Dry flies have one thing in common – they all float. Some float because they are tied of buoyant materials (foam hoppers for instance), some depend on chemical help in the form of a silicone floatant and some are designed to partially float (emergers and of course the legendary Klinkhamer Special). And finally, some are tied so they rest on the surface film as a result of their dressing.
Jigs are interesting flies and very popular in some parts of world, and the French have developed an entire style of fly fishing, called French nymphing, which revolves around small, heavily weighted flies – often tied on jig hooks. The Spanish competition teams had great succes with their style of jigs called Perdigon flies, which I think originally were tied on normal hooks, but now often are tied on jig hooks.
The Europea 12 is a simple, beautiful dry imitation of a sedge or caddis. Originally it’s a French pattern, attributed to André Ragot – according to the Danish author Preben Torp Jacobsen. I’ve not been able to find out how old the pattern is, but Preben Torb Jacobsen has published it in 1976, so it’s older than that. Something tells me it’s from the 1960s, but that’s nothing but a hunch.
There’s something exiting about uncorking a brand new season. New trips are in the pipeline. New flies. And new opportunities. Right now this season has the potential to be your best ever… or the worst ;0) Continue reading “Scandinavian salt in January – chasing silver”
Right now, the Southern Hemisphere experience winter, while the Northern part of the globe is going into summer and holiday mode. In some areas, the heatwave is getting a bit too intense – and fishing in the middle of the day isn’t always productive if your quarry is trout.
Continue reading “Classic inspiration from New Zealand – low light and large trout”
