ar these files/bugs worth getting for the winter months, I'm thinking they will be grub-like and sink down quite fast, and generally not too big.

Black Bugs (shiny head black bug) on eBay (end time 18-Nov-10 12:40:23 GMT)

any other reccomendations for winter flies would also be much appreciated for a fly fisher of 1 years service!!!......... I pretty much have all the lures I need like Humungus, cats, damsel, all in several colours, plus lots of nymphs, like hares ear, PTN, DB etc.......so am looking to stock up on the unusual stuff!!!

Not sure about the bugs, but my go-to fly for winter is an apps bloodworm on an intermediate or sinking line. I attach the bloodworm to the business end and an orange, pink or sunburst blob to the dropper as an attractor. let the line sink for a while, vary it until you find the fish, and watch out for takes on the drop, I have missed countless takes while the bloodworm is sinking, so keep your eyes peeled! . For the retrieve, I use a deadly slow figure-of-eight or roly-poly retrieve, this method has put me as top rod at the end of the day many times, so give it a go! And also, apps bloodworms are extremely easy to tie, as are blobs if you are a novice fly tyer - Tying Instructions for the Apps Bloodworm - and - Tying Instructions for the Blob Fly.

Cheers
Alex

Damsels are OK. My favourite is a black Woolly Bu99er, fished slow and deep on an intermediate line.

I like to tie 'em with fluorescent red or green thread and build up a nice head to act as a trigger point. A Diawl Bach on a dropper is quite effective too.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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Yes, good advice from Tommy also, if my bloodworms aren't catching, I change to a damsel, and a good thing to do is for my bloodworm setup above, put a diawl bach (as suggested by Tommy) on another dropper inbetween the blob and bloodworm, works a treat on the slightly smarter residents and brownies!
Good Luck,
Alex

excellent replies guys, thanks very much, as luck would have it I already have a good selection of apps bloodworms and actually caught my best rainbow on one last december, a 6lb 6 oz affair, coincidentally on an intermediate line too!..... so I will persevere with that one.....yup, already got some blobs, but never used one as an attractor on a dropper - will give it a try........black wooly buggers - have not got any of those! ......ebay here I come ;-)

Hi knighty,

Is seems from the comments above that you are fishing still waters. I would think if the bugs you show in your first post have tungsten beads then they are more suited to bugging on running water.

John H

Yes Knighty, I caught my biggest fish on an apps bloodworm a week or so ago, and I would not hesitate in reccomending Trout flies and fly tying materials to anyone looking to buy flies, they have a reputation for being poor quality flies, although the quality isn't great, the fish don't seem to care ad I have caught many fish on Wendy's (troutflies owner) flies, and the flies are astoundingly cheap, and free delivery and excellent customer service as well, order your flies one morning, they will arrive by the next. and for the record, I have no link with troutflies, apart from the fact that i am a very happy customer! (they also sell quality black wooly bu99ers too!)

Cheers,
Alex