What flies should I be tying now ?

[scubacrazy123]

Hi all.
Just wondering what people are tying up now.
The reason I ask, is when I read about hawthorn flies appearing (remember this is my first season, so I don't have experience yet), I started tying some of them to use. By the time I had tied a few "practice ones", and got to the stage where they were usable, I had wasted a couple of weeks of the short hawthorn season !!
So what I am trying to do now is to set myself a schedule of patterns to tie in advance of when I need them.
Mayflies, for example. So many different colours and stages, which to do, and in what order?
I know next winter will be spent tying up all sorts of patterns which will see me through most of the season, but for now, I'm open to whatever advice the more experienced can offer.
Also, just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who have given advice already.I really am very grateful.
Cheers,
Gary.

[wesleybrown999]

Buzzers make up 90% of a trouts diet......you decide what you should be tying.

Andy

[scubacrazy123]

Originally Posted by wesleybrown999

Buzzers make up 90% of a trouts diet......you decide what you should be tying.

Andy

Whilst this may be true, it's not the most helpful advice I've ever had !
I have plenty of buzzers already, which I do have a lot of success with, but there are times when I need to try other methods.
Sorry, I should have been a bit more specific.
I mostly fish smallish still waters in Essex, and I am just starting to fish dries.
So which dries should I be looking to tie, even if it is only to go for the other 10% ?
Cheers,
Gary

[steve collyer]

If it's a cracking, easily-dressed, all-purpose dry you want then try this:
http://www.flyforums.co.uk/fly-tying...-ever-tie.html
Hacklepoint Coachman
Hook:
10-14
Silk:
Brown
Body:
Peacock herl
Wings:
White cock or hen hacklepoints
Hackle:
Ginger or red cock





I've taken 100+ fish on this over the years (mostly on stillwaters) including 20 or so in the last year.
Try it yourself...

[leedsutdman]

i find black knats size 14 and the royal coachman are 2 good all rounders and the f fly can be a cracker.........

[Chris Reeves]

As a new tier you do not want to tie hundreds of patterns requiring loads of different materials

I'd go for a simple few for this summer, collect insects while you fish and imitate those during the winter tying sessions.

Dry flies that I'd always have in my box in summer (or winter for that matter)

Griffiths Gnat sizes 12 to 18
Grey Duster sizes 12 to 16
Elk Hair Sedge in Brown, Tan and Green (maybe orange too)
Black foam Beetle sizes 12 to 18
Brown foam beetle sizes 12 to 18

With that lot you can cover a multitude of hatches and types of insects plus they are all good "searching flies"

Don't neglect Damsel nymphs though!

Regards

[dabhoy]

Originally Posted by wesleybrown999

Buzzers make up 90% of a trouts diet......you decide what you should be tying.

Andy

I would be very interested to find out where you got this information

Sorry for the hijack so back on topic
As for flies to tie try some sedgehogs they are not just for up North
F flies are always good and nice and simple to tie.

[Chris Reeves]

I think his quote is more of a misquote

It should probably read....."On some waters, Buzzers can make up 90% of a trouts diet. "
Certainly on Bewl water where most of our other insects have disappeared buzzers are the predominant water hatching insect food source but, if you factor in daphnia, fry feeding and terrestial flies then buzzers probably only account for 50 % of the stomach contents on a year round basis. There are times when the stomachs will be 100% full of buzzers but equally days when daphnia is all that can be found.

Cheers

[scubacrazy123]

Originally Posted by Chris Reeves

Griffiths Gnat sizes 12 to 18
Grey Duster sizes 12 to 16
Elk Hair Sedge in Brown, Tan and Green (maybe orange too)
Black foam Beetle sizes 12 to 18
Brown foam beetle sizes 12 to 18

Thank you for that list Chris. I have done some Griffith's gnats, and some F fflies in various colours, mainly because they are easy !
I will put the others on my list to learn.

Originally Posted by steve collyer

If it's a cracking, easily-dressed, all-purpose dry you want then try this:
The best all-purpose dry fly you'll ever tie...
Hacklepoint Coachman

I will definitely be tying some of these too. Thanks Steve.

All the patterns mentioned thus far seem to be general "all purpose" dries.
I think the point I was trying to make was apart from catching waterside insects, and identifying them, and then copying them, (which I find a daunting task, although hopefully I will manage that over time ), is there some sort of general "calender" of which flies should be fishable at certain times.
For example the hawthorn. It always arrives at the same time of year for a certain time. Which other insects, and it's related fly, appears and when?

Please don't misunderstand me; I will learn this over time, but at the moment I need a long lead in time to tie the appropriate flies for the right time of year, because I am so inexperienced and slow at tying.
Learning watercraft etc is a long slow process, which I am enjoying, but I want to be as prepared as I can be for when things start happening on the surface and people say to me "Oh, you should have had some X or Y fly at this time of the season"

Thanks for all the great help so far, I appreciate it.
Cheers,
Gary

[weight_forward]

Here's some info for the rivers, not my work I hasten to add;

Entomology

I hope that helps getting you started.

Steve