Hi Guys

As a newbie to River dry fly fishing i wanted to start off with simple but effective patterns, i reckoned id loose a few to trees ! And i did !
Over the last couple of months ive only fished dry flys on the river and i pretty much used only three patterns

Black Klink (orange post)

Elk hair caddis

Olive comparadun (hackled)

All are simply and quick to tie and seem to work !

To date ive found the Olive Comparadun "hackled" the most deadly, its taken more fish than the others by a long way !

Even deadly tied like mine below its simply "deadly"



This fella hit it so hard it came a good couple of feet out the water




Id like to know your current simple killer pattern ?? Id like to add a few more simple drys to my box ..................

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

would add some small griffiths gnat to those, very simple and very deadly.

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http://eclecticangler.blogspot.com/

Totally agree with danielp - great choice! My favourite (and the most effective) river fly.

Griffiths Gnat - so simple. Added bonus is the palmered body helps it bounce off leaves and branches if you're casting to a tight hole under a tree, especially in the smaller hook sizes. I'd tie some in #20 to #14. I do fish them down to a #24, and have had grayling around 1.5lb to the smallest flies. but I'd say an #18 or #19 is the best allrounder. They're the best grayling dries around, and take trout just as readily.

I actually use a grey hackle on mine, rather than the original grizzle (lack of cheap grizzle capes, rather than a tactical choice).

If you're after grayling I wouldn't be without a few in my box.

The F-fly, couldnt be easier to tie, and a hard fly to beat.

__________________
i was walking far from home, where the names are not burned along the wall, saw a building, high as heaven, but the door was so small

Hi

I find the good old black Klink catches most of my fish, so I'd be pretty interested in trying a comparadun (which I haven't used) seeing as you reckon it is more effective.

Another pattern I'd like to try - and it looks very simple to tie and see on the water - is a successful South African pattern, the CDC Midge. According to the attached link it worked pretty well on the upper Itchen and I reckon it could work well throughout the UK...

Tying the CdC Midge

It looks very "buggy".

I'll get tying in the off season.

Nice fly Englander. What's the hackle made from?

And the river in the picture - is that the Linhouse??

Hi Matt

For a step by step search You tube for Davie Mcphail "August Comparadun" i tie mine just the same except i use

Olive deer wing

Olive hares ear dubbing

Yellow 8/0 thread

Olive cock hackle fibers for the tail

Grizzle of badger for the hackle

River ?? No not the Linhouse ............... my private wee stream

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Have you tried RichardW's double badger? Found it does a real nice job on small rivers and it can be invaluable if flying ants start hitting the surface.

Take care

Terry

__________________
"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all!"

Grey Duster.

__________________

But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

Dry hare's ear. Simple and deadly.

Burhan

__________________
I could fish deep into the night
Well past the light
But at the end of the day
It's the end of the day

Burhan

mc_death187@yahoo.com