Flicking feathers

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.

  Tied on both single and double hooks the black Rutland sparkler is a fantastic searching pattern for both wild and stocked fish. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or B270 size 12 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tail: Sparkler wing mix gold/silver/pearl Body: Black 6mm fritz Wing: Sparkler wing mix gold/silver/pearl 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 Charlie Mclean is a great wet from the Hebrides that will catch wild browns anywhere. I generally like it with the hackle tied thick, long and leggy, but it can be worth having a slimmer version in your box too. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-14 Thread: Blick Uni 8/0 Tag: Silver tinsel Tail: Glo-brite no.7 Rib: Oval silver tinsel or wire Rear body: Silver tinsel Front body: Hen hackles, white, red game, white 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.

 Another old one I did for www.sexyloops.com I have a Japanese friend who's always trying to get me to go fishing with him on mountain lakes and streams for tiny yamame trout and iwana char. I can't really motivate myself to do it when there are other species that are so much more interesting to me here in Japan. Growing up in the Scottish countryside I think I was quite spoiled with some of the fishing that was available to me; 20lb plus pike were not that unusual, perch over 2lb fairly common, not to mention the excellent lochstyle fishing available on the likes of Leven, Carron valley and the island lochs, then there's the lowland rivers.  I find it hard to enjoy fishing for trout here, especially when I've tried to replicate lochstyle in the lightweight boats that skate along like an empty crisp bag when you try to set a drift.  Maybe it's my general mindset, but I just get frustrated. That said, there are many and varied opportunities here that don't exist

  The cat's whisker needs no introduction. Although there are hundreds of variations this simple mini lure is a fantastic fly that should be in every loch style angler's box. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or B270 size 12 Thread: Fire orange Uni 8/0 Tail: White marabou Body: 6mm cat green fritz or cat green chenille Wing: White marabou Flash: Silver/pearl Polar flash or similar Cheeks: Jungle cock Head: Glo-brite no. 4 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

  The Cock Robin is an old wetfly that fishes well on the point or middle dropper. It can be particularly effective early in the season when olives are hatching or, when tied larger, at mayfly time. 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) 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. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-14 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tail: Bronze mallard Rib: Fine oval gold Body: Golden olive seal fur followed by red seal fur Wing: Bronze mallard Hackle: Red game hen 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

  There are any number of Loch Ordie variants and this lime tailed version is a firm favourite of mine. Popular in the highlands and islands of Scotland for wild browns and also effective all over the British Isles and further afield. If you fish still water for browns you really should put some of these in your box. 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. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 8-12 Thread: Fire orange Uni 8/0 Tag: Chartreuse holographic Tail: 50/50 mix of Globrite 11 & 12 Body: Ginger hen hackles with a white hen hackle in front To support the channel, get access to the zoom tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or paypal.me/flickingfeathers

  In his book "Flies of Ireland", Peter O'Reilly attributes this fly to Cyril Conlon. It's a fantastic choice for the duckfly hatch but don't think you can't use it further afield it's great for dark buzzers more generally. I find fishing 2 of them on the droppers with a hedgehog or mini-muddler on the point to keep the team high in the water column to be deadly when the fish are looking up. 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. To support the channel, get access to the zoom tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Kamasan B160 size 10-14 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tag: Flat silver tinsel* Rib: Silver wire Wings: White hackle tip Thorax: Red or Orange seal fur Hackle: Sparse black hen *Fly can be tied wi

The liquorice allsort is essentially a claret bumble muddler variant that originated in Scotland's central belt and has become popular among loch fishers as far afield as the Shetland islands.    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. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 or 170 size 8-12 Thread: Black Uni 8/0   Tag (optional): Flat silver, gold or red holographic Tail: Glo brite no.10 Rib: Silver, gold or red wire Body: Claret seal fur Hackles: Black & Claret cock hackle Head: Blue Deer hair To support the channel, get access to the zoom tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to   https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers   or  paypal.me/flickingfeathers  

