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 claret dabbler is a modern classic. It's amazing in a big wave on overcast days, either on the point or top dropper. This variant is no exception. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tag: Red holographic Tail: Bronze mallard Rib: Red wire Body: Claret seal fur Body hackle: Claret cock Shoulder hackle: Dark claret hen Cloak: Bronze mallard Wing: Bronze mallard Cheeks: Jungle cock   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 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.

  This is a great wet fly on its day and comes into its own in the summer fished in weedy bays. The dun hackle deyed fluorescent chartreuse provides good visibility for the olive tone even at depth. I also fancy it would make a fair showing around mayfly time, although I haven't tried it in that situation. 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) Material list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10-12 Thread: Light olive Uni 8/0 Tag: Globrite no.12 Tail: Golden pheasant crest Rib 1: Silver wire Rib 2: Opal mirage tinsel Body: 50/50 mix olive & fluo. green seal fur Body hackle: Dark dun dyed fluo. chartreuse Head hackle: Olive hen 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

  This Dark Olive is a version of the Cathal Rush Pattern listed in Peter O'Reilly's Flies of Ireland. It's a good early season fly, especially when the large olives are hatching. The Red game hackle blends fantastically with the dark olive dubbing to give a great illusion of life. Just enough light transmission for a 'glow' around the edge of the strong silhouette when viewed from below. Fish it on the top dropper. Peter's book is available here https://amzn.to/3nB9UbT (amazon.co.uk) https://amzn.to/3gWZm5s (amazon.com) Material list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-14 Thread: Brown or olive Uni 8/0 Tag: Mirage tinsel Tail: GP tippet dyed hot orange& Globrite no. 7 Rib: Copper wire Body: Dark or sooty olive seal fur Body hackle: Red game cock Wing: Bronze mallard Head hackle: Red game hen 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 o

  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 is a variant of Frankie McPhillips' Lough Arrow Mayfly. Although They're all variants of each other really.  It's a great wet  for the top dropper that works in Ireland and abroad. To support the channel, get access to the monthly online tying sessions and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Patsy Deery's book "Irish Mayflies" is available from my amazon link https://amzn.to/3bRcZ3B Peter O'Reiley's book "The Flies of Ireland" is available here https://amzn.to/3sxCnkT Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8 or 10 Thread: Brown Uni 8/0 Tail: Cock pheasant tail Rib: Oval gold tinsel Body: Natural raffia (or synthetic sub) Body Hackle: Badger cock Shoulder hackle: Greeny olive French partridge Head hackle: Fluo lemon yellow speckled hen hackle (original; grey partridge dyed lemon yellow)

 The Kate McLaren is a fantastic wet fly that you'll find in almost every Scottish wet fly box.  It has become popular across the British isles and is certainly worth tying.  To support my channel, get acces to the monthly tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list. Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-14 Thread: Black Uni 8/0  Tag: silver tinsel Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet Rib: Fine oval silver Body: Black seal fur Body hackle: Black cock Head hackle: Red game cock or hen

    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, classic that just works. Nothing more to say really, tie bibios and fish them. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-14 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Rib: Silver wire or oval tinsel Body: In 1/3 bands, Black seal fur, red/orange seal fur, black seal fur Body hackle: black cock Head hackle: Black hen