A family-oriented fly-fishing club covering the Port Macquarie Hastings region, NSW.
A family-oriented fly-fishing club covering the Port Macquarie Hastings region, NSW.
Welcome to our “Fly of the Month” feature, where we highlight a different fly pattern (or patterns) each month to enhance your fly fishing experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, our monthly spotlight will provide you with essential information, including detailed tying instructions, tips on when and where to use it, and the best techniques for maximising its effectiveness.
Join us on this journey as we explore the art and science of fly fishing, one fly at a time!
The Bead Chain Caddis is an interesting variation from the vice of Ola Andersson, using ball chain to both imitate the caddis larva and provide weight. Ola's home waters in Sweden abound with caddis, and stick caddis feature heavily in his fly patterns. Along with weight, the chain also provides a nice colour highlight and has some inherent movement with its grub-like wiggle.
The hackle stacker is great dry fly pattern. It was devised by Bob Quigley. The fly utilises 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. You can also utilise a gallows tool for this task but I find it as easy to just use my fingers. So lets tie one up, the tutorial is of an Adams, but this pattern can be tied to match any mayflies.
The Madam X Blowfly Hopper is a combination of a blow fly and the Parachute Madam X, which, in turn is a variation on the old Madam X.
The Royal Stimulator is one of the highly successful series of Stimulators created by Randall Kaufmann. It is a great buoyant Attractor Pattern on fast water. It is desigend to be fished on rivers and streams. This is Paul Fedeles' variant.
Steve Peach is a passionate fly angler and member of Sydney Fly Rodders Club. The Peachy Cicada is a fly he designed specifically for targetting Australian Bass. It's a cicada pattern that, duing the summer months, seems to be the most effective leader for catching bass on the surface.
When damsel nymphs are migrating to hatch, this fly can be used on its own as an imitative pattern with a bit of fancy “look at me!” going on. The Wendouree Damsel also works well as an anchoring point fly with a team of traditional wet flies, soft hackles or nymphs. Or it can be used as a middle fly in a team of larger pulling flies.
Denny’s AP Emgerger Variant is a well-known Denny Rickard stillwater fly pattern used on lakes and reservoirs all over. The AP (stands for All Purpose) emerger is basically a larger sized soft hackle that had a wood duck, mallard, or partridge tail, a dubbed body with a wire rib through it, a peacock thorax, and a partridge soft hackle.
The Muz Wilson BMS, or "Bullen Meri Special" gets it's name from Lake Bullen Merri near Camperdown in the volcanic plains of Western Victoria. It is highly regarded as an imitation of the Galaxiid Minnow when tied in olive and when in white, an Australian Smelt. The famed Tasmanian Whitebait (Lovettia) that creates amazing sight fishing opportunities for big Sea Trout on the Apple Isle is also imi-tated successfully with the white dubbed body and clear glass bead. With the tan or white body I think it makes for a great shrimp pattern too, in both fresh and estuarine waters with shrimp feeders such as Trout, Bream and Estuary Perch will eagerly take it as one.
Dawn’s friend’s white bait fly Materials Hook – Size 6 or 8Thread – Invisible threadTail and Body – 6 to 8 strands of Crystal flash Eyes – Small Spotlight bling eyes ($3) Body coating – UV resinFinisher – Sally Hansen’s…