This morning on the walk back from my newsagents I discovered a poor very cold Red Admiral Butterfly that was trying bravely to fly. but was much too cold to do this well. I managed to place him on a hedge, but alas I expect a heads-up bird probably had him. The question arose in me "Why don't more fly tiers try doing butterfly patterns? The only pattern I seem to recall is a salmon fly pattern. I know there are a few clued up forumites who'll tell me so why this is so so please educate me?

Hello flytier,

the problem with butterfly patterns is not to tie them but to cast (and fish) them. The large wings are not aerodynamic and will twist the thickest tippet. Furthermore they are rather rare compared to other species. They will catch the odd fish, but during feeding frenzies (insect hatches) they will probably be ignored (preoccupation on dominant species). Not educating here (by all means). Just a thought through observation.

Regards,
Johan

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Johan Janssens

I've never seen any butterflies on the water, dispite their clumsy flying, they are quite strong on the wing.
It,s thought many of the early salmon flies were based on butterflies.