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Worthwhile fly suggestions during the winter months:-
Check here to read about our Trout Fishing or here for our Trout Fishing Holidays
December’s Suggested Flies to use are :-
Baby Doll
The Baby Doll is used to imitate a small fish, it works as a standard lure and can be fished at almost any depth with different rates of retrieve.
The Baby Doll is an ideal lure to use in the fry season around October and November time. Colours that seem to work well in addition to white are fluorescent green, peach and white with fluorescent green back.
Wool is best material for the body but antron can be used as a substitute.
Shrimp Fly, Scud or Czech
Fish it deep or close in to the bank where the trout are hunting for food.
This fly comes in a variety of colours, materials and tyings, but is still essentially an imitation shrimp.
If I had to pick a single fly to fish through the winter it would be difficult to choose between the ubiquitous Pheasant Tail Nymph and the nutritious shrimp.
Shrimps, especially during winter, are one of the staples in the Trout diet during this time of year. Just compare the shrimps to the nymphs - in fish food terms it is the difference between a T-bone steak and a cocktail sausage!
The fish will go to great lengths to find shrimps. The bright pink and orange patterns are easier to track, but try other colours too.
Damsel Fly
A most popular lake and reservoir lure in the UK and Europe. The damselfly nymph comes into it’s own in summer months when main feeding occurs. Try the edges of weed beds for trout patrolling close in for this food.
In summer months when the mass migration of Damselfly nymphs occurs, use a floating line and long leader with a slow figure of eight retrieve or a series of short twitches. The rest of the year can produce using an intermediate or sinking line with a varied rate of retrieve.
Cormorant
This is an all round lure, fished on a floating, intermediate or sinking line at various rates of retrieve and it will still catch. It can be fished using many methods, under a bung, on a sinking line, using the washing line method. It can be used as a lure or nymph, from a retrieve that is static to one that is very fast.
At Nine Oaks, a variant tied with gold holographic tinsel instead of Marabou tips can create be a really deadly fly for use during the next few months.
Pheasant tail Nymph.
Use this fly when small buzzers and nymphs are on the water. Fish the fly on a floating line with long leader using a slow figure eight retrieve.
The Left version of this nymph uses micro UV straggle fritz for the thorax.
Whereas that on the Right has the pheasant tail fibres pulled forward over the thorax and secured down with thread. Trim the waste fibres, build a neat head, whip finish and varnish.
The Muddler
Use this fly when small buzzers and nymphs are on the water. Fish the fly on a floating line with long leader using a slow figure eight retrieve. It can be used singularly or as a team of different sized PT Nymphs, however at Nine Oaks it is single fly only not teams!
This version of the pheasant tail nymph uses micro UV straggle fritz for the thorax.
Black and Green Fritz
The Black and Green Fritz works superbly when fished using various rates of retrieve. The pattern can also be tied in a mass of colours from dark to very bright on the colour spectrum.
The darker coloured fritz’s are usually fished more slowly than the lighter coloured ones.
This is an outstanding fly in the cold winter months and is a preferred lure at this time.
Blakestone Buzzer Black
One of many buzzer patterns that will catch fish. The other most popular colour is olive but red, orange and even white are worth having in your box.
Black Pennell
The Black Pennell is a great fly throughout the year for trout. Fish it on a floating line. By being tied small it represents any small midge. Also, tied with a plain silver body, without the body hackle, and fished about 3ft deep on a slow retrieve can be very deadly.
Black/Green/Yellow/Red Viva
A really good all round lure, The black and green, black and yellow or black and red colouring makes it an ideal fly for the early season. Fish it on a floating, intermediate or sinking line at various rates of retrieve and it will still catch.
At this time of the year, a Black/Green fished on a sinking line on or near the bottom with a slow retrieve - deadly!
Cats Whisker Fritz
An all round lure, fish either on a floating, intermediate or sinking line at various rates of retrieve and it should still catch. It works superbly even when fished very slowly or even on the drop. Available in various colours and combinations from orange to black combo’s.
This is another fly, tied all white and especially with a few strands of fluorescent straggle tied into the tail can make a terrific difference. Including the straggle just improves its effectiveness.
Olive Zonker
In january the trout are often looking for fry and a zonker of some description is one to have in your box.
The Zonker can be used as a general purpose lure but is most effective when tied in grey or white and used in the fry season. The wing is highly mobile which makes this fly so effective when fry are around. It can be fished static on a long leader using a floating line or on an sinking line and retrieved at various rates of retrieve.
Montana Nymph.
A good all-round nymph/lure in the popular green & black colour combination. Worth trying in both weighted (gold head) and non-weighted varieties.
The Montana works well in many different conditions. Best fished on a floating line, long leader and retrieved slowly. The chenille thorax can be varied in colour, orange and yellow are other colours that fish well.
We recommend only using small hook sizes such as a #14 or #16.
Dawson's Olive with fluoro pink tail
Fish it close in to the banks where trout are picking up nymphs.
An excellent fly during the winter months using a floating line and long leader with a slow figure of eight retrieve, or an intermediate or sinking line with a varied rate of retrieve.
This example is tied with Straggle Fritz rather than the traditional Chenille Body and uses a thorax of Olive Ostrich Herl to give a bit more pulsating movement at the head.
Hot Head Diawl Bach.
An excellent fly and one of the most successful all-year round nymphs, the Diawl Bach in all it’s variations is still worth a try during January.
The Diawl Bach (Little Devil) should be used when buzzers are on the water. It can be fished on any line, from floating to fast sinker and at almost any depth.
Orange Fritz or "Blob"
The Orange Blob is a fritz mini-lure and works superbly when fished very fast, ideal when trout are taking Daphnia. The pattern can also be tied in a mass of colours from dark to very bright on the colour spectrum. The darker coloured fritz’s are usually fished more slowly than the lighter coloured ones.
Also, try the modern equivalent "plastic blob" that looks like a legless tadpole in orange or green.
The Bibio
The Bibio also known as the Hawthorn or Heather fly. Fished with a twitching action or pulled just under the waters surface to imitate the fly. It’s a good fly to pull through waves on a windy day. Fished on a floating line with a long leader.
All of the above are representations of various patterns of WET FLIES, so any fly pattern that is under the surface or on or near the bottom should be an effective fly to use.
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