Dabbler, Doobry, Cruncher,.....?

[VERN-O]

Anyone have an online article discussing the tying, fishing style, or history of any of these flies? I'm trying to get a better understanding of when you folks fish these and how.....

[Gander]

Originally Posted by VERN-O

Anyone have an online article discussing the tying, fishing style, or history of any of these flies? I'm trying to get a better understanding of when you folks fish these and how.....

I don't know of any articles, but I'll give it a go.

The Dabbler has now spawned a whole series of flies from the original tied by Donald McLearn. I think it would be true to say that the Claret version is probably the most popular. There are no hard and fast rules with Dabblers, as they can be dressed in a variety of styles and fished in a variety of styles. The original purpose of the Dabbler however is in front of a drifting boat in a good wave.

The Doobry is a Stan Headly creation that favours bright days and peat stained water. It can also be useful on Sea Trout and Salmon lochs.

The Cruncher is a totally different animal. This is more nymph than wet fly. Again there is a vast array of variations and suitable ways to fish them. My experience has been that they are best on a floater or intermediate, twitched back slowly through a ripple.

[captain]

Originally Posted by VERN-O

Anyone have an online article discussing the tying, fishing style, or history of any of these flies? I'm trying to get a better understanding of when you folks fish these and how.....

The Cruncher is basically a PTN.... there are many many variants... the 'Original pattern' was called the Ardliegh nymph from when Ardliegh reservoir was a trout fishery. Alegedly, Martin Cairncross made the pattern famous and really brought to the flyfishing masses by the success of the Rutland Kingfishers in the very last B&H win at Rutland... that and the Captain Scarlet (Blob).. original is tied with Red game tail... silver wire rib... PT body (sparse) 'Claret hue' Peacock herl thorax and Greenwell hackle.

Anything else is a 'variant'..

[troutheaven]

Donald McLearn devised the first Dabbler. His nickname was always 'Dabbler' so that's where the name came from. The original dressing was golden-olive from some carpet material which he had to hand. The 'wing' was largely over the body, unlike many modern day variants where the 'wing' cloaks the whole fly.

The Doobry was devised by me to be a combination of Dunkeld and Zulu components. Devised for the brackish water trout of Stenness, it failed completely in this scenario, but turned out to be very good on peat-water lochs in sunshine, as Gander says, and this was important as peat-water trout can be exceptionally difficult on bright days. The Doobry travelled well and became a mainstay on Leven, and had some devoted adherents on the Midlands reservoirs for 'bows. Now that palmered, pulling flies have gone into popularity decline, it isn't much used south of the Border, but is still popular where wild browns swim.

The Cruncher has been around for a very long time in a variety of guises. There's a lot of ill-feeling about possible innovators, but there is a strong possibility that the fly we now recognise as the Cruncher was first used by Martin Cottis.

[captain]

The Cruncher has been around for a very long time in a variety of guises. There's a lot of ill-feeling about possible innovators, but there is a strong possibility that the fly we now recognise as the Cruncher was first used by Martin Cottis.[/QUOTE]


Hmm Stan...... I thought I had already answered the guy? But... what would I know

Ps, M, Cairncross, I was reliably informed many years ago..

[troutheaven]

Martin,
Wasn't trying to devalue your comments, just adding what I understand to be the origins. As is often the case, there is some doubt as to the true origins of the Cruncher. I agree that Cairncross largely brought the fly to the public conscience, but it is felt in parts of the SW that Cottis actually put the fly together in its present form.

[VERN-O]

Very cool stuff....what about bumbles???
Troutheaven wrote:
The Doobry was devised by me to be a combination of Dunkeld and Zulu components........

Troutheaven where does the name come from? With such an impressive fly you haven't written an article about it?

[Gander]

Originally Posted by VERN-O

Very cool stuff....what about bumbles???

Kingsmill-Moore was the originator of the Bumble family as we know them. Again, they can with a few tweeks be fished successfully in a variety of ways. The standard use of bumbles however is on a floating line with a nice wave. The concept behind them is to use different coloured hackles, wound together, to create a "blended haze of colour around the fly". My words, so Stan may be able to describe it better. The two most popular Bumbles would probably be the Claret Bumble and the Golden olive Bumble. I know there are some loch anglers who will always have a Golden Olive Bumble on their cast.

Kingsmill-Moore wrote a book called "A man may fish". It is viewed as a classic by some, although I have heard an Irish boatman quoted as saying that there were more fish in the book than ever were in Kingsmill-Moore's boat.

[troutheaven]

Originally Posted by Gander

Kingsmill-Moore was the originator of the Bumble family as we know them. Again, they can with a few tweeks be fished successfully in a variety of ways. The standard use of bumbles however is on a floating line with a nice wave. The concept behind them is to use different coloured hackles, wound together, to create a "blended haze of colour around the fly". My words, so Stan may be able to describe it better. The two most popular Bumbles would probably be the Claret Bumble and the Golden olive Bumble. I know there are some loch anglers who will always have a Golden Olive Bumble on their cast.

Kingsmill-Moore wrote a book called "A man may fish". It is viewed as a classic by some, although I have heard an Irish boatman quoted as saying that there were more fish in the book than ever were in Kingsmill-Moore's boat.

Can't add much to that, Gander.

As regards the Doobry, I did an article on it a year or two after its birth. That would have been in the early-eighties. As this style of fly is in decline I don't think there would be much demand for a reprise.

[Former member]

Decline Stan, neverI would have to say that your Doobry has saved many a day for both myself and my mates and wether in its original dressing or muddler or Snatcher version, a week very rarely goes by with out it getting a swim, yes the Orkney lads tweek it a bit and add floss tails instead of wool and use dyed deer hair heads on the muddler version, but is still a Doobry at heart. If I had to choose only 10 flies to use in a season the doobry would be in that 10, excellent pattern and well worth a swim if you dont already do so.
Cheers
Gerry

www.artifly.com