Dunno about you guys,but on the places I fish,the appearance of black gnats and hawthorn flies,can provide arguably some of the best stillwater dry fly fishing opportunities of the season.
The trout do not take long to tune in to such a glut of surface food so early in the season and can be found in numbers,eagerly awaiting these insects to be blown onto the water at the top of the wind.

The timing of these falls are regionally varied but Ive just began to see these flies appearing locally during this past week.....
Numbers of these two species can be staggering and can collect in huge rafts on the surface if conditions are suitable i.e warm, bright and breezy.

Just thought I would share with you a couple of simple patterns which have done well for me for quite a number of seasons now,when targetting fish that are feeding feeding on gnats and hawthorns.

Black Holo Hopper.


Hook: Kamasan B-170,size 12.
Body: Black seal.
Rib: Medium black holo.
Hackle: Black cock.
Legs: pair of knotted PT fibres dyed black.

Pearly Winged Bits.


Hook: Kamasan B-170, size 14/16.
Body: Black seal.
Hackle: Black cock,trimmed underneath.
Wing: Pinch of Polar Pearl Lite-Brite.


So... nothing new or ground-breaking, just two simple scruffy dries which I would bet my mortgage on catching a few fish for me,particularly during gnat and hawthorn season..... I commend them to the house....

Like those Jim, particularly the hopper. Have not had the pleasure of witnessing this phenomenon yet, but looking forward to it if I ever do.

Nice flies Jimmy, thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to giving you're klinks a swim next week!

Thanks Ben,Corrib next week is it.....? Let me know how you get on mate....

Crafty choice there Jim with the black holo on the hopper... just tones it down nicely, as opposed to pearl or mirage...

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Fly Clips & Stands

Thanks Jim for the black holo hopper. Woodford's rainbows took quite a shine to it in a size 14 today.

Nice mate,glad it did the biz for ye...well chuffed.....

Jim ive had the pleasure of using the top fly that ya sent me m8. Cracker and the bows are very partial to it.

Like the mars bars round your way chum ITS BATTERED

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You are welcome pal,the brownies are fond of it as well by the way....

Thats a weegie thing mate....I'm fae Embra dont you know.....

Ahoy lad/

Applied yer black holo to an idea I was working on with the old half hog...



Hook: Kamansan B170, size 12
Body: black seal fur, ribbed black holo
Legs: one pair of double fibres of melanistic pheasant, knotted
Wing: black elk
Head: black rainbow Blaze

I call it the Goth-hog

Probably worth hee-haw, but will give it a swim.

Col