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September’s Flies for this month are :-
Usually, not always, the first two or the last two weeks of September can be windy with heavy rains. Interspersed with warm cloudy days with a steady breeze. Such days can be good fishing days, with the trout feeding avidly, as thought full of anticipation for the winter ahead. With evenings becoming cooler and colder evening fishing drops off.
This the month when bigger fish begin to move in towards the banks. Throughout the autumn and winter months being out before sunrise becomes less important, but no later than first light.
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.
Also, the Black and Green Fritz is an outstanding fly in the cold winter months and a preferred lure during this time of year for many anglers.
The black and green peacock Dry Fly is an ideal early season dry fly. It has the black and green combination that makes flies like the Viva and Montana so popular.
The hackle is clipped underneath the hook which allows the fly to sit much deeper in the water when compared to a full hackled fly.
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.
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.
This fly can be deadly through summer and in to the autumn (April - September). A generic name for a variety of small flat winged terrestrials that hatch in abundance. Trout will feed avidly when they get the taste for them.
An ideal fly to use when the real insects or anything small, and black is on the water. Two versions are available, tied as a wet fly or as shown here tied as a dry fly.
If the fish are refusing the fly, and still showing interest in it, trim the under hackle to enable the fly to sit lower in or on the water.
Alternatively, sometimes, dispense with floatant to use a bit of spittle to 'drown' your gnat in the surface film.
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.
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.
The Adams is one of the best all round dry flies, I prefer to tie the body with Mole fur but any form of blue/grey dubbing can be used. Ensure that the proportion of the body and tail are correct as are the hackles with the hook gape. The fly can be fished static or on a varied retrieve using a floating line. You should have lots of success fishing this fly on lakes using an intermediate line and stripping the fly very quickly under the water, takes from rainbow trout using this method can be very aggressive.
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.
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!
The Wickhams Spider also known as the Wingless Wickhams is a favourite fly. Generally the best time for this fly is spring to late summer. Different coloured head hackles can be very effective including white, grizzle, yellow and hot orange, all these variants fish well. The pattern shown has the addition of a hot orange hackle just behind the bead. It can be deadly when nothing else is taking especially in coloured or mirky water.
The fly can be fished on an intermediate line on it’s own or part of a team of two or three flies. Anything from a slow figure of eight retrieve to a “fast as you can pull” or even a roly-poly pull can be used, different days need different methods of retrieve.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are many variants of a “Buzzer”, for bright sunny days this is a “good-un”. Fished near the top or submerged using a very slow, almost stationary, figure of eight retrieve.
Fish it near to reed beds. It can also be fished in the winter months when trout are still taking buzzers as part of their diet.
One of the few lures that has remained popular over the last twenty years or so. (Whatever happened to the Ace of Spades, Ombudsman & Black Chenille?)
This is one of those all round lures, fish it on a floating, intermediate or sinking line at various rates of retrieve and it will still catch. The cats whisker works superbly even when fished very slowly or even on the drop. You must have one of these in your box, don’t let the size deceive you, it’s very effective.
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 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 Suspended Buzzers and emergers, so any fly pattern that places a buzzer at or near the surface should be an effective fly to use.