The Classics: Bibio

[maharg]

The Bibio

Developed in the 50s by major Charles Roberts the bibio is the new kid on the block when it comes to the old traditionals. He used it with great success on the Burrishoole Fishery in County Mayo. A first class imitation of the heather fly, Bibio Pomonae, it also sits nicely with the other great, dark, top dropper flies such as the Kate McLaren. A killer of sea trout and brownies alike, my second favourite behind the Kate McLaren.

• Hook: standard wets 14 -8
• Body: in 3 parts, black seals, red seals, black seal again
• Rib: silver wire or tinsel
• Hackle: palmered black cock

I have to pause here and say that there is some debate as to the central colour.
I have seen it listed to include, red, orange and claret. I will leave it to more informed tiers than me to debate this point.

variants
Pearly bibio

• As original Bibio but body in 3 parts.
• Pearl tinsel, coloured seals fur, pearl tinsel

To further add to the debate Ted Malone, he that is all things Irish, has a variant with 4 body parts!
Black seal, red seal, black seal, red seal. He also adds that for Ireland it should be fished on the large side, typically a size 8

Another variant of mine,
Muddlered Bibio,

• Body :none
• hackles : Black, red, black cock
• Head : deer hair

For the Northern Scots another variant sports a white hackle at the head.


I would lead you to George Barrons' brilliant article in F.F.and F.T.(Feb 2010) In which he covers the Bibio in depth.
Another wee tie inspired by Mr Barrons thighs mentioned in his piece. An imatitive copy of the natural.

• Hook: nickel grub size 10
• extended body: twisted black larva lace
• wing: deer hair tips
• Thighs: orange biots
• Hackles: a small orange cock under a deep brown, almost black cock.

I hope you enjoy this fly, it really is a top drawer wet.
Any variants or stories out there you would like to share?

[g bigtrout]

Yip fished Burrishoole no luck though....but m8 got one on a golden olive bumble.....nice fleas Graham and i had some great days on the bibio.

[allanw]

The Bibio was an absolute Killer on the Welsh Dee last year for Both Browns and Sea Trout

[bigtroot]

Some nice flies Graham,
Heres a wee muddler that i have done well on lately

[Scratch]

Great post again Graham. 'The Classics' wouldn't have been complete without it. For my money, the Bibio is one of the true superflies - regularly coming in the top 5, if not winning these polls that crop from time to time. It's so much more than a Heather fly pattern, and will take Browns, 'Bows, Sea Trout and Salmon, from the first day of the season to the last, whether the heather, or not.
The original, dressed with cock for the body hackle, has always been primarily a top dropper pattern for me, and more often than not, fished on a floater. These last few seasons though, I've been playing with a few variants dressed with hen instead, and shifting them lowere down the leader.

Here's an obvious one - palmered with Furnace hen... just gives another option when a hard black isn't what they're after, but still manges to retain that dark Bibio feel. The Furnace hen used here is relatively 'cocky', so it'll still do a job on the bob. The nosy parkers amongst you will have spotted a gold rib, for a change

And here's one that I gave some serious air-time to last season. Dressed with black hen for the body hackle and a couple of turns of a red GP body feather at the head. The thinking here was to let the hen do its thing sub-surface, and when swilling around in the film, in conjuction with a little kick from the 'leggy' GP. Works well lower down the leader, but it looks a treat hanging in the film, so it gets more time on the top dropper.

[maharg]

Top ties as always Rob. See you are of the red school then. I thought this would have raised more debate from the boys over the water!
As you say a great pattern regardless of the heather fly bit.
Like the furnace hackle, does indeed give it a softer feel.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by maharg

See you are of the red school then.

Of course Graham! If it's not red.... it's not a 'Bibio' As far as I know, Bibio Pomonae still has red legs over in Ireland... not Claret or Orange And as far as I'm aware, that's what major Roberts intended the fly to suggest.... the clue is in the name

[maharg]

Hear what you are saying Rob.
I use the red too, but one wee, tiny problem, the real flee has orange legs

[weight_forward]

Well done for posting Maharg, a truely classic wet fly in my opinion which has spawned countless variations, hoppers, dabblers, snatchers etc... For me it's a very close call between the Bibio and the Kate as to which is the quintessential bob fly.

Oh, and Scratch has chipped in with a few nicely tied variants as well .

Steve

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by maharg

the real flee has orange legs

Not around these parts... I'll concede, maybe, orangey-red/scarlet in some areas.