I am making my bi-annual pilgrimage back home to Yorkshire next weekend... my brother in law has a rod on the wharfe at bolton abbey and has asked if i want to fish with him ..... obviously being a chalkstream softie i laughed at him and told him to play in his mucky water by himself

But seriously i was wanting the benefit og the collective conciencness regarding tactics and flies.... i may need to do some tying before i go up there...

ATB

__________________

I am also a member and have been giving visit updates. Search forums for Yorkshire 2009 - Bolton Abbey. If you tie flies then you will need some Waterhen Bloa's in size 16 at the moment.

__________________
"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

For sussing out where the fish are (with respect to their movement from winter/cold water deeper lies towards their warmer temperature broken fast water lies) I would start off with a trio rig. This will allow you to use a substantial (i.e. really quite effing heavy - a 3.3 or even 3.8mm tungsten bead head hare's ear or PTN) point fly about 4 feet below a super buoyant dry fly. The dropper can then be a waterhen bloa (14's and 12's are actually OK when the large dark olives are about) or a small (16's) flashback ptn.

The advantage of this is that you are covering 3 layers of water at all times and that the same rig can be used to work your way up from the deeper runs up the shelf of the riffles into shallower water (as the depth decreases, the current speed increases - allowing you to often keep the same point fly)

Notice where you get takes and then apply your favoured technique to the same types of water further up the river (or keep using the trio if you enjoy it).

Dropper nymph here:
Durable "Mary" PTN variant
Dry fly here (in post number 5):
NZ style quiery

Forgot to say - dropper can be as little as 10 to 12" below the dry fly when using the bloa. I usually set it about 18" deep when using the small "mary" on the dropper.

All of these settings are subject to modification - just remember what you are wanting your flies to achieve with respect to the life-stage that each of them is imitating.