Whilst beads used in fly tying are made from a variety of materials. There are basically two types. The first are beads that we use in fly tying that were designed for other purposes such as jewelry beads. Then there are specifically designed fly tying beads that are quite different to beads manufactured for the jewelry industry in that most fly tying beads have a large opening at one end and a smaller opening at the other.
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. The following Spinner is a generic representation for members of the “Leptophlebiidae” family of Mayflies and the various Highland Duns & Spinners, which are members of the “Oniscigastridae” family. Hatches generally occurs between the months of October and March. Carry black, brown, red and blue damsel versions.
The Adams Irresistible is just one representation of a Baetis Dun. It floats like a cork and what’s more fish accept it as a variety of food items. In smaller sizes it is an excellent Baetis Dun imitation and an excellent fly in still water particularly when Snow Flake Caddis are about. In larger sizes it is an excellent fly for fast water or as a top fly in dry / nymph combination. Change the material colours to tie flies representing Baetis Duns in your target fishery. I carry Adams, black, brown and olive versions in a couple of sizes.
I use this fly to represent mayflies that are members of the Leptophlebiidae classification of mayflies which includes the Highland Dun and Olive Dun and also the Kosciuszko Dun which is a member of the Coloburiscidae classification of the Mayfly family.
Spider type flies like the Black and Peacock are very buggy and suggestive flies. Weather being used as a polaroiding fly, a static wet, one of the flies in a team of loch style flies, or a fly to cover rising fish spider type soft hackle flies may be taken as a snail, submerged beetle, drowned terrestrial, diving beetle or even a corixia. Alternatively the fish may just pick them up because of the movement of the soft hackle or the suggestive buggy nature of the overall shape.
Flies that represent spiders and beetles are very buggy and suggestive flies. Weather being used as a polaroiding fly, a static wet, one of the flies in a team of loch style flies, or a fly to cover rising fish spider type soft hackle flies may be taken as a snail, submerged beetle, drowned terrestrial, diving beetle or even a carixia.
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.
If you have a look at Caenis Duns there are fundamentals of shape that are common across the species and captured by this pattern. The tail consists of only three filaments; the body starts thin and is then cigar shaped with 9 distinct segments. They have 6 legs and wings faces back at about a 60 degree angle. The common colours are grey and brown and when they are hatching the vision is of very small single winged sailing boats on the water.
The Iron Blue Dun 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 the male dun and the hatches occur throughout the season.
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 recipe below to much lighter and grayer versions.
