Julian Tapping

Julian Tapping

COVID-19 and Hastings Fly Fishers

To all our Club members and friends,

Due to the concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus and the social distancing requirements as well as the subsequent mandatory closure of clubs in Port Macquarie, the Executive Committee has made the decision to suspend all club activities until further notice.[...]

Watson’s Fancy Bead Chain Caddis

Watsons fancy ball chain caddis

Source: FlyLife Magazine.

No other insect suits fly-fishing more than the caddis. Numerous species cover all trout habi-tats and in such abun-dance to feature regularly and often dominate the trout’s diet. Think of caddis as onmipresent — if there is water, it will have caddis in it.[...]

Know Your Fish – Brook Trout

Our Fish of the month - A little Brook Trout from Three Mile Dam

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are a slender and elongated fish that generally resemble a Brown Trout in form. Brook Trout can be differentiated by their large mouth which extends beyond the level of the eye. They have an olive-green background…

Hackle Stacker Emerger Adams – Paraloop

From Utah’s Fly Corner

The hackle stacker is great dry fly pattern. It was devised by Bob Quigley. The fly utilizes a paraloop technique by winding the hackle around a post and then pulling them over the top of thorax. The pattern can be a bit of a bitch to tie at first but once you do a couple you will have it down.[...]

Is Fly Fishing Relaxing?

Is fly fishing relaxing?

The following is from Guide Recommended, a great little site I stumbled upon filled with useful hints and tips from fly fishing guides themselves.

We’ve all struggled with something while fly fishing. The struggle could be as simple as, “Am I using the right fly?”

[...]

Fly-Fishing and the Brain

Fly fishing - a relaxing pastime

From Harvard Mahony Neuroscience Institute‘s On the Brain newsletter.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the avid fly-fisherman and physician James A. Hensall, MD, elucidated what for many is the allure of that often solitary form of angling. “Fly-fishers,” he said, “are usually brain-workers in society.[...]

Choosing a Fly Box

Fly boxes

From RiverKeeper Flies If you fish long enough, at some point your fly boxes will wear out and need to be replaced. The question is what to replace them with? It’s something I dealt with recently and why I’m writing…

Madam X Blowfly Hopper

The Madam X Blowfly Hopper is a combination of a blow fly and the Parachute Madam X.

Madam X Blowfly Hopper

Materials

  • Hook – Size 10 or 12 hook
  • Thread – black 14/0
  • Tail – Squirrel Tail fibers
  • White or grey EP fibers
  • Black foam
  • Metallic Blue DMC Embroidery Stranded cotton Thread E3843
  • Small rubber legs
  • Any colour McFlylon for the post
  • Any kind of dubbing
  • Brown or black Hackle

Tying Instructions

  1. Cover back 2/3 of hook with thread.

[...]