Any colour as long as they're black

[weight_forward]

*** Caution, this thread contains graphic images of fritz based flies which may offend certain viewers, scenes of blobs are shown from the outset. ***

In the crystal clear waters of the Bristol reservoirs I had more success last season using predominantly black flies (should that be RGB 0,0,0 coloured flies in our overly PC world?) my most successful ‘pulling’ flies have been these;





I’m slowly changing my fishing to suit the style of flies I like to tie, so have come up with these replacements for the above. I’ve tried to take elements from each of the flies above and incorporate them into a more traditional style of tying, wrapping fritz round a hook isn’t exactly interesting is it? I don’t fish comps so aren’t that bothered if the catch rate falls a bit and don’t really pull lures that often anyway, but I hope that it’s not the peacock herl in the cormorant that was the key ingredient! I think the dabbler would be a closer alternative to the cormorant with some black bronze mallard, but I don't have any.






Any comments greatfully received, I'd also be interested in any infro from guys who regularly fish 'traditional' flies for ressie 'bows.

All the best - Steve

[Alanc]

They look very nice steve.

Alan

[maharg]

We are in the Dark side. Darth Vader blob

[Chris Reeves]

As a bit of a Cormorant fanatic I think your original version is overdressed and therefore not a true Cormorant. If you used about 1/3rd of the wing material that would be more in line with what I call a Cormorant.
In which case the body material is more important as it is not obscured by the wing.
I don't know why skinny Cormorants work so well, but they out fish heavier dressed ones almost always.
I usually fish it almost static on a slow sinking or glass line. Those fish I've caught on cormorants have been full of buzzers...or daphnia...or caddis etc etc etc, It seems to be all things to all fish when they are fedding well.

Having said all that you replacement fly is delightful, a lovely blend of black and fiery brown that will have them queing up to eat it, just not in the same way as a cormorant. I'd fish your replacement as a top dropper with two cormorants below it and your blob replacement on the point. Nice!

Cheers

[weight_forward]

Fair point on the cormorant Chris the wing does look a bit heavy – I’ve never fished them static, always pulled them, usually with a booby on the point. I’ll tie a few more up with a lighter wing. I think a cormorant just about scrapes in to my new (self appointed) rules, at least it uses some feathers.

What body materials do you have the most success with, Red holo always does well for me .

Steve