I was out today in the scorching heat (mad) but I was looking for a method to catch in said conditions,saw some fish moving,rowed over to the area ,and they appeared to be taking these.

This is a big shield bug,which I rescued before it became fish food.about 2x bigger than I have seen before.
bu*ger to copy.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Had a few rainbow from Millbuies near Elgin on monday that were stuffed full of those big shield bugs, they also had a few normal sized ones the same colour and also some green ones. What did you manage to catch on? I managed a few on a G+H sedge but very sporadic. Are there any good shield bug patterns you know of?

Not found a pattern. but noticed that the shield bugs tend to lie shield down on the water,which makes it even harder to copy.No doubt about it trout relish them,and on our loch this year they seem to be replacing the heather fly which is absent.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Took some pictures of one on the water the other day Jim. They might help you to form a an opinion on fly selection.

They are all the same fly. They show it going from a delta shape with its wings out to a bug shape and sinking lower in the water.







I hope they help

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Don't worry, be happy.
Sandy
Carried it in full, then carry it out empty.

An interesting thread with lots of good photographs. I am trying to carve up some foam shield bugs with orange flexi floss type legs (can't think of any other way of doing it!) but what sort of size are we talking about...At the moment I am working on about 15mm "nose to tail" - excluding antenna ?

Nigel

Excellent photos Sandy.thank you.I would say about 1/2''

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Was taking them good old style with a fiery brown hopper. look at the pictures just screams out for one. Used to try all sorts of foam contraptions,settled for the hopper now.

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I've not lost my mind, it's backed up on disk somewhere.

Campbell

See here also..... shield bug

I think that's a 'forest shield bug'. They turn from green to that colour at this time of year to blend in with the changing leaves.

I caught a fish at Tinto last week that contained quite a few. Tied a cracking (IMHO) imitation and if I can figure out how to embed a photo will post one tonight.

Hi Guys

Ive found a Clan Chief on top dropper seems to work very well when either Heather flys or Shield bugs are on the water...........

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Englander

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