 Another old one I wrote for www.sexyloops.com  Although smallmouth bass are generally thought of as a warm water species, February and March offer some of the best fishing here and it's certainly not warm. I usually switch between big streamers of 12-15cm and small crayfish depending on the water I'm fishing-a few of the rivers are just big long riffles that flow too quickly for presenting a crayfish imitation slowly on the bottom. Received wisdom is that the bass key on crayfish and don't chase bait till the water warms up a bit, but actually this is very river dependent in my experience and some of my biggest smallmouth have come on big baitfish patterns in the early part of February. It pays not to be too fixed on what's "right" sometimes! That said, on the rivers here that have more sedate flows I will always have crayfish flies ready, especially early in the year. Bass like them, and numbers of fish always seem higher. There is something of a numbers vs

  This Leggy version of the golden olive bumble is a fantastic top dropper pattern in a big wave. It's ideal for mayfly time on the Irish or Scottish lochs but will work all season. I'm sure it'll catch trout in still waters anywhere. To support the channel, enter the giveaways and get access to the monthly zoom tying sessions, 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: Uni 8/0 brown Tag: flat gold Tail: Golden pheasant crest Body: Golden olive seal fur Rib: Fine oval gold Body hackles: Chinese cock, golden olive & dark ginger Shoulder hackle: Golden pheasant red breast feather Head hackle: Blue jay Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

  An oldie but a goodie, Shenk's sculpin is a deadly little streamer pattern that works for trout and bass anywhere you find sculpins, bullheads, miller's thumbs or similar small minnows. To support the channel, get access to the Zoom tying sessions and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Long shank streamer e.g TMC 5263 size 6-10 Weight: Lead wire Thread: Flat thread to match body Tail: Marabou (brown, black or olive) Body: Wool in a dubbing loop Head: Deer hair Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

  This simple egg sucking leech variation works in both rivers and lakes and will take a range of fish species. I particularly enjoy using it in the spring for barbel that are hanging around downstream of spawning carp. To support the channel, get access to the Zoom tying sessions and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: TMC 708 size 6-10 Thread: Fire orange Uni 8/0 Weight: Lead wire Tail: Simi seal or similar long fiber dubbing Rib: Midge size D rib Body: As tail Egg: Bright dubbing orange, cream or any fish egg-like colour Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

This variation on the bucktail deceiver has become my top smallmouth bass streamer over the last few years. I tie them in 3 sizes; 2, 3.5 and 5 inches to match the ayu and other bait throughout the year. If you check out the maruta fishing video on my channel you'll see a nice smallie with the 5" version deep in its mouth. To support the channel, join the online tying classes and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: Partridge universal predator X size 3/0- 2 Thread: GSP 100 Tail: White bucktail Inner body: Pearl ice dub or similar Mid stage: White bucktail Belly flash: Minnow mix ripple ice fiber Mid highlight: Fl. yellow ripple ice fiber Front stage: White bucktail Front higlight: Fl. yellow electric ripple ice fiber Back: Olive bucktail Topping: Olive ripple ice fiber Eyes: Tab eyes Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: http

  Here's a simple little crayfish pattern that will take smallies all season long. Although I primarily use this fly in rivers, it will also work well in ponds and lakes for largemouth bass , perch and others. Materials list Hook: Varivas 2500V-SE size 6 Thread: Olive uni Weight: Marabou Legs/feelers: Barred sillilegs Body: Hare's ear wiglle dub Rib: 4-6 lb mono Shell: Craft felt Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers

  This simple little crayfish imitation is great for spring smallmouth bass and continues to work basically all season long. It's durable, easy to tie and offers an ideal silhouette for the bass. Tie it in various weights to creep it along the river bed in slower pools and eddies. To support the channel, join the online tying classes and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: TMC 708 size 6 & 10 Thread: Brown uni Weight: Lead dumbbells Tail/wing: Red fox squirrel tail Body: Craw dub or similar shaggy dubbing Legs: Sililegs BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

