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Allrounder Moderator User is Offline

Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 5465 Location: Somerset. UK
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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When I first started on Chew the stick fly with a red (or green) tag was the nymph of choice. One of my recent fish had a lot of caddis in it so I don't see why it wouldn't still work today. I have used poly leaders in the past but I don't even own one now. Then the washing line was developed so I got a midge tip line.
On the subject of tactic and tackle, I was interested to read that Chris Ogborne advocated the use of 4lb BS leaders in his book 'Blagdon' published in 1987. I think he would need a lot of backing if he tried that on Blagdon at the moment!
Alan _________________ Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association
If you see me on the bank, say hello... from a safe distance! 
Last edited by Allrounder on Mon May 25, 2020 9:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Fryfishing 1,000 Post Club  User is Offline

Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1773 Location: Watford Hertfordshire
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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There is not a great deal of difference in a stick fly and a Diawl Bach 🤔 well maybe there is??
A bit of lead, a tag and a full hackle.
Have used sinking poly leader on a river but it was a bitch to cast.
P _________________ Floating Lines, buzzers, nymphs, stick floats, maggots and throwing lures at bitey things.
Last edited by Fryfishing on Mon May 25, 2020 6:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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tenet 2,000 Post Club User is Offline
Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 2103
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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There was a time when most self respecting reservoir fly fishermen would have a team of Worm Flies on their cast. They would often be tied on bespoke tandem irons with the rear hook sometimes inverted. Haven't seen one for ages.
https://images.app.goo.gl/w3AD8Sha2Yha1CHp9 |
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Allrounder Moderator User is Offline

Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 5465 Location: Somerset. UK
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 9:37 am Post subject: |
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I often had a tandem Worm Fly on the point back in the day. Both the standard and a black variant 😀
Alan _________________ Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association
If you see me on the bank, say hello... from a safe distance!  |
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Fryfishing 1,000 Post Club  User is Offline

Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1773 Location: Watford Hertfordshire
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 9:46 am Post subject: |
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It is going off so subject.
My all time favourite that I still tie and use is a Black Pennell, tied to sink and another version to fish up in the water.
It still catches me fish at Farmoor.
 _________________ Floating Lines, buzzers, nymphs, stick floats, maggots and throwing lures at bitey things. |
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wylye 500 Post Club User is Offline
Joined: 02 Apr 2014 Posts: 549
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2020 5:50 am Post subject: |
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I took advantage of Amazon during this lock down period and replaced my copies of "the Pursuit of Stillwater Trout" by Brian Clarke which is a ral classic from back in the 1970's. Also I got Conrad Voss Bark's work on "A History of Fly Fishing." An excellent book in which it can be seen how we have re-invented the wheel on more than one occasion. |
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wylye 500 Post Club User is Offline
Joined: 02 Apr 2014 Posts: 549
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 11:23 am Post subject: |
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Fryfishing wrote: |
It is going off so subject.
My all time favourite that I still tie and use is a Black Pennell, tied to sink and another version to fish up in the water.
It still catches me fish at Farmoor.
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Tie a tuft of yellow fluorescent floss in below the GP tippets, Peter. About half the length of the tippet tail. |
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Allrounder Moderator User is Offline

Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 5465 Location: Somerset. UK
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 11:42 am Post subject: |
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wylye wrote: |
I took advantage of Amazon during this lock down period and replaced my copies of "the Pursuit of Stillwater Trout" by Brian Clarke which is a ral classic from back in the 1970's. |
A book I would encourage anyone just starting out on stillwater trout fishing to read. He has a way of taking the reader with him on his journey and makes a brilliant case for imitative fishing which I think most anglers would prefer to follow, given the choice.
Alan _________________ Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association
If you see me on the bank, say hello... from a safe distance!  |
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wylye 500 Post Club User is Offline
Joined: 02 Apr 2014 Posts: 549
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 5:37 am Post subject: |
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Allrounder wrote: |
wylye wrote: |
I took advantage of Amazon during this lock down period and replaced my copies of "the Pursuit of Stillwater Trout" by Brian Clarke which is a ral classic from back in the 1970's. |
A book I would encourage anyone just starting out on stillwater trout fishing to read. He has a way of taking the reader with him on his journey and makes a brilliant case for imitative fishing which I think most anglers would prefer to follow, given the choice.
Alan |
I think you may be a little sanguine if you think most anglers would prefer the imitative route, Alan, wedded as they are to blobs and fabs. Brian's is a good book and I found more to agree with in it now than I did when I got my first copy. Brian signed this for me and I made the mistake of lending it and never saw it again. I was then a confirmed lure stripper. Baby Dolls, Sweeney Todds, Black Chenilles and Vivas were my stock in trade. Wasn't until the end of the 1970's that I began to turn to the lighter approach. |
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Fryfishing 1,000 Post Club  User is Offline

Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1773 Location: Watford Hertfordshire
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 6:40 am Post subject: |
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I think it was Pursuit Of Still Water Trout that turned me into a line watcher and increased my catch rate.
 _________________ Floating Lines, buzzers, nymphs, stick floats, maggots and throwing lures at bitey things. |
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Allrounder Moderator User is Offline

Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 5465 Location: Somerset. UK
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 9:54 am Post subject: |
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wylye wrote: |
I think you may be a little sanguine if you think most anglers would prefer the imitative route, Alan, wedded as they are to blobs and fabs. Brian's is a good book and I found more to agree with in it now than I did when I got my first copy. Brian signed this for me and I made the mistake of lending it and never saw it again. I was then a confirmed lure stripper. Baby Dolls, Sweeney Todds, Black Chenilles and Vivas were my stock in trade. Wasn't until the end of the 1970's that I began to turn to the lighter approach. |
I think most anglers just want to catch fish and pulling Blobs and FABs can be the most effective way to do it, certainly where fresh rainbow trout are involved. Thankfully I don't know anyone who would choose to fish Blobs and FABs through choice if they believed they could catch as many by taking a purely imitative route.
My copy is also missing off my bookshelf which is a shame because it means I have to recall one of the most intriguing anecdotes from memory. It involved him fishing a small fishery where he stalked a large rainbow in clear water. It refused every natural imitation he presented and finally, out of desperation, he tried a bright lure (a 'Mondays Child' I believe) which the trout took without hesitation. I always admired the fact that although his book was evangelising for a imitative approach to stillwater trout fishing, he recognised that his approach wasn't infallible and the trout will always have the final word. If he had one back then, I wonder if he would have used a Blob instead of the Mondays Child?
Alan _________________ Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association
If you see me on the bank, say hello... from a safe distance!  |
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Fryfishing 1,000 Post Club  User is Offline

Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1773 Location: Watford Hertfordshire
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:36 am Post subject: |
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Maybe we should resurrect this post considering the current state of the country in various forms of lock down.
Earlier, I commented that I had been sent a manuscript from my former employer to read and give a verdict on, well it has now been published[img] [/img] _________________ Floating Lines, buzzers, nymphs, stick floats, maggots and throwing lures at bitey things. |
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Fryfishing 1,000 Post Club  User is Offline

Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1773 Location: Watford Hertfordshire
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:35 am Post subject: |
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I have a copy of the new Tom Fort, Casting at Shadows.
The blurb on the back suggests a history of fish and fishing in the UK and the current threat to wildlife and the environment. Plus the stories of the fish and their unique history.
 _________________ Floating Lines, buzzers, nymphs, stick floats, maggots and throwing lures at bitey things. |
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blondie 2,500 Post Club User is Offline
Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 2680 Location: BRISTOL
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