Dalehead Dabbler

[Scratch]

The fly box re-stocking continues.. with the 'Dalehead Dabbler'. The original was Darren Booth's (known to some of you as 'Haribo' on here) creation, and named after the village of Dalehead which was flooded in the 1920's to create Stocks resevoir. The Dalehead Dabbler has been a Stocks standard for many years now, and has been the downfall fo thousands of fish there for many anglers, and hundreds for me both on Stocks and further afield. I keep a couple of versions of the Dalehead in my box - basically the same, but one tied with cock for the body hackle, and one tied with hen. The last few years I've opted for furnace for the body hackle rather than black. The hen version is probably my most productive wet fly ever, mostly employed on the tail or middle. The cock version is used exclusively on the top dropper. Both will do a fine turn though, anywhere on the leader, depending on light, line and conditions.

Darren's original calls for a 'solid' gold body of Lite-Brite, or Ice-Dub or similar, but I mix mine now with 70/30 Black seals fur/Gold Ice-dub. I think Darren Also furnished his with JC splits.




If you only tie one Dabbler this year.........

Dalehead Dabbler (Variant)

Hook: Kamsan B175 Sizes 10, 12 or 14
Tail: Bronze Mallard
Rib: Oval gold (or gold wire)
Body: 70/30 'Ant black' Seals fur/Gold Ice-Dub
Body Hackle: Furnace Hen (or cock)
Cloak: Bronze Mallard
Cheeks (optional): JC splits
Thread: Black UTC 70 Den

[garyj]

That looks a useful pattern, another for the "to-try-bank"

Gary

[dabhoy]

Pretty neat tie and nice blend
So will this be the only dabbler you will be tying and fishing ,some how I doubt it

[savage take]

which one works best the seal fur mix or the original.

ps. did you manage to give the one i sent you a swim .

[darwin]

Very nice and natural looking Another I have not heard of, thanks for the history - always interesting to know a bit about that.

[maharg]

Question Rob if I may?
The tail, should it not be pheasant tail for a dabbler?

ATB
Graham

[savage take]

Originally Posted by maharg

Question Rob if I may?
The tail, should it not be pheasant tail for a dabbler?

ATB
Graham

no if you want it to last.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by maharg

Question Rob if I may?
The tail, should it not be pheasant tail for a dabbler?

The original I think does call for PT, Graham. As Andy says though... not terribly durable.

Originally Posted by savage take

which one works best the seal fur mix or the original.

ps. did you manage to give the one i sent you a swim .

The mix works best for me, Andy... cos it's the one I use most often!

Not yet mate.. Not fished since middle of October!

[fortbhoy]

very nice i've never really been fussed about the history of flies,maybe i should i usually just see something i like and copy it.

[the beginner]

Cracking fly Rob