So the river trout season only has a couple of weeks left and, whilst I love grayling fishing, I always see October as the time to head for Chew Valley and seek out some of those big rainbows. These fish are usually of a good size, feeding hard to get ready for the winter and they will fight incredibly well. Perhaps it's because I don't fish stillwater alot but I find it fascinating to see the huge bow waves near the shore followed by the surface of the water shattered by escaping fry - trying to avoid a big rainbow in pursuit.

So here's a pattern just for these times. Based upon a small pike fly, it has the all important fry triggers (best fished on an intermediate if pulled or allowed to hang above weed beds on a floater). I originally saw this pattern as tied by Nigel Savage. Here's my version:



Hook: TMC811S #4
Thread: Lava Lace Nylon
Body: EP fibres
Throat: Red Buck tail
Eyes: Adhesive model eyes - big! (7mm)

1) Catch in the thread and tie in a bunch of White EP fibres


2) In front of the tail fibres, catch in another bunch, and wrap these with a figure of 8.


3) Fold these back and secure with two wraps


4) Keep doing this until you are within 4mm of the eye:


5) Now I like to add in some sparkle - up to you what you use


6) Now tie in a bunch of green (your choice) EP fibres. These should be left longer than the white body fibres.


7) Start to trim the body fibres with scissors so that they taper into the tail. I like to pull the 'dorsal' material forwards and trim this last.


8) Now tie in some red buck tail (or use EP fibres if you wish). I don't like too much though.


9) Whip finish and epoxy / varnish


10) Finish by attaching big eyes. I like 7mm even on a smaller fly. This really is a trigger point.


A bit of fun... but effective fun

All the best,
Dave.

__________________
Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Nice fly.

I'm fishing Chew on Friday for the Pike.

Have knocked a few patterns up myself.

WCB

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There are some good fish in there! Earlier in the year we fished it for pike and had planty of jacks. On the second day, we moved plenty of doubles - following the fly- but they just wouldn't take

Still a great day though... Here's a couple and great fun on the fly

__________________
Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Nice wee fly Dave, like it.

Was talking to Nigel at Rutland a few weeks ago and he was saying how he always tries to fish imitatively, that being Roach and Perch type patterns, always favouring these over flashy flies.

You can't argue with his success!

Cheers,

Dougie

HI Dwiltshire,
cracking looking fry pattern ill let you know ill get off with
my fry patterns on thursday.
ive had a problem with the eyes staying on any tips?
i used super glue but not the best result any info before next thursday please?

all the best

Claw

He has a huge amount of experience and has taken alot of fish, so his approach is certainly worth following. Making the fry patterns, be it bigger pike flies or for the end of season fry-bashers, is very fast when using EP. Just a quick change in colour allows you to buidl up a useful ragne of imitations. I like to 'bar' a few with a black permanent marker for perch imitations.

Claw: I use 5 minute Epoxy. It takes a day or two for it to 'go off' completely, but when it does the eyes are solid. I've not had a problem even with pike. One little tip is to use your dubbing needle to help run the epoxy over the edge of the eye - this epoxy 'socket' then holds the eye in very securely.

Good luck. Post some piccies from Thursday if you get the chance


Cheers,
Dave.

__________________
Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box