Colin - Just for you as I know they're a struggle to identify!

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

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[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Just saw this Paul and coincidentally I too have alder flies on my mind, in fact I took one home on Friday from Llys Y Fran after mistaking it for a stonefly......

The embarrassing thing is that I made this misidentification in the company of a retired EA biologist, you'd have loved it!

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Musha rig um du rum da

Lighthouse and DB,I found this on L.Derg over the weekend and presume its an Alder but would like to be more certain.The fly was very sparsely mixed with Mayfly and I did try a dry Alder with no luck .I would appreciate any pointers to immatative patterns.

That one looks more like a sedge than an Alder I'd say Corky.....could be wrong though. Hedghogs or sedgehogs in dark chocolate brown are an effective imitation for Alders

Thanks Jimmy,I never did take Alders into consideration until recently.If I saw anything sedge like I would normally just put up a peter or sedgehog and these would often do the biz.I have decided to take a closer look at the naturals hoping that proper identification will up my game a bit.But sometimes a little knowledge can be a painful thing .Maybe one of the lads will give definite ID later.
Corky

One important thing to consider about the Alders is that the nymphs crawl out of the margins and hatch on dry land.Any adults that you see out on the water will have been blown there or flown out themselves.Pointless therefore ,considering using imitations of the nymphs......unless of course you are casting right into the margins... I would concentrate on imitating the adults movement as well as their profile.

Thanks again Jimmy,how do imitate the movement ,via rod movement or twitching the retrieve ?

I normally take time out to watch whats happening as to how and when the trout are nobbling the adults.At the top of the wind, its usually the case that the Alders having been blown out of the margins,will be trying their best to get back to the shoreline.Skimming across the surface with their wings flapping like fury against the wind.Make sure that any retrieve you make is moving the fly in the same direction.A steady figure 8 with pauses is the norm but if I can get away with it,I prefer a shorter cast and a steady lift of the rod.Some fish will happily pick off any Alders that are sitting static,others will key into the flappers in preference.Observation is the key.

Topman Jimmy ,I will hopefully get some fishing on Derg or Leane in the coming weeks and will have keep an eye out for Alders,I'm looking forward to trying out your fishing tips .
Corky

Nae bother Corky.....aw the best....