ADRIAN V W FREER
Adrian Freer is the author of books on reservoir fly fishing, fly dressing, trout fly patterns, religious topics, children's stories and poetry.
FLY PATTERNS 2
Here are some more flies that have caught a lot of fish for me. Once again they are either new creations or my own modifications of existing patterns which have performed well for me fly fishing on the Midlands reservoirs.
Do give them a try and see how you get on!
Olive Grizzle Palmer (Adrian Freer)
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 10 to 14
Tying thread: Black
Tail: Phosphor yellow Glo-brite Multi-yarn
Body: Medium olive seal’s fur, ribbed with fine oval gold tinsel
Shoulder & body hackles: Dyed olive grizzle genetic cock saddle hackle tied palmer
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
The thinking behind this fly was to devise an all round pattern that can be used as an olive nymph imitation, a damsel larva, a top dropper wet fly or something that can be treated with floatant and fished dry. The 'buzz' of the hackle suggests that it is alive. Give it a try!
Dumbbell Daphnia (Adrian Freer)
Hook: Wet fly hook size 10
Tying thread: Green
Body: Two clumps of peach mini Fritz tied at either end of the hook shank, trimmed into 1/4 inch balls
Head: None
This is a new fly that is still undergoing development. It has already accounted for some fish but I may consider the addition of a soft hen hackle to give the fly a little more life which could possibly be an improvement.
Shuck Fly (Adrian Freer)
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 10 - 12
Tying Thread: White
Tail: White Glo-brite Multi-yarn shade 16, cut ¼in long
Body: White ostrich herl, ribbed with fine silver or gold tinsel
Thorax: White ostrich herl
Hackle: Badger cock collar hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
Buzzer shucks are undoubtedly the most underrated item in the diet of reservoir trout. This pattern was designed to represent a shuck floating in or near the surface and it has proved so successful that it is unchanged since it was first tied more than a decade ago.
Dawson’s Olive (variant)
Hook: Wet fly hook size 8
Tying thread: Black
Tail: Golden olive marabou
Body: Olive chenille, ribbed with medium oval silver tinsel
Hackle: Yellow-dyed guinea fowl throat hackle
Wing: Olive marabou
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
This is my slightly-altered version of Brian Dawson's famous fly and it has accounted for innumerable fish for me. It can be used as a damsel imitation, a fry pattern or simply as a general purpose prospecting fly. If you have never tried it before you could be in for a welcome surprise.
Daddy Long Legs
Hook: Wide gape hook sizes 8 - 10
Thread: Brown
Body & over-thorax: Detached ³/₃₂" diameter light or dark brown plastic foam body singed to produce a rounded end
Legs: Six cock pheasant centre tail fibres, knotted twice, tied in trailing the body
Thorax: Brown seal’s fur
Hackle: Cree cock collar hackle
Wing: Cree hackle points
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
When daddies are on the menu try this one and expect some fun! A fluorescent lime-green or orange body can make a successful alternative.
Elk Hair Caddis
Hook: Dry fly hook sizes 10 - 14
Thread: Brown
Body: Brown seal’s fur
Body hackle: Brown cock tied palmer
Wing: Elk hair
Head: Use the clipped tips of the elk hair used for the wing as the head
Variants: Try black, orange, green or olive seal's fur for the body.
I have found this fly very successful towards the back end of the season and a size 14 has done very well at Thornton. It seems to succeed when sedges are not present and buzzers are being taken. It sits neatly in the surface film and stays afloat as a result of the buoyant elk hair.
