I read somewhere that at this time of year, you should fish small buzzers. What is "small" ? The fish I've had on buzzers so far since the thaw have been on size 12 which looks large to me.

The same for nymphs. All the fish I've had so far (since thaw) have been on size 14s (DBs, Cormorants, Crunchers) Is a 14 large/medium/small in the world of nymphs?

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

I think this depends on the water you are fishing. Up here in the north where the waters are "peaty" (reservoirs), the natural buzzers are certainly a lot smaller than waters further south. If you were to try and "match the hatch" you would be looking at size 16 maximum but I've always found fish readily take bigger flies without much problem.

The most important thing is to fish your flies at the depth the fish are feeding at.

Thanks

Mat

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P.B's on fly
Rainbow-13lb Arnfield,Brown-8lb 2oz Rutland,Golden Rainbow-3lb Bellflask, Blue-5lb 11oz Stocks

I fished a smallwater around three wks ago now and had my first fish to a size8 buzzer i normally use to anchor a team.The rest to size10 & 12 buzzers & nymphs,like mat just stated having your flies at the right depth is the key

Neil

I usually fish a team starting with 10 on the point, 12 middle dropper and 14 on point or drop down one or even two sizes across the team. Depending on the eventual midge the buzzer can vary in size. I'll also mix spider with buzzers so it looks like a buzzer starting to emerge.

Key is also technique as per someones earlier post, we've written a 31 page e-guide on buzzer fishing send me a pm with your email details and I'll send you a copy.

regards

andy

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Andy Kitchener www.theessentialfly.com

31 pages

Chuck 'em out, don't retrieve very much - what else is there to know

Yes, I am sort of joking as I think a lot of people struggle with buzzers, but I am surprised there was that much to write.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Thanks everybody. Charlie, it ain't so much fishing them, it was a question of size. Often people will specify the hook size of a dry fly, say, but when it comes down to buzzers they tend to talk about "large" or "small" or even "tiny wee". At tackle shops and fishery shops the buzzers all seem large to me for such a small insect. I usually fish size 12 with a 14 or 16 on a dropper but rarely catch on the smaller ones. It tends to be the other way around for nymphs. I was just wondering.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Bill,

Some folks would have you believe that ' matching the buzzer hatch ' relates not only to buzzer colouration but size as well, and is critical for success.......... sometimes this is the case..... but as you have experienced........ ' it's rare ', I'm not saying that there arn't days were we do need to use close copies...... because there is....... but imo not that often, especially on small waters. I think tippet choice should be highly considered to start with.
The hook it'self is another issue....... i catch a lot more on staight hooks as opposed to grubbers........ but tied fine..... one layer of thread / floss from the butt up.
I feel it helps to dig into the water with buzzers on the smallwaters....... so thats why i mainly use comp 10's....... just a pair with the dropper 6/7 ft away from the point then another 12ft to the flyline. You can tye your buzzers with short bodies to keep the hook weight to fit the required size if needed ..... but i always want mine to stand out from the crowed....... not to much though.
If fish are high in the water you can still use a single comp. 10 buzzer no problem.......... also don't rule out stripping them........ once they lock on to a stripped buzzer they rarely divert from a solid hit

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www.te-ff.org/
Trout Fisherman Magazine.
Hardy/Greys. Fulling Mill.

What was it that Woz said? Something about you should have a section on the forum for yourself.

Very interesting. Been thinking about tippet size. I use 6lb fulling mill fluoro and they just don't seem to hang right to my eye.
I've seen a previous post of yours with pics of straight buzzers. I shall give them a try, in spite of the curved ones looking more "artistic" .
Stripping them is also interesting. I had read about it but had me doubts. Then on Stocks the other day, I was stripping in as fast as I could to cover a rising fish when a rainbow slammed into my Apps. And there was me thinking that you had to fish them static.
Cheers
Bill

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Go for 5lb FM Bill for smallwater buzzering ....... 6 is just that bit heavy mate.

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www.te-ff.org/
Trout Fisherman Magazine.
Hardy/Greys. Fulling Mill.

You are right Charlie, we did it A5 rather than A4! lol

But stil got lots of good feedback for it. If we can help just a bit then we've achieved something useful

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Andy Kitchener www.theessentialfly.com