I was in my local fishing shop (pd mallochs perth)and i asked to see the flies and they were all very small size 12 hook. So i asked if he sold any ace of spades and he pulled out another tray,(as thats what i caught my first fish on last week).and i asked if he had any recomendations and he said these black cat whisker and white cat whisker so i bought 2 of each blak and wite and ace spades. Do these class as lures rather than flies? do they suit specifc places i caught first fish on loch but am going to be fishing the river tay/ almond. would these be suitable to use? also has anyone got any recomendations for these rivers? chees bobby

I would say they both come under the heading of lures.

The cats is a very deadly fly and has probably accounted for more fish than any other fly, i still remember my first fish, I was 9 it was a pound and a half and i caught it on a cats at glenburn, ever since that day i have had an undying love for that lure.

A good variation of the cats is to paint the head of it red, i use my wifes nail varnish then another coat of clear varnish on top.

I think the thing with the cats is the confidence people have in fishing it.

Tom

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I'm an angler not a fishmonger

Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt

If you ask in Malloch's and tell them where you will be fishing and what for they will sort you out. I was in last week as I have just started river fishing (Earn) and basically I just said flies for tout on the Earn please, he gave me a selection of 3 in 2 sizes and I caught fish on my first ever river outing, which totally surprised me. Not monsters but wild fish.
It was the young guy with the extremely posh or american accent that served me and he was really helpful.
Good luck.

Do you mind sharing what these flies where? Thinking of heading out to the earn for the first time one night when its not so bright

No probs they were Stoats tail, teal blue and silver and peter Ross. I subsequently got a few silver stoat and I have been using Kate Mclaren as a bob fly, or at least I was but it seemed superfluous. So Stoats tail on the point and TBS (or other shiny fly) on the dropper. Its a limited repertoire but so far so good. Had a couple on upstream dry but the flow of the earn is quite rapid and I find it difficult to keep in touch with the fly, will get there though.

Had my best night down there last night the sun doesnt seem to put them off. If you are new to river fishing have a look for a thread on here titled 'river islands' (in fcat its here
River islands) there is a chap Called Terry Cousin and in that thread he gives some pointers which have been absolutely fantastic, really made a difference to my catch rate and the size of fish. Also on another thread he posted about a slack lining technique which again has made a huge difference to my approach and it really does work (he should write a book if he hasnt already!), previously I was losing lots of takes but with the slack line the fish pretty much hook themselves.
Where you thinking about going beat wise?