Traditional Flies

Being a bit of a traditionalist, and when I say that I dont mean bound by tradition, I mean that I enjoy using tradtional flies because they work. I tend to use a farly ltd range of patterns but use them in a wide range of sizes.  The few fly patterns that I use are not to the exclusion of all others but certainly they are the ones I return to time and again....

First and foremost is the red tag and its varients the Sturdys fancy, Treacle parkin and Erics beetle  I have always used these flies, firstly as a teenager and remember thinking that the little coloured tag gave me a bit of confidence. Also because  this family of flies has very strong local associations on the rivers I fish  The Sturdys fancy is attributed to Tom Sturdy who was river keeper on the Ure,  The Erics beetle was created by Eric Horsfall Turner who fished the rivers and becks around Scarborough where he lived,  Includng my little beck you see so often on the blog.  Another fly similer to these is the the John Storey. Which unusually has an advance wing style but has the peacock herl body and was developed by a former river keeper on the Rye which I also fish.  The scruffy looking bunch are taken from my fly box and have all seen duty over the last season . 

I find  all these to be particularly effective early season for wild brownies and late season for grayling.  I use them in a range of sizes from 14 right down to a size 20.  I also find when tied with a palmered hackle they make great pocket water fly , particularly the John Storey the advance wing gives wonderful visibility...