How good is Wyatt's DHE ?

[Spider]

I've been trying to slightly increase my range of dry flies having become somewhat over dependent on the Klink and Griffiths Gnat in the last two seasons. As people like Scratch and Otter know, i really rate the Griffiths, and it has been noticeably better and consistent for me then the Klinkhammer.

However I'm hoping to broaden my range of dries, and have recently found that the CDC and Elk has done well for me - or well enough to make it into the winter fly tying programme.

A fly i tried a couple of years ago, tied on an overheavy hook by the supplier, was the DHE, and it did little for me - but I'm a far better fisherman now.

So I'm looking for opinions on the DHE - is its as good as people like Wyatt claim - specifically on small to medium sized rivers. Or overhyped?

Cheers all......

[sewinbasher]

It's a very good fly, it's better on riffles than flats but every bit as good as a Klink.

[Spider]

Cheers Sewin, was thinking same as wing looks bushy on the picks i've seen. Have you tried the version with the stripped peacock herl?

[3lbgrayling]

No doubt about it,it catches fish.

Jim

[otter]

It is a good emerger pattern that will take its share of fish. Quite good when caddis are on the menu and not bad when the LDO's are coming off.

I have found it though at times to have the same drawback as a klinkhammer - it will bring a lot of fish that will slash at it. When its working though it really does damage.

Definitely worth a place in the box in 12s and 14s, for 16's up i tend to replace the deer hare with cdc so i guess it would be called something else .

[Buzz]

I neglected it for a while but its not been off my leader for about a month.
Dare i say it but it might be better for trout (not Grayling) in fast broken water than a klink!
Size 14s seem to bring them up and they really hammer it, it appears to work everywhere i try it, wee boulder streams, big rivers, wee rivers.
Its great fun watching the fish turn and chase it then launch themselves at it.
I have been tying loads for people in size 16,14 and 12 and have dedicated a row in my box to it.
I have tried a stripped quill version but TBH i can see any difference in catch rate between the original and the time consuming quill version.
You really have to soak the abdomen and gink the wing otherwise it wont float correctly but boy does it work

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by Buzz

I neglected it for a while but its not been off my leader for about a month.
Dare i say it but it might be better for trout (not Grayling) in fast broken water than a klink!
Size 14s seem to bring them up and they really hammer it, it appears to work everywhere i try it, wee boulder streams, big rivers, wee rivers.
Its great fun watching the fish turn and chase it then launch themselves at it.
I have been tying loads for people in size 16,14 and 12 and have dedicated a row in my box to it.
I have tried a stripped quill version but TBH i can see any difference in catch rate between the original and the time consuming quill version.
You really have to soak the abdomen and gink the wing otherwise it wont float correctly but boy does it work

spot on
what do you prefer for the body?

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by emerger1981

spot on
what do you prefer for the body?

I only get fussy about one or two patterns and colours, other flies i dont think it matters a hoot.
For me it has to be:-
Thread - Tan Sheer
Body - Swiss CDC Argentinian Long Hare dubbing (FLY TYING BOUTIQUE).

[Gander]

I only fish stillwaters, but for me the DHE is without peer. I have two versions that I have total confidence in. One is tied using a body of natural rabbit underfur. The other uses olive dyed rabbit underfur.

Another fly I would highly recommend to you is the Grey Duster family, including Bob Wyatt's Dirty Duster.

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by Buzz

I only get fussy about one or two patterns and colours, other flies i dont think it matters a hoot.
For me it has to be:-
Thread - Tan Sheer
Body - Swiss CDC Argentinian Long Hare dubbing (FLY TYING BOUTIQUE).

cheers mate, very true in most case's.. more down to pattern than anything
i tend to use finesse, grey angora or pheasant tail fibres.
what wing tying do you prefer on them?