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Stuart Beech has been in touch to review the service that he experienced whn placing and receiving his latest order. Stuart says The service was second to none, I would definately recommend to anyone, really on the ball, thank you!

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Stuart Beech has been in touch to review the service that he experienced whn placing and receiving his latest order.  Stuart says "The service was second to none, I would definately recommend to anyone, really on the ball, thank you!"

Semperfli Nano Silk Virtually Unbreakable 12/0 Orange

Possibly the worlds strongest fly tying silk. 12/0 (50 dernier) use with ceramic bobbins

 

 

 

Latest News

RSSRichard K emails in saying Order received in good condition, thanks. Very neatly packaged and prompt delivery. Couldn't be better Glad you got your order through OK, Richard, tight lines! Remember to send in pictures of your catch! One of the many fl
Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Large Dark Olive

The Large Dark Olive (Baetis rhodani) is one of the most common members of the Ephemeroptera (Mayfly family). It is found in all parts of the UK and closely allied species are found throughout Europe and the USA. Good hatchescan be expected early in the season with further hatches later in the year

Use The Large Dark Olive To Catch:

The Large Dark Olive can be used to catch Brown Trout


As the name indicates dry flies which include Large Dark Olive are designed to float on the surface of the water. Trout dry flies types which include Large Dark Olive imitate a wide variery of flies and insects which inhabit the surface of the water. There is nothing like using dry flies and watching trout and grayling rise to the surface. To purists dry fly fishing is the true art-form of fly fishing, indeed some rivers only permit dry fly fishing. There are some dry flies (e.g. the Popper, Muddlers) which are designed to attract fish by the action of creating a surface disturbance. The flies are made from very bouyant materials (e.g, cork, ethafoam or deer hair, the latter having a generous application of floatant). A Muddler retrieved upwind of a rise can often result in a bulge in the water as the fish follows the fly.
Dry Fly Fishing Techniques With The Large Dark Olive

A dry fly like Large Dark Olive has flotant (Gink is the most popular) warmed in your hand and gently rubbed into the hackles to help Large Dark Olive float and they are usually cast singly on a trout tapered leader. A floating line is used, but with the tapered leader de-greased so that it does not glint and flash light spooking the trout

Large Dark Olive - Fly Tying Dressing

For the more adventurous among you we have provided tying specifications for the Large Dark Olive. Remember at The Essential Fly we sell the Large Dark Olive at incredible prices with a top quality fly and service to back it up. It is certainly worth tying the Large Dark Olive yourself to understand the pleasure of catching a fish with your own tied fly, however at the price we sell flies it is only worth tying one or two Large Dark Olive as your can spend more time fishing instead of tying flies - buy volume online with us.


Hook Sizes

Dry Fly 12 to 14

Silk Thread

Olive

Tail

Dark Olive cock hackle fibres

Body

Dyed olive goose herl

Rib

Fine gold wire

Hackle

Olive cock

Wing

Starling or grey duck  Read more...

Jim H writes in to review all of our products (that's a lot, Jim!). He rates everything that we do as 5/5 and says Usual high quality products with outstanding, speedy service. I wouldn't go anywhere else now for my flies.. One of the many products ord
Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Diawl Bach

The Diawl Bach as the name indicates is Welsh Fly. Diawl Bach translated means Little Devil. the Diawl Bach pattern has achieved success in many waters including reservoirs like Chew Valley and Blagdon.

Use The Diawl Bach To Catch:

The Diawl Bach can be used to catch Cutthroat

The Diawl Bach can be used to catch Rainbow Trout

The Diawl Bach can be used to catch Brown Trout

The Diawl Bach can be used to catch Grayling


Trout Wet Fly - Diawl Bach
wet flies like Diawl Bach are are range of flies that imitate larva, pupa, drowned adults and Lures

The trout finds most of its food beneath the surface of the water, sometimes by grubbing around the weed-beds, at other times by rising in water to take nymphs and pupae on their way to the surface

The wet flies which include Diawl Bach fall into various categories: larval and pupal forms of various aquatic insects; drowned adults or even swamped stillborn flies; and drowned terrestrials such as beetles. Many do not represent anything in nature, but are classed as attractor flies or lures, designed to tempt the fish to take out of curiosity. A number of the silver-bodied flies can emulate small fry or minnows. Most of the dry flies have a wet-fly equivalents. The use of heavier hooks, softer hen hackles instead of cock, and in the case of winged flies a backward-sloping wing, changes the dry fly into a wet one which sinks below the sufrace of the water. Cock hackles are used for these patterns but they are taken from the very young bird where the individual fibres are very soft.

There are two main areas of wet-fly fishing. Firstly, there are the wild rain-fed rivers and streams where it is difficult to see a fish rise let alone see a minute dry fly on the surface. On such waters, wet flies are used almost exclusively upstream and down, as necessity or terrain dictates. The second main area of wet-fly fishing is on atill waters like lakes, lochs and reservoirs, where the angler uses a team of wet flies just below the surface.

On wild streams while searching for the natural Brownie, soft-hackled wet flies like the Partridge and Orange, the Snipe and Purple, the Black Spider, a wet Coch-y-Bonddu, and many others are used.
'When do you fish a wet fly, and when a dry?'

