks next time you’re near your local stream, and I guarantee that some of the caddis you’ll find will be over an inch in size.

These big flies are perfect for the fast riffley waters found on the small tributaries and streams here in South Wales, and the Klinkhåmer is my number one favourite dry/emerger pattern for the smaller/wilder streams.

The Partridge Klinkhamer Xtreme 15BNX hook is a monster for its size rating; a size #16 BNX is easily a size #12 in an equivalent branded hook (the Kamasan B100, for example), so if you’re new to this model of hook, be careful when purchasing them for the first time. As a guide, my go to size for fishing small streams is a size #16; a larger size #14 for extra fast/turbulent waters or a smaller size #18 if the waters get a little slack or the fish spooky.

One major advantage of using such a buoyant pattern is that it’s perfect to use as the ‘indicator’ fly in a Duo/New Zealand/Klink & Dink rig. Simply tie a 2’ length of tippet to the Klinkhåmer’s hook shank and a tungsten bead-head nymph to the tippet. This method is absolutely deadly in the faster riffles and a God-send when the air temperatures are low or where there doesn’t appear to be much surface activity.

For further information on the Klinkhåmer Special, just click here.

Hook: Partridge Klinkhamer Xtreme 15BNX, #16
Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk 10/0, grey
Post: Tiemco Aero Dry, fluorescent pink
Hackle: Rooster, light blue dun or grizzle
Body: Fly Rite Extra Fine Poly, #19 (Light Tan)
Thorax: Peacock herl

When tying the Klinkhamer I find it important to keep a tight/slim but tapered profile…

As you can see, the body pierces the surface film, leaving the combination of parachute hackle and Aerodry post to a) hold the pattern up easily, and b) give the angler a highly visible fly…

A trout’s eye view…

Testing of the new large emerging grannom/caddis pattern (first mentioned here, and tweaked slightly here) has been, so far, positive in as far as buoyancy is concerned, but you’ll have to bear with me in if you want to find out how the trout like it. So far, water temperatures here in South Wales have been damned cold, and I’m yet to even spot a trout, let alone see one that’s feeding.

Still, confidence in this pattern is rising, and the buoyancy of it is incredible. I’ve tested it fished on it’s own through some fairly turbulent waters, as well as with a 2.5mm bead-head nymph trailed behind it and none of these tests show any signs of the pattern sinking easily. CDC is an amazing fly tying ingredient; partner it with deer hair and you may just have a pattern you won’t want to f&%k with.

Of course, this fly is rather specific in regards to what it’s meant to mimic, so it’ll only ever be suited to caddis hatches, but I’m hoping to fool a few wild trout when they start paying ball. Only time will tell.

I’ve had a little interest for this pattern on another site I run, and as always want to share things with you motley bunch first.

Hook: Partidge 15BNX Klinkhamer – Extreme, #16
Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk, grey
Abdomen: SLF Masterclass, Light Damsel Nymph (#29)
Rib: Nylon thread, brown
Thorax: Squirrel
Underwing: x4 CDC feathers, natural
Overwing: Deer hair, coastal

1. Mount your hook in the vice, crush the barb and tie-in your thread.

2. Form a neat body taper, after which, tie in your rib material and wind your thread down to the base.

3. Neatly dub your body, removing any kinks/buildups as you go and keeping to the tapered profile.

4. Wind up the rib in neatly spaced turns.

5. For the thorax, split your thread to form a dubbing loop by spinning your bobbin holder anti-clockwise and, once your thread has been sufficiently un-twisted, insert a needle to open the loop and insert a small amount of squirrel dubbing.

6. Spin your bobbin holder clockwise to spin the dubbing and to form a nice spikey dubbing rope.

7. Wind on the dubbing rope.

8. For the underwing, we need to select four equally sized CDC feathers. Neatly lineup the tips of the feathers and pinch together ready for tying the underwing.

9. Tie in the CDC over the spiky squirrel thorax. The underwing should be just a little longer than the body.

10. For the over-wing, we’ll be using coastal deer hair. Select an acceptable amount of hair and cut.

11. After removing as much of the under-fur from the deer hair as possible, place your deer hair into a hair stacker to align the tips.

12. After a few firm taps your deer hair should be nicely aligned by it’s tips and, at this stage, can then be removed from the stacker.

13. Tie down the deer hair with two firm wraps OVER the hair, and one firm wrap THROUGH the hairs at a roughly 45° angle.

14. Whip-finish behind the eye (beneath the deer hair) and snip the hair to form a nicely angled head. The end. Job done. Go fishing.