OwdTrout

Moggy, many of the old patterns now have to be tied with alternatives as the originals are not available. You can tie them with just about any soft hackle. You may note that above I have used the term "Orange Partridge". That is a traditional pattern tied with Pearsall's 6B silk and a grey partridge hackle tinged with brown. No rib, no dubbing. Tied short in the traditional way. If it was anything else I would have said "Partridge and Orange" which covers a range of monstrosities from using 6A silk to dubbing with seal's fur and ribbing with stripped peacock herl. I tie spiders on light wire hooks generally. often the modern down eye barbless dry fly hooks. I have some original hooks for these flies and they are very light wire, but they would have had horse hair as a tippet snelled to the hook, under the dressing. Making the body much fatter, slim is what you are after, but not to an extreme. Should you want to tie some of the originals the best source of materials is Steve Cooper at Cookshill. He has all sorts, and at a good price. Another thing to look at are the Bramah Hens from Whiting's Farm. If anyone out there has a cat that brings them a present of a water rat (vole) don't throw it away! Put it into a couple of plastic bags and freeze it. I'll call and collect it! Water rat is usually substituted with mole. It is not a good substitute. The texture is right but the fibre length is way too short. Making the proper effect of a water rat dubbed body impossible to reproduce. Cheers OT

Yes Moggy, upstream is the way. No movement, dead drift. Just like dry fly. There is no insect that can swim across current like down and across spiders do. It is normal to fish them on a long rod with just a gentle roll cast upstream and track them back down. you can also fish them from across and up to across and down controlling the drift. From about 45 degrees upstream to 45 degrees down. An aerial mend in the cast will increase the length of drift. No mayflies yet, its too early. Towards the end of May and into June for the Mayfly hatches though they will hatch into August. Ho I see, you are speaking colonial to me. Yes we have hatches of up winged flies most of the year. Even so they are very sparse during the colder months (like June, July and August last year). The most common is the large dark olive baetis rhodani. Cheers OT

I showed you a good pub in that area, the Airedale Heifer. Still it is a bit out of your way. You should have escaped back across the border before seeking nourishment. Or you could have had fish and chips in Long Preston.. Wrapped in chicken wire of course!!! Come here next weekend and I'll introduce you to the monochrome brownies of the Irwell. They do seem very black and white. Not really buttery brown at all. Looking at your new photo I can't help thinking that you must have amazingly long arms and small hands. Also the depth of field on that lens is very good. Did you use a long telephoto to squash the perspective? once I get Photostrop up and running again I'll be "examining" that image to reveal the truth. Cheers, OT

p.s. The problem of Alan's thirteenth cast is now solved. I've tied him a bakers dozen!!! There will not be a problem with a fourteenth... The season only lasts 6 months.

What a difference a week makes! After last Sunday's great start, I spent all week looking forward to getting back to the Irwell. work rules out a mid day trip in the week. Yesterday dawned bright and clear, not too windy, it looked ideal. by 7 am I was sat at the tying table cranking out flies at a good rate. Sustained, as usual, by a steady flow of coffee. Anticipation was building nicely, until 9:20 that was. When I was disturbed, mid whip finish, by my door bell. It was Mr Plod. He kindly informed me that they had just had to break down the front door of one of the residents. The property couldn't now be secured so could I attend until the emergency joiner arrived to replace the door. Ah the joys of being an estate manager. At least there was time to get to the river so long as the joiner turned up soon. To my joy he did, but, there is always a "but", Mr Plod had not been restrained in effecting an entry, and the joiner didn't have a door to replace the wreckage with. The resident was safe. At least I didn't have a body to deal with. Finally I got away just too late for the fish. Back to the vice, and finish Alan's flies then. There is always tomorrow. This morning it was a good bit cooler, thanks to a strong gusty wind. On the way to the river I have to cross it via a road bridge. Looking over the parapet revealed that the water level was down about 18 inches on last Sunday. Hmm, not promising. As I set up my rod a few minutes later, the trout started to rise. This stretch is sheltered by high banks. Access isn't easy. I had hoped for some shelter from the wind. I had hoped in vain. Gusts of wind found their way into the steep valley, and made casting difficult to impossible. two fish rose half heartedly to a Klinkhammer, but it soon became obvious that they had their sights set just sub surface. Once again the Large Dark Olives trickled off. I didn't see a single one taken from the surface. The big splashy rises should have given me a clue sooner, that the fish didn't want a dry fly. They were just turning at the surface for insects just below it. Well what to fish? I decided to go back to something that has worked for hundreds of years, and fish North Country Wets. A Polt Bloa on the point, Orange Partridge and my favourite Hare's Lug 'n' Plover on the top. From bob to point about 4 foot. fishing them upstream as one should. (Was it Pritt who said, about fishing these flies across and down "'tis the devils work, my son, and do not let me catch you about it."?) After about ten minutes the Orange Partridge brought a nice brownie to hand. By this time the rise was petering out so I made my way back to the bank. My feet being numb with the cold, (some would say to match my head) I stumbled on the bank falling and jarring both shoulders with the impact. I certainly don't bounce as well as I once did. My knee pads earned their keep as I landed heavily on my right knee as well. A pair of strap on knee pads to go over your waders is a worth wile investment. That was it for me, not a total loss but the river had the better of me today. I wouldn't want it any other way. Sometimes the river should win. Otherwise where is the sport. we'll see what next weekend brings. Cheers, OT

