What is a Duck Fly?

[darwin]

Hello all,
Can someone tell me about the Irish Duck Fly? Is it a real fly or just a pattern named that? I saw a video by a gentleman named Davie McPhail where he tied a duck fly (Great talent this man!) and I can not find a real insect to go with it. Google shows me lots of pictures of real ducks and nice tied duck flies at fish4flies, still no real bug in site or story to go along with the pattern.

Thank you for your time.

[emerger1981]

hello darwin,
i take it your not from U.K
its a midge pattern mate to represent hatching or drowning midge.
Davie's one of the best tyers around, his patterns and tying methods are a top example, you wont find better.

Tight lines

[3lbgrayling]

Buzzers,Buzzers,Buzzers.

jim

[darwin]

Hi emerger1981 and jim,
Nope, not from the UK. I am from New Orleans. So I kept on snooping around and the best I can find is that a duck fly is a Large Midge. Still no scientific name, but I am OK with that. A generic buzzers works for me. And yes, Davie McPhail has some serious mad skills on a vise. I have watched every video he has filmed several times, and I learn something new with each viewing. I read your forum to learn more about the classic trout flies, not real big in the states but I like them.

Thanks guys

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by darwin

Hi emerger1981 and jim,
Nope, not from the UK. I am from New Orleans. So I kept on snooping around and the best I can find is that a duck fly is a Large Midge. Still no scientific name, but I am OK with that. A generic buzzers works for me. And yes, Davie McPhail has some serious mad skills on a vise. I have watched every video he has filmed several times, and I learn something new with each viewing. I read your forum to learn more about the classic trout flies, not real big in the states but I like them.

Thanks guys

No probs
as for your taste in flys..... good man
theres alot of members to learn from on the forum. i noticed you said YOUR forum its THE forum mate its open to all kinds, even geordie bigtrout
anyway welcome aboard.

Tight lines

[midlander]

Hi Darwin, Duck Fly is the generic name in Ireland for the dark, early season, Chironomids (buzzers). It's probably called the duck fly because they hatch with such profusion that the local ducks feed on them avidly. You'll see scores of them working the water, sweeping their bills left and right just in the surface film and snaffling the emerging and newly emerged fly. Hope that helps.

[madjoni]

Originally Posted by midlander

It's probably called the duck fly because they hatch with such profusion that the local ducks feed on them avidly. You'll see scores of them working the water, sweeping their bills left and right just in the surface film and snaffling the emerging and newly emerged fly.

Well,I hunt ducks all my life but I did not knew that.

[seanie]

The duck fly hatches in millions in what locals know as duck holes. The hatches can be so massive that they can be mistaken for smoke when seen from a distance.Some local anglers watch out for what is jokingly referred to as a hatch of gulls. This is when the seagulls feed on the hatching fly.

This is what the fly looks like and its cycle............

[3lbgrayling]

In our part of the world it is the Black headed gulls that feed on them rather than the ducks.

Jim

[Wee Jimmy]

Originally Posted by 3lbgrayling

In our part of the world it is the Black headed gulls that feed on them rather than the ducks.

Jim

Beg to differ there,I dont think that is the case at all.Though I will concede that it maybe depends on the locale and the magnitude of the hatch, I see mallards eating buzzers regularly where I fish and not a gull in sight taking advantage of them.