Always fish a dry-fly pattern when you see a trout rising during a hatch of natural insects. However, when the trout refuses to rise to a dry fly, fishing just below the surface with a wet fly can often work. When no activity is obvious, it is a case for the wet fly, pure and simple.

The soft, game-bird hackles of many wet flies have the necessary mobility in the water. They pulsate and 'kick' in the current, attracting the fish by their very movement. They look alive and edible; the two key properties for a successful fly.
Wet Fly Diawl Bach fishing techniques
a technique that has stood the test of time, where the fly (e.g. the Diawl Bach) is fished sub-surface and is retrieved slowly using a 'Figure-of-Eight' manipulation of the line in the hand. A floating or intermediate line can be used to retrieve the Diawl Bach


Diawl Bach - Fly Tying Dressing
Fly Tying Difficulty: 2

For the more adventurous among you we have provided tying specifications for the Diawl Bach. Remember at The Essential Fly we sell the Diawl Bach at incredible prices with a top quality fly and service to back it up. It is certainly worth tying the Diawl Bach yourself to understand the pleasure of catching a fish with your own tied fly, however at the price we sell flies it is only worth tying one or two Diawl Bach as your can spend more time fishing instead of tying flies - buy volume online with us.


Hook Sizes

10 to 14

Silk Thread

Black or brown

Tail

Brown cock hackle fibres

Body

Peacock herl

Hackle

Dark brown hen  Read more...

Phil I writes in to review the Sonik SK4 Reel Case. He rates it as 4/5 and says A good solid case and will hold all three of my reels plus 3 extra cartridges. Pleny of room in the inner lid pocket for spare leaders and tippet.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Sonik Deluxe SK 4 Reel Case.

Outstanding protection for up to 4 fly reels or spools.
Reinforced base area for durability.
Adjustable, padded and removable interior dividers for customised storage.
Foam carry handle.
Clear luggage label pocket.
Dimensions 35 X 15 x 14 (cm).  Read more...

Michael N writes in regarding the Thingamabobbers that we stock, with a little tip for you all. He says I've been using these for ages, love them. To stop the float from sliding I attach a piece of float rubber to the bottom, works a treat. Remember, we
Tuesday, 22 May 2012

The press have really liked Thingamabobber Strike Indicators and so have many fishermen. Simply loop onto your line and keep buzzers and flies at a fixed depth and see that take. Thingamabobber shows immediately a fish has taken. Available in Small (0.5", large 0.75" and Glow in the Dark versions).  Read more...

Michael N has been touch to review our Nanny Carr's Olive Emerger. He rates it as 5/5 and says Just like the JC Olive, There is something special about this fly. The trout at my local fishery couldnt get enough, Really savage takes. That's exactly what
Monday, 21 May 2012

The Nanny Carr’s Olive Emerger was initially tied to fool the wild river trout of the upper River Ribble and is name after a noted section on the river. It is tied with an almost translucent olive body to imitate hatching olives and buzzers that are found on the water throughout the season and pulls up both trout and grayling with regularity. It’s wing post in tied in either red or black so it is easily seen on the water’s surface whatever the light conditions
Add Floatant to the hackle and wing post and watch it go!
Use The Nanny Carr's Oliver Emerger To Catch:

The Nanny carr's Olive Emerger can be used to catch Rainbow Trout

The Nanny carr's Olive Emerger can be used to catch Brown Trout

The Nanny carr's Olive Emerger can be used to catch Grayling


Nanny carr's Olive Emerger - Fly Tying Dressing

For the more adventurous among you we have provided tying specifications for the Nanny carr's Olive Emerger . Remember at The Essential Fly we sell the Nanny carr's Olive Emerger at incredible prices with a top quality fly and service to back it up. It is certainly worth tying the Nanny carr's Olive Emerger yourself to understand the pleasure of catching a fish with your own tied fly, however at the price we sell flies it is only worth tying one or two Nanny carr's Olive Emerger as your can spend more time fishing instead of tying flies - buy volume online with us.

Hook Sizes

14,16 &18

Thread

Light Olive

Body

Light Olive Thread
1st Rib Fine Pear Mylar Tinsel
2nd Rib Twisted Olive Thread

Thorax

Olive Ice Dub
Hackle Blue Dun Cock Hackle
Wing Post Red or Black Antron Poly Yarn  Read more...

Yao Z reviews the Stroft ABR line, scoring it as 5/5 and saying I have not tried, but I will give 5 stars first. Stroft line always good. Enjoy it Yao! You're absolutely right, the Stroft lines are very reliable and a very good quality product.
Monday, 21 May 2012

Stroft ABR Fly Fishing Tippet - The World's Best
Stroft ABR has less shine than Stroft GTM and as a consequence can be even better for those fussy fish or naturals that get spooked easily. Essential for river fly fishermen.

This is by far the best tippet material available on the market. Stroft means STRong and sOFT and it really is. Used with the knots recommended (shown on the spools) you can get almost 100% knot strength which is superb. Stroft GTM is a blue grey transparent polyamide which is stunning for dry flies or nymphs down to even the smallest sizes.

Diameter mm
Approximate Know Strength KG
0.05 0.4
0.06 0.7
0.08 1.0
0.10 1.4
0.12 1.8
0.14 2.2  Read more...