Flicking feathers

 Another old one I wrote for www.sexyloops.com We're well into May now, spring is fully here and the mayfly will be here soon too. Whether on rivers or still waters, it's one of the main events of the season and it's the time of year I really miss being on the lochs back home. Although Ireland's loughs are probably the place that springs to mind for most people when it comes to mayfly fishing in still waters, there are some lochs in Scotland with good hatches that offer some fantastic fishing especially-but not limited to- Caithness. Oddly though, mayfly time seems to be less of and event than it is in Ireland, maybe because it comes a bit later in the highlands. Admittedly the hatches usually are not quite so prolific as on the likes of Mask and Corrib but they last longer, sometimes even until early August! I've had some amazing days on Mentieth, Hillend and others with both numbers and quality of fish, often wild, sometimes well mended overwintered rainbows depen

The Spent Westie is a great dry pattern for imitating the spent danica & vulgata mayflies. Although it sits flush to the surface, it floats well and is quite visible to the angler because of the fan wing. All in all it's fantastic spent gnat imitation Materials list Hook: Kamasan B170 size 10 or 12 Thread: White Veevus 10/0 then Black Uni 8/0 Tail: Moose body or similar Butt: Glo-brite no.4 Rib: Black spanflex Body: White poly yarn Wing: Widgeon flank Hackle: Black cock, tied short.   To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying sessions, members only content and enter giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or head to https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers and donate Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Bookmarking or using my link will help support my channel.

The mayfly offers some of the most exciting fishing of the year and in a big wave there's nothing like a muddler mayfly on the top dropper. This version with the sunburst hackle is great when you want something with a bit of colour in the dressing. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or 12 Thread: Brown Uni 8/0 Tail: Cock pheasant tail Rib: Oval gold Body: PTFE plumber's tape Body hackle: Henny badger cock Shoulder hackle: Sunburst hen Head: Roe deer dyed olive To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying sessions, members only content and enter giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or head to https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers and donate Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Bookmarking or using my link will help support my channel.

  The Goslings are fantastic wet mayflies, they've been around for a while and have spawned loads of variants. This yellow version is one of the earlier patterns that continues to be used to great effect to this day. Peter O'Reilly's book, The Flies of Ireland is available here https://amzn.to/3nB9UbT (amazon.co.uk) https://amzn.to/3gWZm5s (amazon.com) Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-10 Thread: Brown Tail: Bronze mallard Rib: Oval gold Body: Golden olive seal fur Shoulder hackle: Hot orange henny cock Head hackle: Mallard dyed flou yellow To support the channel, get access to the online tying sessions and be entered into the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or paypal.me/flickingfeathers and sign up

This well hackled mayfly is another of John Forde's patterns, it makes a nice top dropper and is an easier, less complex tie than many other Irish mayfly patterns. Patsy Deery's book "Irish Mayflies" is available from my amazon link https://amzn.to/3bRcZ3B Materials List Hook: Kamasan B170 or B175 size 10-12 Thread: Olive Uni 8/0 Tail: Cock pheasant tail RIb: Oval gold Body: Natural seal fur Body hackle: Grizzle cock Head hackle: French partridge dyed olive     To support my channel,get access to the monthly online tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to  https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers  and become a patron or support through  paypal.me/flickingfeathers

Forde's May is a great mayfly for Irish loughs particularly Melvin and Conn.It also works further afield if Mayfly are present. I prefer to fish this on the point. Patsy Deery's book "Irish Mayflies" is available from my amazon link https://amzn.to/3bRcZ3B Materials List Hook: Kamasan B170 or B175 size 10-12 Thread: Olive Uni 8/0 Tail: Cock pheasant tail Body: Light hares ear Rib: Oval gold Wing: Teal or starling secondary feather  Hackle: English partridge dyed golden olive To support my channel,get access to the monthly online tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to  https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers  and become a patron or support through  paypal.me/flickingfeathers

  A simple Gosling variant that Patsy Deery describes in his book Irish Mayflies. It works well as a top dropper or fished on the point. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 or B170 size 10-12 Thread: Brown Uni 8/0 Tail: Brown squirrel hair (or similar) Body: Natural raffia or "natural" coloured raffene Rib: Brown thread 1st hackle: Red cock 2nd hackle: Light olive cock    To support my channel,get access to the monthly online tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to  https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers  and become a patron or support through  paypal.me/flickingfeathers