Thanks Vagabond, you reminded me I don't have a copy of that one, situation now remedied. Jim where are you fishing? Another useful book is In the Rings of the Rise buy Vincent Marinano. Brilliant photography, but more one for the chalk streams. The best advice I have had is look for change. Another, in fact to my mind the most important, thing to look at is presentation. Often much more important than fly choice. the wrong fly presented well can be changed and the fish will still be there. A perfect imitation presented badly will clear the pool of fish. Speaking of fish i should go catch some. Cheers, OT

Don't just take my word for it. Terry Griffiths writing in FF&FT said it is the best dry fly for both river and still water. There are some excellent variations as well. Most of the rest of the site is worth exploring, BUT there is a photo of me on there. Best avoided. Cheers, OT

Another thought (yes I do have them Al). Would it not be much better to introduce a fixed penalty system for licence evasion? Say 10 times the licence fee that should have been paid. Cheers OT

Don't tell me you want some of those as well. OT

Try this for a variation on the Elk hair caddis. Amazing! Cheers OT

"Wild" I'd be livid if they made me live in Gloucestershire.

Hi Dave, Well I don't know the shop you mentioned so can't help there. As a guide to rods and lines this will let you choose what is suitable. AFTMA, length, Use 0 to 3 Up to 9’ Specialized light line fishing usually in small streams. Not good if there is any wind. 4 to 6 Up to 11’+ General river fishing. Rods up to 10’ are used for dry fly, the longer ones for fishing spider wets and Czech nymphs 5 to 8 9’ to 11’ Still water trout 6 to 12 9’ to 17’ Salmon and sea trout 6 to 15 9’ Salt water fly fishing 9 & 10 9’ to 10’ Pike AFTMA This is based on the weight of fly line that a rod is designed to cast. (the first ten yards of it to be precise) The correct way to choose a fly rod is to look at the size range of the flies you are going to be casting. You need to choose a line that has that has enough weight to carry the fly. Then a rod to cast that line. My 8'6" AFTMA 4 rods will not cast a pike fly; they are just too heavy. Also I don't trust a rod maker who will not commit to a single AFTMA number for their rods. if a maker puts on his rod AFTMA 4 to 8 they are really saying "I don't know what line this rod is for". You may hear the term "balanced outfit". That is really the holy grail. It is about matching everything perfectly. However what feels good to you may not appeal to me. You need to try out the rod and line before you buy. At the very minimum on grass. It is a shame you are a long way from me. Otherwise I'd take you out and you could try my kit. At worst you would then know you don't like it. It is far better to start with someone who is proficient. you will need to get the basics of casting in a field before you start. if someone can not explain the mechanics of a cast to you they are not someone to learn from. Good casting looks relaxed. If they are putting lots of effort in then they can't cast themselves. All you will get from them is their bad habits. Some years ago Donald Downs expounded on teaching children to cast. he recommended a rod not longer than 1 1/2 times their height. Hewel Morgan (World champion fly caster) says, "do not go above 9' for a rod to learn with". For now stick to 9', it will cover most things. If there is one area you can save on it is the reel. Get an inexpensive reel and put the cash saved into a better floating line. For sinking lines mill ends will do for now. Knowing the exact sink rate will not be important unless you get into competition. Most of all though, enjoy it. I hope that has helped, but I fear it has only clouded the waters. Cheers, OT

