Tackle editor Rob Hardy shares three of his favourite river dry-flies
THE DUCK’S DUN
Hook Size 12-18 Kamasan B170 or similar Thread Olive nano thread Tail Blue dun cock hackle fibres Body Light olive dubbing (also cream, grey, yellow, fiery brown and claret) Hackle 2-4 turns of blue dun cock Wing 2/3 plumes of natural CDC
I was introduced to this fly by Charles Jardine in the late ’90s. It is a fantastic all-purpose olive dun pattern, which benefits from the natural buoyancy of CDC. I like most of my dry-flies to sit low, either on or in the water’s surface. They look more natural and are easier for the trout to take.
The original had a slightly palmered front hackle, trimmed at the bottom to sit low. I now tie it parachute style, the hackle wound around the stiff stems of the CDC plumes as a post.
The fly’s general design is flexible, and I use it to cover many different fly species, changing the body and hackle colour to suit the natural.
I’ve even caught sea-trout from the River Tweed in late spring on a size 12 variant, tied with a yellow body to imitate yellow may duns.
RED-RIBBED PHEASANT TAIL
Hook Size 12-20 Kamasan B170 or similar Thread Waxed 8/0 blood red Tail Red game hackle fibres Body Pheasant tail fibres Rib Red thread Hackle 2-4 turns of red game cock
My take on Payne Collier’s classic dry-fly has only three materials. I much prefer general, suggestive patterns to exact imitations, and this fly covers a multitude of naturals. Early in the season, in larger sizes, it’s taken as a large dark olive, and in smaller sizes, it might be a gnat. It really comes into its own when BWO spinners are on the water —it is a good imitation of most baetis spinners, as well as terrestrials and smaller sedges. It is a pattern that just looks edible to the fish
