FLY OF THE MONTH
Trout find this clumsy upwing imitation hard to resist when it flops on the water, writes Stuart Foxall
IN SOUTH WALES, THE MAIN EARLY hatches on rivers are often the March brown and the lesser-known large brook dun. Although the March brown is slightly smaller than the dun, these upwings look similar and therefore a fly-fisher needs only one imitation in two sizes.
Luckily for us, leading young angler Rob Miles has been kind enough to share a pattern that meets the brief. Rob has a reputation for finding big trout on his local rivers, the Tawe, Teifi, Usk, Ebbw and Taff, where, although he knows that streamers and nymphs will probably tempt more fish during a day, he is happy to sit and wait for surface-feeding trout.
Rob took inspiration for his fly from one of well-known tyer Gareth Lewis’s patterns. By changing its colours and adding a hackle, he soon found he had a winning fly. Beaver dubbing adds to its floatability and a large CDC wing makes it cumbersome. This may sound odd, but both insects are large and affected by wind, which tends to blow them over or damage them when they are on the water. Trout will target these crippled flies and emergers struggling through the surface, rather than waste precious energy chasing perfectly winged adult insects that may swiftly fly away. Rob’s pattern imitates a struggling insect beautifully.
He prefers a 9ft three-weight rod and a floating line, to which he adds a 12ft Trout Hunter Finesse tapered leader and a small tippet ring, then a tippet, the size (4lb or 5.3lb) and length of which he varies to match the conditions (eg wind strength, water clarity), size of fish and situation (casting space).
He degreases his tippet with mud and adds floatant to his tapered leader and the last foot of his fl-yline. The higher-floating fly-line splashes less when he lifts it for a new cast. He isn’t overly concerned about turning over his leader perfectly. In fact, a cast that collapses slightly gives his fly a slightly longer presentation before the current straightens the fly-line and creates drag.
Rob targets rising fish and gets into position so he can cast upstream towards them. Sometimes fish will be feeding downstream and to save time (hatches can be short) and avoid scaring fish while getting into position, Rob will cast downstream using a high-rod stop to produce a dump cast to cover the fish. Rarely do the fish refuse his offering because the first thing they will see is his large brook dun imitation — and no hungry trout would turn away from that.
The fly is a big imitation and will draw fish up to feed even when they aren’t rising. Therefore, Rob will also cast blind into known trout lies or foam channels where food is naturally funnelled.
CDC flies are difficult to float again after landing a fish. You can dry