The trick is to pull gently and slowly. Often they will come out. Ironic that once you are proficient enough to tie the replacements your casting has also improved, so you don't loose as many. Of course Alan Roe doesn't worry about loosing them... He just gets more off me. Way back in the mists of time he taught me the basics of fly tying. little did I know that was a debt never to be repaid. (You'll have them soon Al). Cheers, OT

Al - unfortunately my supply of GP body feathers has gone the way of all flesh. You'll have to make do with Coq de Leon. I must ask if I only make you 12 what will you do for a fly on your thirteenth cast? (Ducking) Moggy, With the fishing day so short at the moment I will have chance to get tying. Though I'm not now quite as fast as I once was. The eyes are going and lack of practice, but Alan's Greenwell's will not take over an hour and a half. Then I get to mine. If anyone wants the dressing for my stuck shuck emerger here it is Hook: Light wire curved shank #14 - 20 To suit natural. Thread: Spiderweb 18/0 Shuck: A few strands of poly yarn knotted at the end (Its easier to make a load at once by knotting a six inch length of yarn every half inch. Body: Stripped peacock herl (Unspin the thread and wind it over the herl for strength. It will not show.) Wings: CdC split Marc Petitjean style. (Set in thread, spun, wound forced upward as you wind, then split by bringing a piece of floss through the bunch). This is the "secret" method used on his dry flies, gleaned from the man himself. He should know better than to let me see him tie anything. Cheers. OT

As always on the first day of the new season, I set off to wet a line. Since the close of last season I've moved, new job new home. My new place is only 5 minutes from the Irwell, on foot. That means new season and a new river to explore. Local knowledge I had gleaned yesterday in the toy shop gave me a starting place. I'm beginning to fear the local toy shop. They have started offering me coffee when I enter. It’s not good to be that relaxed around tackle for sale. This morning it was bright and warm, if a little windy, when I went to clear the last bits of coarse tackle from the car. Those odds and ends that seem to live in the boot. "Well a good day to wet a line, but probably in vain", I was thinking. Still, opening day has to be marked. About 11:30 I set out in my waders, stick in hand. The Irwell here is quite large. Standing on the bank watching I couldn't see any sign of a fish. I could however, see large dark olives (baetis rhodani) hatching off. Maybe there is hope of a fish to start the season. About 12:15, having moved twenty yards downstream I spotted a rise. Worked out the best casting position and waded into place to cover the rise. I hoped it wasn't an early season "oncer" that doesn't rise again. By the time I was in place that one rise had turned into 5 or six fish rising frequently. My hopes soared. A feeding fish is a fish that can be caught. My first cast landed nicely upstream of a rising fish and the fly disappeared in a swirl. In my excitement I struck too soon, missing the fish. Calm down, these are trout not grayling. Three casts later another swirl and I was into a fish, a good one too. Then I wasn't. Soon I had missed 2 and lost 3. Despite this a lot of fish were now rising, time to stop and think. I changed fly. When I had arrived I had set up a duo of a size 18 Klinkhammer (a big fly even in that size) with a size 18 bead head nymph a yard below it. They came off and on went one of the all time best dry flies, a CdC and Elk. Either the change of fly, or the pause to relax a little, worked. Minutes later I was playing a hard fighting brownie of about a pound. It took a good couple of minutes to land that fish. During the close season I have been very lax in my fly tying. After loosing another fish I didn't have a similar sized CdC and Elk to replace my now drowned fly. In its place I tied my own stuck shuck emerger. Today that was a better fly than the CdC and Elk. As I worked up the pool it accounted for two more fish, one larger and one smaller than the first, both good hard fighting brownies. At this time of the season dry fly will often out score the nymph. There is usually a short window in the middle of the day when the fish will rise. Sure enough at 1:45 the fish switched off. As I walked away there wasn't a rise anywhere. There is no use fishing a nymph; the trout haven't switched to the nymph, they have stopped feeding. That is the best opening day I've ever had, and bodes well for the season to come. Now it is time to play catch up with my fly tying. I have a feeling I'm going to need a lot this year. Cheers, OT

