The Classics Ace of Spades

[maharg]

A wee deviation from the usual traditional wets and nymphs but I think it still qualifies.
A fly devised by Davy Collyer inspired from the New Zealand matuka dressings.
It has been my first choice black lure forever and I have had dozens of early season brownies on it.

Ace of Spades

• Hook long shank 12-8
• Tail/wing Black hen hackles tied back to back
• I have used 2 in this fly but generally use 4
• Body black chennile
• Rib silver wire
• Throat natural guinea fowl
• Overwing Bronze mallard

I have not come across a real variant, just seen some with a bead head.
I like it both in the bigger sizes and on a standard size 8 for the point fly on a 3 fly cast.
It is worth a try in a buzzer hatch fished high in the water, though I have never tried this myself.

Hope you like it.

[A. Fluker]

A legend of a fly.

Nicely tied as well.

Thanks for showing.

[3lbgrayling]

It was not 1 of my favourite flys until about 20 years ago I was having a hard time on opening day,and eventually put on a traditional AOS's. and fished slow caught me 2 lovely browns.

Jim

[REIDY10_0]

Great fly and well tyed.
I allways have one or two in my box.


Munro

[oakham orange]

Well said Loopy, a true legend of a fly That and a gold head montana nymph was all you needed at Straid fishery in Norn Iron over 20 years ago and it was up to 20+ trout a day

The good ole days,,, but who uses one now in favour of a blob

[stevekale]

While on the subject of NZ-inspired lures, I was wondering if anyone here had tried the "killer style" developed by Mr Hamill:



http://www.fishingwithflies.com/Lure...landPartII.htm

[A. Fluker]

Hi OO

The Gold Head Montana is still considered by many to be a fail safe fly. There is one guy on the forums who has a signature sporting "If in doubt get the Monty's out"!

This fly of the last thirtyforty years or so is held in high esteem both sides of the Atlantic.

It is generally credited to a geezer called Lew Oatman who invented a lot of flies that we are familiar with today. Was disigned to be a stonefly nymph uriginally but I have caught in small sizws in both rivers and lakes so a pretty good all rounder!

[maharg]

I have seen that style but never tried it. Will give it a go.

[arkle]

Dave's son Steve is an active member of this forum & will doubtless be along soon. The only variant of the Ace of Spades that Dave published was an all brown version called the Brown Bomber. I tied an olive version a few times for one of my customers & he seemed to do quite well on it when damsels were about.

[steve collyer]

Originally Posted by arkle

Dave's son Steve is an active member of this forum & will doubtless be along soon. The only variant of the Ace of Spades that Dave published was an all brown version called the Brown Bomber. I tied an olive version a few times for one of my customers & he seemed to do quite well on it when damsels were about.

My father only really used the 2 variations & I think the Brown one was a rarely used fly.
I dress my AoS slightly heavier than the one above, as I think a lot of the fish-taking ability comes from the dense wing silhouette with a fair chunk of bronze Mallard from the overwing.

A slow, steady figure-of-eight retrieve works surprisingly well with this fly & also you do get a lot of snatch takes on the drop, so be warned!