Shipmans Buzzers - How long the Breathers

[jacko1967]

Hello - I've been tying quite a few Shipmans buzzers over the last day or two, mainly because I caught my first fish off the top with one on Friday evening. Can anyone tell me if there is a guideline for the length of breathers, does it depend on hook size or something more complex?
Thanks in advance
Jack

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by jacko1967

does it depend on hook size or something more complex?

Spot on Jack. Nothing more complex than the hook size. It's not overly critical, about 1/3 the length of the shank is about right.

[jacko1967]

thanks, I've been playing with the lengths today whilst fishing and ended up a bit longer than that mainly so i could see the fly.
Will now cut them all to the right length

cheers

[marks]

About 1/4 to 1/3 of the hook length is what I use to.

Most of the time Jacko you should not be able to see a shipmans IMO. It should only create a dimple in the surface of the water. To aid sighting you may want another fly on the cast that stands a bit more proud.

I fished last night on the local concrete bowls with bobs bits but could not see them for the same reason they ride low. Had a CDC loop emerger on the top dropper, any fishy rises past that and lift.

Cheers,
Mark

[Chelsea123]

Originally Posted by marks

Most of the time Jacko you should not be able to see a shipmans IMO. It should only create a dimple in the surface of the water. To aid sighting you may want another fly on the cast that stands a bit more proud.

The alternative to this is leave the front breather slightly longer than the back one,add a couple turns of thread underneath it so that it sticks up at an angle and use it as a site post.Works for me anyway

Neil