I'm told that it is impossible to tell the difference between a cormorant and a crow when looking along the barrel of a shotgun. not being a shooter (any more), I wouldn't know. Cheers OT

Yesterday evening I was thinking of ending the season with a trip down south to the Dane (I don't often venture into what is thought of as "Greater France"). However this morning the lure of a possible barbel drew me north to the Ribble. It is the fault of Chris Tarrant who was talking barbel with Steve Wright on Radio 2 yesterday afternoon. As I now don't have a ticket that covers the Ribble, I looked up day tickets. In the end I opted for the convenience of the Tickled Trout stretch. On arriving I was confronted with a much bigger expanse of river than the Ribble I am familiar with. At first glance it seemed fairly featureless. But I had paid for my ticket by then, and I'm still suffering the after effects of my exile in Tykeland. It would have to be fished. Where to start? Then I noticed a change in the water, a large flat area on the surface, just upstream. Must be a feature of some kind on the bottom, it had to be worth a try. My experience of barbel is, to say the least, limited. I've caught one. Pellet seems to be the bait of choice, so on went a pellet with a cage feeder filled with crumb and pellet. (Just how do you feed a cage?) Anyway for a while I excelled in a very specialised branch of fishing that I am an absolute master at; loosing feeders. I suppose on featureless water you can make a feature out of enough swim feeders. When my stock of large cage feeders ran out I attacked my reserves of open end feeders. Fortunately before these ran out things changed. My one good bite of the day sent the rod tip thumping and, for once, I was alert enough to hit it just right. It wasn't the barbel I had hoped for, rather a lunking great chub. It only just went into my net which makes it over 22". Without doubt my personal best. As I don't have scales I can't give an exact weight but its pectoral fin was more than twice the length of my feeder (2 inches) It was a deep fish as well. Much too heavy to risk my landing net handle by trying to lift it out of the water. Tomorrow its down the road with the fly rod to find some trout on the Irwell. Fortunately I can walk there, as on the way home tonight the exhaust went on my car. Perhaps not the high note to go out on that I was hoping for, but I'll settle for it. A brownie tomorrow will make the perfect change from season to season. Cheers, O.T.

For a long time now I have advocated that rod licences should be valid for one year. Not from the date of issue but from when they are first checked by an E.A. bailiff when you are fishing. That would get them out of their fancy offices doing their job. several years ago one e.a. regional office had a notice up which said, "If ****** ****** calls in to report a pollution incident it is to be treated with the utmost urgency." The implication of this is that if you or I average Joe angler reports pollution they don't take it seriously. In the last 19 years I have had my licence checked twice. Apparently this is quite a high hit rate. once in 1990 and again in 2008. That is 18 years between checks. Has anyone else gone longer? Cheers O.T. (Very OT)

Still almost 2 weeks to go here; I will wet a line on opening day. Always do but more in hope than expectation. On the end of that line will almost certainly be a dry fly. There is a magic window usually between about 12:30 and 1:30 when this will work. In the past I have caught on opening day with a dry but never with a nymph. What will be your choice of first fly? Cheers, OT.

Yorkshire is a beautiful place, lovely rolling hills, and some truly excellent rivers. It even has a wonderful coastline. So why oh why did the good lord see fit to infest it with Tykes? Putting the Tykes in Yorkshire is like looking at Monsall Dale in Derbyshire and thinking "Great place for landfill". Well I've served my penance, and have been allowed back into civilised society. If it is true that the lord does not deduct the time spent fishing from a man's allotted spell, why did he make me spend mine with Tykes? All ready for the cross border raid on the Aire on Saturday? Cheers, OT

