Hairwings for Trout.

[Gander]

Does anyone still use hairwing flies for trout to any great degree or are they dead in the water, if you'll excuse the pun?

When I first started fly fishing, the Rainbow Warrior was one of my most successful flies, but I can't remember the last time I tied one on. Have the hairwings been totally superceded by the more mobile Marabou winged versions or is there a legitimate place for them in the modern anglers fly box?

Which ones do you still use, if at all?

[Gander]

I'm a little surprised. I knew the sun had been setting on them for a while, but it looks like they have well and truely entered the long night.

I felt sure there would have been a few Whiskey Fly adherents out there at the very least? Or maybe the odd Goldie fan?

[arkle]

Gander, there are in excess of 35.000 flyfishers in the U.K. A few years ago, I asked members of my branch of the F.D.G at our AGM where around 25 or more members were there. How many of you buy game fishing mags, 3 of which including myself replied yes. Ditto internet access for trout fishing related interest, 5.

Consequently, how many fly tyers regularly read this forum & the tying section ? Maybe your question would have had a better, or more of a response if it was posted in the general fishing sections ?

[dazzyd]

I love chucking a small streamer at the Rainbows at Ravensthorpe Res.

Had a couple of lovely 3lbers on a Hardy Demon Streamer #10

[Gander]

Originally Posted by arkle

Gander, there are in excess of 35.000 flyfishers in the U.K. A few years ago, I asked members of my branch of the F.D.G at our AGM where around 25 or more members were there. How many of you buy game fishing mags, 3 of which including myself replied yes. Ditto internet access for trout fishing related interest, 5.

Consequently, how many fly tyers regularly read this forum & the tying section ? Maybe your question would have had a better, or more of a response if it was posted in the general fishing sections ?

I think those who regularly inhabit the Fly Tyers forum are a good Litmus test as to which way things are going in the fly tying world. There was nearly a hundred views before I considered that non response was confirmation that not too many knowledgable anglers are using hairwings to any great extent for trout.

Sometimes a silence speaks volumes.

[WelshOsprey]

Having only been tying about 18 months I have to be honest and say I haven't come across many hairwing patterns for trout. Seatrout flies yes, but not for trout. Having said that I have opened my old fly boxes of shop bought flies and I do indeed own some whisky flies and have had previous success on them too both in bright sunlight and heavy thundery conditions.

Maybe some of our experienced tyers on here can be set a challenge to knock a few new hairwing patterns up to give us newbies some ideas for tying hairwing flies. That way we can try them and see if the trout are still interested or not.

[troutfisher]

hi gander, never was a whiskey fly fan. But the goldie was a good fly on loch Leven as was a morning glory tied with a natural squirrel wing, but my best hairwing trout fly was a sweeney todd. All tied on #12,s. Oddly enough they usually fished better on early morning sessions or evening sessions during buzzer hatches.

[steve collyer]

I took 3 fish & had 1 smash take on a Whiskey Fly when fishing Hazel Copse in 2 hours on 16/10/09.
Collyer's retro lure challenge!!!
I suspect that a fluoro orange marabou-winged Whiskey Fly would have done just as well, if not better & is arguably easier to tie. Therein lies the problem with hairwings...

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by Gander

Have the hairwings been totally superceded by the more mobile Marabou ?

I'd say so, Paul. Marabou has more mobility, and a greater, easily obtainable range of colours.

The only fly I tie and use these days as a hairwing (squirrel) is the Silver Invicta - the squirrel gives a nice complimentary range of tones to the SI, and is more durable than the standard wing. Good for fry feeders.

[Gander]

Originally Posted by Scratch

The only fly I tie and use these days as a hairwing (squirrel) is the Silver Invicta - the squirrel gives a nice complimentary range of tones to the SI, and is more durable than the standard wing. Good for fry feeders.

I like the sound of that. Love the Silver Invicta anyway, so I'll be adding that variation to the box.