Another old one I wrote for www.sexyloops.com   The cherry blossoms are coming into bloom and spring is definitely on the way here, which means that the maruta are arriving in the rivers here in Japan. I imagine that if you've heard of the maruta at all, it's been in an FP I've written and mentioned them in passing. The maruta is an anadromous member of the dace family, native to mainland Japan. They look cool with lateral stripes of black, orange and white.  Unlike European dace, they get fairly big averaging probably 60cm fork length when they return to spawn. The best rivers for them are the main arteries running into Tokyo bay, and the weekends will see some very busy riverbanks as the locals, and visiting anglers from around the country rush to take advantage. When I first started fishing for them it was often a bit of a struggle, most people were swinging small streamers. It did work, but didn't really feel like the catch rate was in keeping with the numbers of fi

  The Maruta, or pacific redfin, is a sea-run member of the dace family that return to Japan's rivers in early spring to spawn. They can be caught on nymphs and streamers for the weeks around cherry blossom time, and if you can find large schools of them they can be quite easy to catch at times. BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

  This revised version of Barr's Spork is the 2nd fly from the carp fly tie & catch video. It's a very effective choice for shallow water carp that are searching for crayfish, shrimp or other mobile forage. I've changed some of the features of John Barr's original to address some of the issues I encountered while using it making, I think, a more effective fly.To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: TMC 2457 size 8-6 Thread: uni 8/0 Weight Bead chain Tail: Marbou Rib: Gold wire Body: TMC pellet dub or similar shaggy dubbing with a little flash Legs: Barred round rubber Hackle: Grizzly soft hackle BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

  This deadly little worm fly is the first from the tie & catch video I made recently. It's a simple tie that works consistently in both rivers and still waters, especially areas with silty or muddy bottoms. BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Materials list Hook: Owner C5 carp hook size 4 Thread: Brown Weight: Lead dumbbell Worm: Ultra chenille Body: Brown dubbing To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers

  The winner of September's fly seection is long time supporter Joakim Hammenstig. To support the channel, join the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers and sign up BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

  After a suggestion from a viewer I decided to do this video where I tie a fly then go out and film myself catching fish on it. The flies I tied were a simple worm and an improved spork. A couple of days later I took them to a local river for some small stream fly carpin'. Conditions were OK but rain the previous days had made the water a bit dirty, which made seeing fish difficult at times, but I still managed to catch on both flies, getting several eats on each of them. To support the channel, get access to the monthly fly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com My bobbin holder https://amzn.to/3BepRut

  Jay Zimmerman's backstabber is a great carp fly, especially in nutrient rich waters. This backstabber is the fly I caught my first carp on, and it has been a constant in my box ever since. BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Material list Hook: Gamakatsu SL45 bonefish size 4-8 Weight: Bead chain, dazzle eyes, lead/tungsten dumbbells Thread: Brown Body: SLF blends, Arizona sparkle dub or similar Wing: Marabou Hackle: Hen To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers

  The clone worm is a variation on the furled ragworm pattern that I've developed to offer a more realistic shape, buoyancy and mouthfeel. I incorporated silicon into the dressing to set the profile more in line with the true shape of a polychaete worm, it also is just buoyant enough to make the fly neutral or near neutral in water while also adding durability and making the fly non-fouling. BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: Gamakatsu S10S-4H or equivalent Thread: UTC 210 white Loop: PE braided line around .19mm Body: Coarse dubbing like simiseal Permanent marker Silicon

  Fly fishing in Japan isn't just about tiny yamame on 2wt rods in small mountain streams, there are a lot of different species available in both fresh and salt water. In this video I've put together some footage from last weekend's seabass trip in Tokyo bay. We fished around the Yokohama side near Minato Mirai towards and the industrial areas around Kawasaki. It was a very productive night as we managed to find bass corralling small sardines in several spots, the most effetcive fly was a 3" Bob Popovics' rubber candy. I had around 30- 40 seabass myself, and @Hiromikitakibi probably caught 20-30 too. You can see his video Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaZJD3-KA2U&t=34s We had hoped to get a worm hatch as it was a full moon, but it seems we were a bit early and the worm emergence is still to come. I also caught a surprise mullet, but due to technical difficulty I didn't get it on film.