A very cold day at Kilnsey last Sunday and as usual putting the fish off the food a little. I fished with the customary little black buzzers whilst teaching in the morning but in the afternoon it was time to try something completely different.

Most Northern anglers will be aware of North Country Spiders (NCS) or North Country Wet flies as they should be called and are most likely to fish them on rivers. Very few still water anglers fish with spiders. Why not? All the books say they are as good on reservoirs and lakes as they are on rivers so it is about time that all anglers should get away from big lure bashing and try a delicate and different technique.

On Sunday afternoon, just for an hour, I tied a size 14 partridge and orange on 9 foot leader of about 5lb and cast out, waited for a few seconds for the fly to settle and then a very slow retrieve. Result - 3 fish on within an hour and what super relaxing way to fish.

I would recommend a Williams favourtie, partridge and orange, snipe and purple, waterhen bloa or a greenwells spider and if you are willing to have a go - try three flies on one cast and see what happens.

Variety is the spice of life - just look at the selection you have to go at: North Country Spiders, Partridge and Orange, Snipe and Purple

Cheers

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Stephen Cheetham GAIC ADB
www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk

Hi Steve, met you a couple of weeks ago up at Kilnsey.

I agree with what you're saying and have had good success on Partridge & Orange (both 6a Gold and 19 hot orange), Snipe & Purple, also Black & Peacock work well for me. Makes a change from stripping lures as you say.

Haven't tried a William's Favourite yet but I see it's similar to Black Pennell and Black Spider but with a furnace hackle?

Dave.

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Hi Dave
Hope you are keeping well. The Williams Favourite is a black floss body ribbed with silver wire and a back hackle. Nice little fly.
Keep up the good work with the spiders

Steve

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Stephen Cheetham GAIC ADB
www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk

Thought I would try a few hours at Kilnsey today before the impending bad weather hits us again.

VERY cold with drizzle and a strong wind – only managed a couple of hours before I couldn’t feel my hands and was “rescued” by my mobile ringing to advise that a customer was making an unexpected visit at home.

Tried a Clifton (Sharkey’s “go to” fly) , small lures and then a buzzer under a dry pattern but not a touch. Anyone recently had any luck at Kilnsey?

If so - how would you fish the lakes at this time of year and with what patterns?

Kind regards

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Phil Holding
www.flytyingboutique.com
Airedale, North Yorkshire

Hi Phil, I managed to get about 18 fish on Saturday up at Kilnsey although I think that was down to a mixture of it being restocked that morning and beginners luck at one point it was close to being a take per cast

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Started: 19/09/2010 | First fish: 11/12/2010 | Biggest fish: 8lb Brownie

Robbie,

I read your post about your first trip to Kilnsey - well done!

So ... what were you catching all those wonderful fish with?

Kind regards

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Phil Holding
www.flytyingboutique.com
Airedale, North Yorkshire

Well there wasn't much surface activity so my mentor for the day suggested we use a fly that would sink a little then work on the retrieve - that worked so we stuck with it for most of the day

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Started: 19/09/2010 | First fish: 11/12/2010 | Biggest fish: 8lb Brownie

Has anyone else managed to winkle out a fish or two recently and if so, what pattwerns would you suggest?

Kind regards

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Phil Holding
www.flytyingboutique.com
Airedale, North Yorkshire

If normal flies (i.e. the nymphs and dries) aren't working at this time of year then try a beadhead lure with a big marabou tail. I've had some big catches on these flies at Kilnsey at this time of year, maybe it's just me, but the fish seem a bit more agressive? A good lure is a terminator (not the type in TFF last month, but a little green and white job - i think you can get it in the kilnsey shop)

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"With my silken line and delicate hook, I wander in a myriad of ripples, And find freedom."
My Blog : yorkshireflynovice.blogspot.com

Sorry i couldn't tell you the name of the fly Phil, still trying to get my head around all the names

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Started: 19/09/2010 | First fish: 11/12/2010 | Biggest fish: 8lb Brownie