www.trout-net.co.uk
trout fishing
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www.trout-net.co.uk |
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trout fishing |
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Trout Flies |
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How to select the best trout flies to improve your trout fishing catch and How to Tie Trout Flies |
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How to Select the Best Trout Flies to Improve your Trout Fishing Catch |
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There are two main types of artificial trout flies. Firstly, there are those trout flies which copy or mimic real flies as closely as possible and are used to tempt trout as a naturalistic or ‘real’ looking food source. Secondly, there are those artificial trout flies which are not intended to closely copy real flies, but rather, aim to trigger the trout’s predatory nature and tend to be more brightly coloured ‘attractants’ less naturalistic in appearance. These two main types of artificial trout flies can further be divided between wet trout flies, dry trout flies, trout nymphs and trout lures. |
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As the name suggests wet trout flies sink under the surface of water. Wet trout flies are often used to mimic a fly or nymph (a nymph is an immature insect ) that has drowned. Wet flies are designed to sink under the surface of the water, however wet flies are adaptable in that they can be used to fish at all levels in the body of water. Most trout feeding occurs below the waters surface and largely consists of aquatic insects (nymphs) in their larvae stage, so having a good nymph fishing technique and selecting the right trout nymphs is essential in improving your trout fishing catches. As well as imitating live aquatic life some trout nymphs are made to imitate dead aquatic creatures that have sunk in the water. Trout nymphs are weighted to stay underwater.Trout lures fall into the attractant category aimed at the trout’s predatory instinct rather than its predominant feeding habits. Fly (trout) lures resemble water insects and sometimes fish. Here i will state a personal opinion of trout lures, namely that they are very good indeed for the more aggressive rainbow trout. However, except in springtime when wild brown trout are hungry some trout lures can be very poor for catching this species. The exceptions are those lures that look like fish .These tend to be more successful with brown trout and cross over into the naturalistic camp such as those trout lures (i.e. streamer fly patterns ) which resemble a minnow or fry. All trout flies tend to be small like their live counterparts, some wet flies are slightly weighted to cause them to sink and are often coated with fly sinkants such as George Gehrke’s Xink at the waterside . Dry trout flies are designed to float on the surface of the water to give the trout the appearance of a fly or insect landing and resting. Water resistant materials are used to create dry flies and a substance called ‘floatant’ is used to coat dry trout flies to aid their buoyancy and to ensure they do not soak up water and sink. By far the most popular of these floatants in the fly fishing fraternity is George Gehrke’s Gink .The feeding patterns of trout vary between the species, habitat and even what the time of day it is. Through their survival instinct certain food recognition triggers become intrenched and form the trout’s feeding habits. As our trout grows bigger it also adapts supplementary feeding behavior has it is now also able to eat larger prey. Weather conditions, water flow rate and temperature also effect how, when and what our trout will eat. Local knowledge of what trout fly to use in what conditions is always invaluable but not always easy to find. Observation in fly fishing for trout is the golden rule. Observation will greatly improve your fly fishing, for example, if you notice that trout are not rising to take flies on the surface its time to use wet trout flies. Look at what stage the insect life is at, for example if caddis fly larvae are just breaking to the surface, do not imitate an adult caddis fly landing softly to lay its eggs but rather mimic the former with an appropriate trout fly ( i.e. an emerger ) that looks like it is breaking the surface in the process of its metamorphosis into the adult insect. Emergers can be classed as dry flies as they are fished in the film of the waters surface not under it. Now here comes the twist, wet flies can be fished on the surface and l dry flies can also be fished underwater!. No matter what intention a fly’s designer may have had, fly anglers will always try different ways to catch trout. |
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Trout flies like nymphs are popular just because they have a proven record of success in different circumstances encountered by fly anglers (no pun intended). Here is a short list of some the most popular trout flies that should be considered by anyone thinking of taking up fly fishing for trout. Pattern instructions for tying each trout fly are also given. See also How To Tie Trout Flies. Try out some of these trout flies and add to your collection as you gain more experience. A well prepared trout anglers fly box will contain an assortment of different wet flies, trout nymphs, trout lures and dry fly patterns. |
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Wet Trout Flies |
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Alder , Alexander, Bibbio, Black & Peacock, Butcher, Marlard & Claret ,Dunkeld , Invicta , March Brown, Peter Ross , Teal Blue & Silver, Black Gnat, Soldier Palmer |
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Dry Trout Flies |
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Black Gnat, Cochbondu, Cow Dung, Coachman, Daddy Longlegs, Greenwells Glory, Pheasant Tail, Hawthorn-Legs, White Moth , Wickhams Fancy |
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Trout Nymphs |
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Black Buzzer , Corixa ,Green Buzzer ,Damsel Nymph ,March Brown ,Pheasant Tail |
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Trout Lures |
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Ace of Spades , Appetizer , Black Muddler , Jack Frost , Muddler Minnow , Orange Baby Doll , Orange Whiskey , Sweeny Todd, Viva Lure, White Doll , White Muddler |
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Tying trout flies is considered by many trout anglers to be an important part of the sport. However, many other trout anglers prefer to buy their trout flies ready made. Quality trout flies are relatively cheap to purchase and are time savers, personally i ( and i suspect that there are more than a few like me) am too lazy most of the time to tie my own trout flies, however money can be saved if you do tie your own flies. Some trout anglers are put off learning how to tie trout flies by the misconception that a great deal of specialized skill is involved. Not so!, the art of tying trout flies is in essence the simple act of attaching various materials to a hook using a thread. There are a few basic tools and materials required to tie trout flies. Firstly, you will require a pattern to follow to create your first trout fly. I have included all the materials you require and the fly pattern instructions (known as the recipe) you need to follow to get started tying trout flies under the individual wet trout flies, dry trout flies, trout nymphs and trout lures listed above. When you become more experienced you may consider creating your own unique trout flies perhaps through careful observation of what kinds of prey the trout are taking where you fish. Today there is a far greater choice of materials than the traditional feathers ,fur, hooks, beads and threads. The trout fishing ‘purest’ may wish to stick with these along with his old cane rod and why not?. Bearing in mind that trout flies are small they do require some intricate work and the essential tools required to tie trout flies are; a vice to hold the hook that is being tied, a magnifying glass or magnifying hood, bobbins ,scissors, hackle gauges, hackle pliers, hair stackers and lights. Other nonessential but useful tools include; pliers, bodkins, dubbing twisters, toothpicks, floss bobbins, blenders, wing burners, bobbin threaders and whip finishers. Do not be too concerned about any these if the initial cost is an issue as with a little dexterity and the use of household items such as tweezers, nail scissors and a sewing needle pushed into a cork, you still can produce very good trout flies. The correct type and size of hooks has to be used to copy individual trout fly patterns. The materials that are attached to the hook can be just about anything, from natural materials like hair and feathers to synthetic products such as tinsel and baking foil depending on the pattern of the fly you are tying. Fly tying materials for trout flies are available from at good fishing tackle shops and online stores see the Fly Tying section of Trout Fishing Equipment here at www.trout-net.co.uk .You should now be ready to select a fly from the above list in order to find out what materials and recipe are required. Follow the the fly pattern recipe closely. Concentrate on the pictures of the trout flies you want to tie or better still purchase some trout flies to copy them in greater detail. I hope this article on How To Tie Trout Flies has been of some help to you, if you have any questions or comments please post them against any article on the trout-net blog and i promise to reply quickly. Tight Lines!. Anthony .A. Richards www.trout-net.co.uk . |
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