PERFECT PARTNERS
Rob Denson explains which colours and patterns work best with blue hues
LAST MONTH, I WAS LESS THAN flattering regarding the piscatorial pulling powers of purple, although I suspect some of you don’t feel the same way. Blue —another Marmite colour —is a different kettle of fish.
As a fervent novice tyer, I tied and tried countless patterns, experimenting with every colour under the sun. Purple was an unmitigated flop; blue succeeded virtually every time it was put to the test. Now, many years later, blue forms a significant part of my armoury.
Catching fish with blue flies is one thing, but understanding and explaining why blue works is not straightforward. It's true that hues on the blue part of the spectrum are often seen in food items such as beetles and fry. Blue also transmits better under water than warmer colours, especially peat-stained water, which may contribute to the efficacy of blue in lochs and loughs. And a flash of blue possibly reminds our migratory friends of bait fish in the sea.
Finally, I suspect that when blue is paired with the right colours, it provides strong contrasts and is so visually arresting that interest is all but guaranteed, and a reaction is highly likely.
SKARR A MONGER
Hook Size 8-12 Kamasan B175 Thread UTC wine 70 denier Rib Gold wire Body Rear half: opal Mirage; front half: seal’s fur mix of fluoro orange and Orkney peach Body hackles Rear: fluoro orange cock; front: grizzle hen dyed orange Shoulder hackle 1 Golden pheasant body feather dyed orange Shoulder hackle II Golden pheasant body feather dyed red Shoulder hackle III Grizzle hen dyed Silver Doctor blue
There’s not much in fly-tying that pleases me more than placing claret and blue in close proximity —a classic combination for wild brownies and migratory fish, particularly under thick cloud. This Skarra Monger, however, was tied with sunshine in mind, hence the inclusion of bright orange and gold.
TEAL, BLUE & SILVER CR IPPLER
Hook Size 8-12 Kamasan B175 Thread UTC black 70 denier Rib Silver wire Body Flat silver tinsel Body hackle Natural grizzle hen Shoulder hackle 1 Natural teal flank tied in by tip Shoulder hackle II Grizzle hen dyed Silver Doctor blue Shoulder hackle III Blue peacock neck feather tied in by tip
Always give plenty of thought to your choice of tinsel and rib colours. Sometimes just the colour of a wire rib can alter the overall feel of a pattern quite significantly. Silver is another perfect partner for blue, which I chose for both the tinsel and the rib in this Teal, Blue and Silver Crippler, setting off the cool tones beautifully.
ROB DENSON
has fly-fished for trout for 25 years, visiting all four corners of Britain and Ireland, combining his love of fly-tying, photography and a rolling wave. Web: robdenson.co.uk
BL ACK & BLU
