|
|
Post by halfstoned on Dec 30, 2015 13:07:32 GMT
Now that Christmas is over and I can get my flytying table back ( some people call it the dining table) I was wondering about the sort of mayfly patterns you more knowledgeable types use on small rivers like the Yeo. I caught some good fish last year with what I would describe as a standard hackle pattern but it twisted the leader after about ten minuets or so of casting ! What strength leader do you use for these larger patterns and are there any "hackle less" patterns that reduce this effect. Any advice great fully received. Happy new year to all.
|
|
|
|
Post by boisker on Dec 30, 2015 13:45:25 GMT
If it's the large mayfly, danica, then I would use a tapered leader down to 3 or 4X.
|
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Dec 30, 2015 20:28:34 GMT
Thanks boisker never really use thicker than 6x on the small fish up here on the Yeo, may have to rethink in terms of fly size instead. Do you not find that the thicker nylon puts the fish off?
|
|
|
|
Post by boisker on Dec 30, 2015 20:58:20 GMT
No not really, I guess they get so fixated on the large mayflies the extra caution they would sometimes show goes out the window... 6X will definitely twist and the fly likely to helicopter. I tried a large daddy without increasing the tippet size late summer... being lazy as I had always increased tippet size before.... and it made a mess of my leader in no time at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Dec 31, 2015 8:35:05 GMT
As Boisker has mentioned upping tippet strength when the fish are really "on" the mays doesn't seem to make too much difference and overcomes the spinning issue. Over the last few years I've experimented with varying strengths of tippet and have caught fish with tippet strengths all the way up to 13lb but settle with 5lb Rio Powerflex 5X 0.152mm diameter for when mays are about. It also gives a little extra insurance as sea trout will have a pop at them as well. When it comes to patterns Grey Wulff just doesn't cut it anymore for some strange reason although I'm not sure why. The French Partridge is a better choice for me and the footprint of the fly on the water seems to work well for the trout. That having been said, I've been using a pattern tied by my friend Duncan Raynor called the Mega May the last couple of years and it is pretty much all I have used. It is an emerger/klinkhammer style pattern that I have fished as a searching pattern early in the day pretty much all the way through the hatch and it has worked really well. Being tied this way also means it is much less prone to twist so if you are worried about tippet diameters this will be just fine. I have popped a pic below but will be having the recipe in the Feb edition of Eat, Sleep, Fish so keep an eye out!  |
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Dec 31, 2015 12:07:18 GMT
Thanks for the replies looks like an interesting pattern thanks Pete, that's the sort of thing I was after. Time for a new fly tying shopping list!
|
|
|
|
Post by paul on Dec 31, 2015 19:34:25 GMT
Any fly Pete uses two years running is special!
And I never noticed a twist in the line- probably because i lost a fly every other cast.
It was the French Partridge. New stocks have been ordered!
it also features as one of four flies on Orvis' tablets- which I am happy to own!
Seriously, its symmetrical shape and open form means it is less prone to spinning.
Ot looks nothing like a real mayfly to me, but the trout beg to differ!
Happy New Year all!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Jan 2, 2016 11:13:22 GMT
2 years, thats a long time in fly fishing Paul!
|
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Jan 3, 2016 16:33:06 GMT
 River Yeo downstream of Yeoford today , some of last years pools might just be a little different come  March! |
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Jan 4, 2016 11:18:43 GMT
Thanks for posting halfstoned. We walked the Taw just before the latest deluge and were pleased how little things had changed. Not so sure this will still be the case.
|
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Feb 10, 2016 10:42:25 GMT
Hello Pete , I am looking to tie my own version of the mega may from what I can see in your picture ( at least give it a try). I wonder could you tell me the hook size as klinkhammer type hooks seem to have a size all of their own. Thanks for all your help and advice given so willingly on this forum. Chris.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Feb 10, 2016 10:57:52 GMT
Hi Chris,
Yes, know what you mean about the Partridge hooks. The one in the picture is a 12. The originator of the fly has joined the forum so hopefully he'll have some thoughts. All I know is that it is a great fly.
It is a pleasure and really nice that it feels as though we have got some momentum going with the forum thanks to the likes of yourself and plenty of other active members too. All I've wanted is for people to talk to each other and do some fishing too!
|
|
|
|
Post by halfstoned on Feb 10, 2016 11:20:38 GMT
It's good to be a part of it , you can learn more on here in half an hour than a season thrashing away on your own. Why would anyone not join in??
|
|
