Inspired by the mighty Roy Christie last weekend at the North Wales Country Fair, and after our over-a-beer chat regarding all things fly tying (there were others present, it wasn’t a date), it is time I pushed myself to tie his revolutionary pattern, the Reverse Parachute Emerger.

Fly tiers come and go, but true pioneers live forever. Like messrs Sawyer (for his legendary Pheasant Tail Nymph) and Van Klinken (for the world altering Klinkhåmer) before him, I believe Mr Christie’s patterns will live long after we are gone and that this fantastic pattern is a true eye opener in fly tying innovation.

Incorporating a monofilament paraloop to neatly hold the hackle, the pattern (as its name suggests) is tied in reverse with the tail at the hook’s eye and the head at the curve of the hook. Of course, this style of tying dictates that the hook’s eye is pushed through the surface-film and, as a consequence, a small amount of tippet is also buried…fantastic, I think you’ll agree, for overly spooky trout.

This is a pattern that just needs to be seen to be believed and which is also buoyant enough in all but the most turbulent of waters. Cast it into a gentle glide where fish can be just that little bit too cautious, it simply excels. Best of all, the RPE pattern can be tied to suit any style of emerger, simply match the colour of your artificial to that of your local water’s inhabiting invertebrates and you can’t go wrong. For example, I’ve tied the below pattern to match the emerging Blue Winged Olives of our streams here in South Wales.

A true classic and inspired tying.

Hook: Partridge K14ST (Oliver Edwards Nymph Emerger), #18
Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk 10/0, olive
Tails: 3x dyed olive pheasant tail fibres
Body: 3x dyed olive pheasant tail fibres
Rib: Monofilament, 4lb
Thorax: Superfine, Blue Winged Olive
Wing: Whiting Midge Saddle, medium dun

Another weekend, another game fair and, this time, the game fair world saw the Game Angling Instructors Association at the North Wales Country Fair in Bala, North Wales where we ran a casting workshop for both experienced anglers and for those new to the sport. As always, the kids took to it like professionals, blank canvases easily picking up both overhead and roll casts within the 20 minute sessions, and with some even becoming quite proficient in roll cast pickups.

After a three and a half hour/130 mile drive, the weekend started rather wet and miserable but saw instructors from throughout the UK attending in order to provide professional game angling and fly casting instruction to those either new to/experienced in fly fishing. Needless to say, it was a busy weekend and, thankfully, the weather improved meaning Saturday’s waterproofs were happily replaced with rolled-up shirt sleeves on Sunday with very warm conditions.

Of course, having such a bunch of anglers/instructors get together for a whole weekend guarantees a healthy amount of sarcasm and, as such, the evening conversations at the hotel over a few beers were firmly routed in either fishing, casting or tying. The biggest personal highlight was in meeting legendary fly tier, Roy Christie, and chatting to him about his inspiring and pioneering fly pattern, the Reversed Parachute Emerger (see below image). Simply wonderful, and a joy to watch Roy tie.

A fantastic weekend and one which saw many smiling and happy punters, as well as a constantly laughing bunch of instructors thanks to the hysterical comedian skills provided by Dai Jones, Chris Aldred, etc. Chris, thanks for the photos mate!

My thanks to the tips and advise provided by all the instructors throughout the weekend, these sort of weekends are treasure troves of information for those undergoing training, and it’s fantastic to see how the pros do it. A big thanks must also go to Chris Price for taking the helm on the long drive there and back. Top man!

I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Yours truly under the watchful eye of Chris Price

Chris Aldred in Extreme Instructor mode

Snowdonia National Park during our approach to Bala, North Wales

Louis Noble hard at work

The casting pool…is 2′ considered deep?

