The Classics: Appetiser

[steve collyer]

'I designed the Appetiser in 1972 especially for the big, fry-feeding trout at Grafham. It was the first time marabou was used in the wing of a modern lure in Britain. It had tremendous success at Grafham, topped by taking the heaviest bag-limit for seven years. The Queen Mother is another reservoir where I have had great results with the Appetiser. Indeed, it works well on all water and has been one of the most successful catchers of big trout...'
-Bob Church
Bob Church's Guide to Trout Flies (1987)

I myself have had great returns with this fly, mostly using a medium-paced figure of eight retrieve.
Rumours of plenty of smash takes with this fly have proven to have some truth. It is the fly with which I have been smashed more than any other.
Use a sub-7lb breaking strain tippet at your own risk!

Appetiser

• Hook: size 6-10 long shank
  Silk: black
  Tail: mixed orange & green cock hackle with silver mallard fibres
  Body: white chenille
  Rib: silver tinsel
  Throat: as for tail
  Underwing: white marabou (generous)
  Overwing: natural grey squirrel-tail hair
  Eyes: optional
  Head: black varnish

[maharg]

Very neat tying Steve, first class.

[g bigtrout]

Classic fly steve......like you say use strong leader.

[Ephemerella]

Originally Posted by steve collyer

'I designed the Appetiser in 1972 especially for the big, fry-feeding trout at Grafham. It was the first time marabou was used in the wing of a modern lure in Britain. It had tremendous success at Grafham, topped by taking the heaviest bag-limit for seven years. The Queen Mother is another reservoir where I have had great results with the Appetiser. Indeed, it works well on all water and has been one of the most successful catchers of big trout...'
-Bob Church
Bob Church's Guide to Trout Flies (1987)

I myself have had great returns with this fly, mostly using a medium-paced figure of eight retrieve.
Rumours of plenty of smash takes with this fly have proven to have some truth. It is the fly with which I have been smashed more than any other.
Use a sub-7lb breaking strain tippet at your own risk!

Good advice - and a lovely rendition of this favourite; quite the best I've ever seen. 10/10 Superb!

To save me checking my Bob Church book, can you check the spelling? I'm certain he called it Appetizer, not that it matters.

I think he said somewhere that his design was based on the 'Missionary' fly (same body) that was then popular with the Northampton group and which could also be "fluttered" downwards, due to its flat-roof wing, in an attractive to fry-feeding fish manner.

[steve collyer]

Originally Posted by Ephemerella

Good advice - and a lovely rendition of this favourite; quite the best I've ever seen. 10/10 Superb!

To save me checking my Bob Church book, can you check the spelling? I'm certain he called it Appetizer, not that it matters.

I think he said somewhere that his design was based on the 'Missionary' fly (same body) that was then popular with the Northampton group and which could also be "fluttered" downwards, due to its flat-roof wing, in an attractive to fry-feeding fish manner.

Thanks!

Church may have called it Appetizer at some early stage - I'm not sure. He does refer to the fly as Appetiser in his book though & it's the same in Fly Dressing II, published in 1981.

By the way, you can use fibres from the "wrong" side of the bronze mallard feather for the tail & throat rather than going specifically for silver mallard.

[breezey]

Nice Fly Steve I can here the vice calling
and will be looking forward to those smashing takes

[2604]

Great fly. This was one of the first flies introduced to me by my grandfather around 20 years ago when i started fly fishing. He told me how good it was but i didnt believe him until i tried it. This fly was never out my fly box and caught me so many trout on the reservoirs of the north east. In my eyes a true classic.

[Threerivers]

First fly I ever bought! Remember thrashing about with it on the Grand Union Canal, attached to a couple of yards of six pound platil, ten yards of waxed string and a twelve foot glass match rod (the fly that is, not me; I was holding the rod end). Must've looked a prize plonker! Caught a little perch on it though.

[Kingfisher28]

Excellent tying of this old favourite of mine. Wonder if a pair of eyes would make it even more, err appetizing or is it appetising

[madjoni]

Nice fly
p.s.I can bet that WP love it