My "trout" dry fly box

The Twilight Beauty trout fly is a popular dry fly and a good adult mayfly imitation. It as the names suggests works best in the evening and in particular on warm still evenings when mayflies are hatching. There are many versions of this popular and effective fly ranging from dark forms as in the…

The Iron Blue Dun is a standard hackled classic dry fly that has a permanent home in most UK dry fly-fishers fly boxes. Its also considered a staple fly in many Australian and New Zealand dry fly boxes. It is representative of the male dun and the hatches occur throughout the season. Materials Hook…

A “Dun” is that stage of the life cycle of a Mayfly when it emerges and rests on the surface of the water or nearby vegetation whilst its wings dry. During the Dun stage it is very vulnerable to passing and searching fish. The Caenis Dun is a generic representation for members of the “Caenidae”…

The red tag is as relevant today as when it was first invented some 140 years ago. It is perhaps the quintessential beetle imitation and is popular worldwide. Materials Hook Thread Tag Body Hackle Size 12 – 16 Black silk Red wool Peacock herl Greenwell hackle Process   A Wind the thread in…

A “Dun” is that stage of the life cycle of a Mayfly when it emerges and rests on the surface of the water or nearby vegetation whilst its wings dry. During the dun stage it is very vulnerable to passing and searching fish. If you have a look at Duns whilst the colours vary dramatically there are…

This Dutch fly designed for Grayling but is equally at home with trout and regarded as many amongst the best emerger patterns ever tied. It's well suited when fishing to emerging mayflies and caddis feeders and is easily seen on the water because of the poly yarn post. Whilst you can tie these in…

Whilst there are over 2000 species of Grasshoppers and Locust in Australia there are really only three "hoppers" that are of significance to fly fishers. Hoppers are normally fished as dry flies but it is worth noting that as some hoppers drown and sink, and consequently, fishing a hopper pattern…

If it's a hot day, a warm balmy night, if water is rising over previously dry ground or almost any time for that matter you can get huge hatches of ants. They vary in colour but the dominant hatches are of black meat ants. Meat ants are of the genus Iridomyrmex and there are about 60 species in…

On hot summer days or at almost any time for that matter you can get huge hatches of termites and flying ants. They vary in colour but the dominant hatches are of brown termites, red ants and black ants. When the fish are feeding on ants they just sup the insects down one by one often at the…

With origins in the 20's the Wulff is as much a style of fly as a fly in its own right. It is certainly one of the quintessential dry flies and in some shape or form you will find variants in most fly boxes. Whilst the originals were tied using elk hair tails and upright upright divided calf wings…

Perhaps the best known Para Dun Emerger is the Parachute Adams. It was derived form the Adams Irresistible and whilst the Irresistible sits high on the surface film the parachute version sits comfortably in the film making it a very useful emerger pattern. Available on line – just $2 each fly tied…

Based on the design of the carrot fly this version is particularly appealing to fish feeding on emerging Mayfly in Tasmania's central and western lake. Materials Hook Thread Body Hackle Hanak H300BL #12 Danville's orange 70 denier Orange seals fur Brown cock hackle Process   A Wind the thread…

Technically the term 'spinner' refers to that stage in a Dun's life cycle when it has moved off the water or, vegetation etc. after drying its wings. The adult or imago of all Mayflies, Caddis flies and Midges can technically be regarded as spinners. Having said that the term is generally used only…

For a long time the Greenwells Glory was a fly that has been a staple in my dry fly box … this fly has taken its place. It's essentially a hackled gold ribbed hares ear and has all the defining elements of a normal Greenwells Glory pattern except the primrose thread body of the original has been…

Technically the term 'spinner' refers to that stage in a Dun's life cycle when it has moved off the water or, vegetation etc. after drying its wings. The adult or imago of all Mayflies, Caddis flies and Midges can technically be regarded as spinners. Having said that the term is generally used only…

A “Dun” is that stage of the life cycle of a Mayfly when it emerges and rests on the surface of the water or nearby vegetation whilst its wings dry. During the Dun stage it is very vulnerable to passing and searching fish. The Baetis Dun is a generic representation for members of the “Baetidae”…

(Alternative spelling of name = ‘Coch –Y –Bondhu’) The Cock-Y-Bonddu is a Welsh beetle pattern which is equally at home on Australian trout waters. The original was tied with flat silver tinsel wound around the hook shank  just behind the body. This little bit of flash isn't intended to represent a…

I tie a few hair winged duns but don't tie them as representations of any particular Dun or Spinner (imago) stage of any specific insect. They are however good “buggy” flies and are readily accepted by trout. Also because of the white calf tail wings there easy to see as light fades or in fast…

The Quill Gordon is a standard hackled classic that has a permanent home in most UK dry fly-fishers fly boxes. Its also considered a staple fly in many Australian and New Zealand dry fly boxes. It is representative of a male dun and the hatches occur throughout the season. Even though Theodore…

In 2012 I was introduced to this fly by Jeremy Lucas in a training session leading up to the 2012 World Fly Fishing Championships in Slovenia. The waters of the Korka had mayfly hatching but I was having trouble in findinga fly that didn't spook them. Remembering that browns were behaving in a…

Whilst not tied to imitate any particular insect this down wing style of fly can be tied with your favourite materials and in your favourite colours to imitate a range of insects. It is a good prospecting fly when nothing appears to be happening. In larger sizes it can be twitched or fished dead…

This fly is also often referred to as an "Elk Hair Emerger". When a caddis fly hatches it rises to the surface of the water, shedding its nest and shuck as it breaks through the surface tension of the water so as to reveal its wings. Caddis flies often use surface movement caused by wind and…

Peter Hayes would be one of the countries top fishing guides, his level of professionalism and innovation in the industry is well known, as well as being a former Australian fly fishing champion. Nine times Australian casting champion only adds to the list of impressive credentials. Peter fished as…

Beetles are of the order Coleoptera and there are over 28,000 species found in Australia. Terrestrial beetles Many different types of beetles are fond in the vegetation throughout Australia. There are those that live in forests, other that live in pastures and yet others peculiar to tussock ridden…

This is more of a class of flies rather than just a fly. Perhaps the best known Para Dun Emerger is the Parachute Adams. It was derived form the Adams Irresistible and whilst the Irresistible sits high on the surface film the parachute version sits comfortably in the film making it a very useful…