How to tie a bead thorax nymph

I use this style of nymph a lot both in 'traditional' nymphing and as a point fly on a wet fly cast. Obviously other tyers have developed this style and it is commonly used in different parts of the world for trout and grayling. I love the extra 'kick' the bead gives to the hackleContinue reading "How to tie a bead thorax nymph"

The Manulla river

A chilly wind is scattering the last of the leaves in the garden and the daylight rapidly fades to an inky blackness. Winter nights can be so depressing, can't they? To cheer myself up I've been thinking about the coming trout season and places where I will ply the gentle art. One place where IContinue reading "The Manulla river"

Tag tips

This is going to be a short post which may help some of you to make neater and stronger flies. Many patterns call for tags at the end of the body of the fly. Historically tags were part of fully dressed salmon flies (think of Jock Scott, Durham Ranger etc). These allegedly provide 'aiming points'Continue reading "Tag tips"

The final link

I found this old spool of tippet material and it got me thinking about the huge changes in the line we use these days compared with when I started fishing in the late 1960's. When I began to fly fish for trout the only line available to make leaders was nylon, and some of thatContinue reading "The final link"

Super Daddy

We are well into the month November so it is high time to get the fly tying gear out. Let’s start off with by tying a daddy imitation. With so many different ones to pick from there hardly seems to be any requirement for a new pattern but this is one which I made upContinue reading "Super Daddy"

New plugs

In Galway yesterday so I dropped into the tackle shops to see if there was anything new. I came across a plug made by ABU Garcia called the Tormentor. I think this has been around for  while, it is just I hadn't seen them until now. Jointed and unjointed are available so I invested inContinue reading "New plugs"

Sutherland Specials

Rummaging through the gear which I took back from my recent trip to Aberdeen I came across a wee box which rattled enticingly. Hard as I tried, I could not for the life of me remember what this small black box contained. It was in with a jumble of fly boxes but whatever was insideContinue reading "Sutherland Specials"

Who let the dogs out?

Bank holiday weekend and the calm weather has continued here in the West, so I decided to try a new mark for me, Little Killary. With Google Earth consulted and the mountain of gear packed in the car the night before, all that remained was to sort out some food to take with me andContinue reading "Who let the dogs out?"

Pining for the fjord

Those if you of a certain age will recall the famous Monty Python dead parrot sketch. Like the Norwegian Blue, I had been pining for a fjord. But this fjord is in Ireland - Killary harbour. Killary is a long, narrow and deep salt water inlet which forms part of the border between counties MayoContinue reading "Pining for the fjord"

Hopes of a salmon

Today there is an air of excitement around the town as the Mayo GAA team are in semi-final action against Tipperary this afternoon. Cars bedecked with green and red flags are heading across the country to watch the game in Dublin, full of hope and anticipation. I on the other hand, am off to tryContinue reading "Hopes of a salmon"