Dry River Flies Swap

[splashtestdummy]

Just been on the phone with XL50 (John), we'll kick off the Traditional Dry Flies swap on Sunday, giving me time to work out what I write re fund raising etc.

There will still be 10 tyers +2 for charity as it becomes unwieldy otherwise.

John will donate a box for the charity auction, donations of flies will be welcomed by guest tyers as well (they can just do a couple though), a bit of cash as well if people like but not necessary if people don't want to, then it just runs like a normal swap.

John will probably run a parallel swap or two. We'll be aiming for a box of circa 50+ flies. There will be a minumum price on the auction and if it doesn't get there, then I'll cover the minimum.

Quality will be the main aim, I don't want to be left with a lack lustre box of fluff LOL.

[degen83]

nce one splash!! count me in bud....now time to do some research me thinks!!!

[duttontom]

Hi Splash,

Can you count me in for this swap as well? Last one was a cracker

Thanks

[lvlacleod]

Flees arrived today. All really nice well tied. I've got a lot to learn but I have only been tying since October. Think I'll wait till I'm more experienced before joining another swap

[splashtestdummy]

Tam, they were fine mate and the simple small nature of them is perfect for spring streams I reckon (and other places).

I took the swap flies to my tying group last night and we chatted about them all ... we get to talk a lot more during a spot of social fly tying, than you can on here.

We were discussing the flies we tie for craft, versus flies we actually fish with ... we do all sorts of flies at my group and the fella who shows me the ropes has been tying for over 20 years, seen a lot of things etc.

We all concluded that actually, quite often when on our little river and getting in the zone, we choose small simple patterns over many of our other 'fancy' ones.

My first dry fly catching session this year was during a short spell of rising little 'whoknowswots', a couple of Saturdays back ... anyway, went for really basic but small flies, caught a few little Grayling on a really simple Pale Watery from a previous swap and a size 20 CDC F Fly.

Couldn't get them to snag on a really nicely tied little CDC shuttlecock, because I reckon they could feel the biot and spit it out before I could snarl them. I could see the little fish rising to them.

Now bigger fish maybe different but not found them yet this year, in fact not been fishing since then.

Might give it a go tomorrow - should be working but we'll see what the dawn brings.

I don't know if you've been following the 'Softmouth' thread, but the Wild Trout Trust (via Paul G) has agreed to undertake a study visit to Montenegro today and we are aiming to support their trip; it's not big bucks for a study trip for 1 person, so if we can raise some dosh with a few swaps / guest donations of flies / fly box from XL50, bits of cash etc, then that would be good and will be a donation to something very tangible.

[lvlacleod]

Woohoo, Caught my 1st ever river brownie today using XL50's cdc and elk. I must have missed about 7 but finally hooked one. I was on my own and had just nipped down for an hours fishing, didn't have a net or camera and am gutted not to have captured my 1st brownie. So sorry for no pics.

Wouldn't have been possible without this swap, so cheers all

[XL50]

Originally Posted by lvlacleod

Woohoo, Caught my 1st ever river brownie today using XL50's cdc and elk. I must have missed about 7 but finally hooked one. I was on my own and had just nipped down for an hours fishing, didn't have a net or camera and am gutted not to have captured my 1st brownie. So sorry for no pics.

Wouldn't have been possible without this swap, so cheers all

Thats absolutely great mate Im glad it caught for you

[degen83]

just been out on the upper severn nd there where sedges everywhere. never seen so many rises, so put on Mayflyjunkies sedge nd babged me in a 2lb grayling ffought like a beast lol nd after that they kept coming, had 12 in space off an hour

Mayflyjunkie i take my hat off to you for that fly... would love the recipe for it its a winner that one! also what hooks have you guys been using? really nice hooks

matt