If you are new to fly casting then I wouldn't advise going any longer than 9' with your rod. There was a strong argument put forward by Donald Downs that you should learn to cast with a rod no longer than 1 1/2 times your height. The leverage of that kind of fly line will put on the rod will do more harm to your casting action than any advantage you'll get out of the longer rod. Also get a proper fly line for the job. Be careful not to get a "tropical" line as these are designed for warm water and will not cast well in cold water. Look for Pike/Muskie tapers. If you can, take a look at the pike flies tied by Hermann Boars. They are amazing. Enormous creations, but their bulk is all an illusion. He even puts odd sized eyes on them to unbalance them as you drag them through the water, and increase the action. If you are buying pile flies look for ones made of synthetic materials as they don't hold as much water making casting easier. When you are casting a fly ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION. This is what you will get if you don't. That's with a tiny fly. Something like a size 14 or 16 just imagine what it would be like if it was a 6/0 or 8/0 (common sizes of hooks for pike flies). Don't think it will not happen to you, ask our very own Alan Roe. Cheers, OT

Once upon a time, when we had an engineering industry, I acquired some oil used for air powered tools. It was very light indeed, perfect for reels. Unfortunately I haven't been able to re supply. The ultimate lubricant would be the zinc based bearing grease used for the bearings in nuclear reactors. Unfortunately it is rather carsonogenic, Though I don't think that is why they don't change it... ever! It isn't a high speed bearing, or one that needs anything special at the speeds and stresses you encounter fishing. Any light oil will do, but DON'T overdo it. Oil can attract grit etc. Which will speed the demise of your reel even faster. You could probably get away with rubbing the spindle with a very soft pencil (The softer the more graphite in the pencil). That would overcome the grit problem. Cheers, OT

Not an answer for the program you used but try Pic to EXE. You can download the trial version for free but it is limited to 10 images. However it is very good and well worth buying the full version. Once bought you get all the upgrades... forever. Also if you take the trouble to contact the developer he will, if possible, incorporate your ideas and give feedback. With this guys attitude to development he deserves to be richer than Bill Gates. Cheers, OT

Don't cast to a fish from the comfort of a bank side bench then try to stand and get down to the river once you have hooked the fish!!! Unless you want to slide down the bank on your rear into the said Ribble. Eh Al? My preference is for one of the folding wading staffs. The operate like the old tent poles with elastic running through them. When you don't need them they sit out of the way in a pouch on your belt. When you need it grab the handle and pull. Instantly they form into a strong staff. Falstaff do one with a camera mount on the top, but I haven't been able to track one down in the UK. There is now no way I would go back to waders with built in boots. The separate brogues give much better grip and ankle support. However you can expect a good pair of waders and brogues to set you back upward of £200. If you are fishing any river that is in spate I would recommend a life jacket of some kind. I knew one man who fell into the Derwent in high water and was fished out a couple of miles downstream. So bad was the accident the lifeboat was called out and waiting for him at the river mouth. He wasn't wading but the high water loosened the bank and it gave way when he stood on it. His life jacket was a Hardy one. They ran an advert on the strength of the story. His was the first recorded incident when a Hardy life jacket saved an anglers life. On one occasion, guiding a couple of anglers, one fell in face down. Her automatic life jacket (built into a fly fishing vest) fired so fast it flipped her onto her back before her face got wet. Never wear one under a coat, if it inflates it could choke you. Wading will open up a lot of fishing for you. Take it steady and don't try to do too much and you'll be fine. Lastly I'll repeat the advice given to one Victorian salmon fishing gentleman. "If the water is cold, get out of the river before your legs turn black!" Enjoy. Cheers, OT

You've been planning a trip to a river for ages. Spent hours stocking your fly box, made sure all your tackle is ready, everything is in place. Finally the big day arrives, you've bought your ticket, and the pain from your wallet is affecting your stride as you walk to the water. You hear voices from the water. No! Kids swimming in the best pool on the river. Don't get angry and start shouting. Simply approach the parents and show them some information on Leptospirosis. The FDG used to give its members a card with all the symptoms on, if you don't have one then there are plenty of details on the web (like this). Print them out and store them away in your fishing vest. Then stand back and watch them shift their kids out of the water so fast you'll be amazed. It works just as well for dog owners. Don't get angry... Get even. Cheers, OT.