Evening Chaps,

I've recently found so much enjoyment in fishing really small dry flies. I love using size 18/20/22 dries and I seem to have much more success on my local stillwarters when I fish the smaller dries.

One small problem is that they are a tad more difficult/fiddly to remove from the fish's mouth due to their size. I find that the really small flies are frequently inside the trout's mouth as opposed to the larger flies that nearly always end up in the scissors.

Does anybody have any advice with regards to removing these small flies? Are the ketchum type tools likely to be anymore use on these small flies than a pair of forceps??

Thanks

APOLOGIES I HAVE JUST LOCATED SOME GOOD INFO ON KETCHUMS ETC ON ANOTHER THREAD!

I am a fan of the ketchum release midge size. I avoid touching the fish at all cost and with this little (over priced) tool I achieve my goals. Just slide the tool down the line and off goes the trout. easy peazy lemon squezy

Edit...
I use the midge size on #22 to #26, have never tried on anything smaller.

Darwin - Thanks for that. I just noticed that they do a 'midge' size! It may help with the really small dries!

You could always get a set of course fishing disgorgers. They are cheaper than anything else on the market & normally come in 3 sizes in a set.

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All that glitters, will catch anglers.

Thanks for the idea Colin.

I'll give it a try because I always find that forceps are a bit too rough on the delicate small flies.

If your forecepts are snagging your flies, try using some shrink wrap on them. Or some thin rubber tubes. They grip the flies better.

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All that glitters, will catch anglers.

Stonefly do a cheper version with two sizes in pack around £8

heres one at garry evans

Stonefly Catch Release Tool


Pete

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Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011

Pete do you have these or know anything about the quality? That's a good price but Stonefly has a spotty reputation on some of their plastic tools.

I've encountered this problem too. I just can't get a grip of tiny Griffiths Gnats with my sausage-like fingers. Forceps just damage the fly. I tried a Ketchum release tool but wasn't impressed. I solved the problem by making my own catch 'em release tool simply by cutting the end off an old biro tube and cutting a little slot down the side, with a junior hacksaw, to feed the line into.

It doesn't cost much to experiment a little and get the design right. You can leave on the top for clipping it into your pocket.

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

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