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 GFA Hopper is short for General Foam Attractor. It is a versatile and dependable terrestrial pattern. This pattern was created by Walter Wiese of Parks Fly Shop in Gardiner, Montana. Designed to imitate grasshoppers and other large terrestrial insects,…
First designed to imitate a small bottom-dwelling fish, Muddlers are now tied as general attractor patterns and to imitate anything from caddis flies to grasshoppers.
While each Muddler may differ in colour and profile, all have the same basis in their construction: the spinning and clipping of deer hair to create a buoyant head and body.
The Clouser Minnow, or Clouser Deep Minnow, is an extremely effective baitfish imitation that catches a whole range of game fish in fresh- and saltwater. It’s allure comes from a combination of heavy lead eyes and long, mobile tail and wing that give it a wonderful ducking-diving action on every twitch and retrieve. It is also tied to take the knocks that come when catch large, powerful fish, and the use of tough materials such as bucktail, ultra-strong thread and Super Glue ensures that the Clouser is very robust.
The Gurgler Fly Pattern is a floating fly that spits and “gurgles” when stripped, and is designed to imitate everything from shrimp to baitfish and a frog for bass.
Invented by the late Jack Gartside, the Gurger is a simple and very effective fly to tie, and the tying technique has even been incorporated into mouse flies for trout.
It can be tied in many different colours and sizes. White, Tan, Shrimp, Chartreuse and Olive are favourites among many fishing guides in both the salt and freshwater.
The Hare and Copper Nymph is an easy and effective fly to tie. Arguably NZ's most popular nymph and the first nymph most beginner tiers will tackle. The Hare and Copper Nymph catches fish throughout the country in a variety of waters. The standard pattern is tied without a bead, with or without weight, depending on the fishing situation.
The Squimp Fly is very simple to tie, but lethal for countless flats species.
The Squimp fly very closely imitates a small shrimp, which is the main forage for any bonefish. It also works for other saltwater flats fishes.
The Squimp fly can be tied in many colour variations. Pink works but the traditional tan is the most popular and the most effective. The Squimp fly can be tied with heavy or light eyes, depending on the depth of the flat and the spookiness of the fish.
The Woolly Bugger is a very versatile pattern that will catch fish on virtually any lake or river. It can be tied in a variety of colour combinations, usually natural ones such at black, brown and olive.
The basic woolly bugger pattern is fairly simple, however, don’t be afraid to experiment. Remember, any fly that catches fish is a good fly. Below you’ll find some variations as tied by Club member and Fly Tie Coordinator Ben Hicks (red was the colour of the day, apparently).
Primarily tied as a general nymph pattern, the Rabbit Fly also makes a pretty good imitation of small dragonfly nymphs that emerge in huge numbers on many Australian lakes. The Rabbit Fly has a collar and tail of soft rabbit fur that moves well in the water, even when the fly is retrieved very slowly.
The appropriately named Foxy's Horror is designed by Rod Fox, of Hunter Valley Fly Fishing Club, is a great bass fly for rivers.