Chris Price and a sweet roll cast

Chris Price and Alun Rees hard at work with two competitive friends

A gift from Roy Christie: an RPE, tied by the man himself

Saturday and the rain clouds move in

Chris Aldred and Alun Rees at the end of Day #1

Break time and the guys get together (L-R: Chris Price, Mark Roberts, Me, Louis Noble, Alun Rees and Paul Ainsworth)

End of Day#1: After the punters have left for the day, Chris Price shows us how a distance cast is done

I’d like, just for once, to have an easy Monday morning. After spending a fantastic weekend up in Bala, North Wales with GAIA (report and photos to follow) I wasn’t particularly in the mood to be greeted lovingly at 07:30 by almost 2,000 spam email notifications, blatantly pointing out that there was a mail server issue. 30 minutes of diagnostics, resolution implementation and several server reboots later, I could finally sit back and relax a little: Issue #1 resolved…

…8.5 hours later I was standing in a very low River Usk and casting a #24 biot paradun on 7X tippet at a ridiculously spooky brown trout, the trials of the day easily pushed to the back of my mind.

A special evening.

Fly fishing isn’t a hobby and it definitely isn’t a sport. Fly fishing is a lifestyle, a way of thinking and, as such, it can take us to the most jaw-dropping and inspiring of environments.

The mind of a small-stream fly fisherman is a strange thing; content with the prospect of catching 8″ fish all day long and easily able to shrug off such passing comments as “there’s no fish in there mate” or “they’re bloody tiny” without so much of a thought or reaction. The fish we search for and the waters we seek are, more often than not, found in the most remote/secluded areas, far from people and those who would be content to abuse/degrade them (intentionally or not).

The fish, granted, are highly opportunistic but the skill in catching these small wily fish comes with stealth and a gentle presentation. A heavy foot fall, a little water disturbance or just standing up at the wrong moment is all these fish need as an excuse to dart away; the feeding in a pool/run/riffle put on hold for the immediate future.

More exploration of Stream: B was called for yesterday evening and, after a short journey from work (the commuting traffic thinning as I made my way ever north), Chris, Mark and I were preparing ourselves for the 100′+ decent down a steep valley and a hike down into the gorge below. Although we’re still in dire need of some rain here in South Wales – and, as such, the water levels are depressingly low – the evening’s weather was pleasant and us three anglers progressed happily up this small waterway.

An evening spent exploring a newly discovered small stream is something rather special and, like the boys of our youth, the excitement slapped across each of our faces at the site of every new pool or riffley run found around every corner of the stream was displayed shamelessly. It was only the encroaching darkness which forced us to begin the steep hike back to the top of the valley.

Round #2 of The Exploration of Stream: B is complete and another 2K or so covered, but there is still much, much more to see…

The small stream’s protective steep valley sides and, 100′+ below, is the jewel herself

A wild jewel, and one which has never seen a hook before

Under deep cover, Chris makes a cast…

…a bent rod: the result of a careful approach…

…the gentle landing…

…and the fish itself

Mark keeping a low profile

Darkness approaches…

…and a last cast as darkness settles in

During the last 1008 hours (that’s exactly 6 weeks to you and I) I’ve spent approximately four of them fishing…that equates to a 0.396% fishing:life ratio. Whichever way you look at it, and as a trout fisherman, that ain’t good my son.

My extra-curricular life of late is either spent attending casting workshops/clinics, GAIA mentoring groups or GAIA events at various Country fairs (CLA Game Fair, Herefordshire Country Fair and this weekend’s North Wales Country Fair), but the majority of my time has seen me stood in various fields waving a rod about, attempting to cast a piece of wool within 18″ of cones placed at 20′, 20′ and 45′; implementing in-the-air mends at pre-specified sections of the line; single and double speys, rolls, jump-rolls, and on and on we go.

As some of the kind and knowledgeable inhabitants living in the immediate locality of the aforementioned fields have very helpfully and kindly pointed out, there are indeed no fish in the field, and yes, they’ve also pointed out that the water levels are very low at the moment. Still, they wish me the very best in my endeavors all the same. Looks of amusement and joy beaming from ear to ear as they convey this knowledge from across the field. I laugh heartily.

Tomorrow evening, however, I’ll be putting my practice to the test with a little exploration of a new ‘never-ever-ever-to-be-named’ small stream which I’ve just recently been granted the right to fish as per membership to a new club.

The stream lies at the bottom of a steep gorge, and a fairly good hike is needed to access the water…much of the hike is spent sliding down the valley sides. Still, such places are known for their seclusion and lack of others, which is fine by me.

A full report will follow, however, a few images taken at the bottom of a darkened valley during our first reconnaissance mission are shown below…