Nice one Andy,Takes my tally of coarse fish on the fly to:-
Pike
Perch
Chub
Bream
Dace
Tench
And also what I was told was a Golden Bream also caught whilst fishing for trout, anyone help with what else it may have been?
Next, that elusive barbel!
Barbel: My biggest in the past decade was a 9.25-pounder that killed me on a 5-weight rod.
Barbel: for the first three weeks or so of the season - June 16th onwards - a SUPER heavily leaded [I tie mine with sheet roofing lead) Richard Walker Mayfly Nymph, longshank size 8 and 10 has done very well for me in the South.
Afterwards its mostly caseless caddis patterns - Czech, Polish etc - leaded again, in browns, tans and greens, on curved shank grub and caddis hooks.
Make all hooks very strong, not fine wire jobbies.
My biggest in the past decade was a 9.25-pounder that killed me on a 5-weight rod.
I used to use these tied on a long-shank 10 on the Upper Dee (N. Wales) in a run through a gravel bank for the Grayling late season (Jan-Feb) - the only problem was it was no good for the Grayling due to being mobbed by 6" Salmon Parr - totally suicidal on it!the Split Shot Cased Caddis in various weights with various shot sizes upfront
I had a huge, 18-plus, Welsh spring salmon attach itself one late March ten years ago. It played around with me and my 5-weight gear for a few minutes before breaking off.
Quote:
the Split Shot Cased Caddis in various weights with various shot sizes upfront
I used to use these tied on a long-shank 10 on the Upper Dee (N. Wales) ...for the Grayling late season ....
Grrrr ....... Salmon!
Bully Fish - Game equivalent of Carp - eh?
Hooks for cased caddis: strong, wider-gape Streamer fly hooks.
The old Redditch Scale of hook sizing was largely abandoned many years ago. Now you need to be aware that, say, a "size 12 3x Long" hook pattern will probably have the shank length of an 8 (or even a 6), but the gape of a 12 (maybe), and that this can vary from designated hook type - e.g. Streamer or Nymph - and also from maker to maker. Very important to look at hooks first, on a rack in their packets - a good look plus some thinking before you buy; some / a good many of the hooks on which I tie flies are chosen not for "what it says on the packet". Very confusing to beginners, occasionally irritating for old hands like me.