Claret Dabbler
A brace of Black and Peacock spiders
Our fun and modern fly tying courses are beginning to take shape for Launceston, Hobart and the North-West. Launceston classes start on the 21 May, and there are still a couple of spaces left. The venue is at The Essential Fly Fisher, at 105 York Street. Email me to reserve a place www.riverfly.com.au/contact
Dates for the Hobart and the North-West classes will be set soon, as class numbers are beginning to fill. Please email me if you are interested in attending courses in either of these areas www.riverfly.com.au/contact
The courses have been structured to enable all skill levels to participate, and to teach take-away skills for tying better flies, and tying them easier. Some of the topics covered will include:
- Technique for tying durable bodies with peacock herl
- Tricks for tying deer-hair and Possum Shaving Brush ‘wings’ for better flotation and fish-catching
- Technique for tying in durable, non-slip parachute hackles
- Techniques for tying easy ‘porcupine’ hackles – the easy high-viz alternative to parachute hackles.
- Tying with deer-hair – bullet-heads and the WMD
- Correct techniques for tying with foam – glue, legs and the Chernobyl Ant
- The rules for using colour and UV reflective materials in flies
The course will cover many more topics along the way, and the day-to-day techniques that may be troubling you (such as dubbing!) will be covered through the course of tying the featured flies.
There’s no better thrill than catching a fish on a fly of your own design. Come and join us to learn more about how to do it.
A Tasmanian trout on a hand tied fly
As promised, here are the dates for our first round of winter fly tying courses. The dates are subject to minimum numbers (3 pers) and course numbers are limited to 6 participants. The course is structured with some simple ties first off, and the complex flies last – so the course is suited for all abilites from beginners to experienced. Your flies will benefit from the tricks and tips taught in these classes, from a simple and durable technique for tying with peacock herl, down to the best ways to tie deer-hair.
Learn to tie all the flies you’ll need for the new season. From simple and deadly Stick Caddis or F-Fly patterns, right up to the chunky WMD and Chernobyl Ant. All in all, a minimum of 12 patterns will be covered.
Cost: $190 per person, with tying notes, fishing notes and required tying material on the night supplied by RiverFly.
Dates : 5 nights, 2 hours/night, every Thursday starting 7pm 21 May at the Essential Fly Fisher, 105 York Street Launceston.
Devonport / Hobart Classes: If you and 5 mates would like to form a class and have a suitable venue, please contact us: for your efforts we’ll give you your place free of charge!
Contact Daniel to book your place or for further enquiries www.riverfly.com.au/contact
(A small number of vices are available for beginners to use on the night, or you can purchase your own, with scissors, deer-hair stacker, bodkin and bobbin holder for ~$150 through the Essential Fly Fisher.)
Here is a new ‘go-to’ pattern for the freestone rivers of Tasmania. While I have a preference for fishing the dry-fly, this isn’t always the best approach. This is when I opt to fish a nymph in tandem with a larger, bouyant dry fly, or upstream nymph with the single fly.
A nymph that has proved deadly this season has been our Fastwater Caddis pattern. Originally tied for the fastwaters of Tasmania’s north-east (North Esk, St Patricks rivers), this fly has historically produced for me a few times, but didn’t ever rate as a must-have pattern. That was until this week.
The speedy tail-outs of fastwater slots (the fastwater run-ins at the heads of pools), and the deep bored-out channels found on the outsides of long runs had always under-produced for me on Tasmania’s Mersey River. This caddis grub pattern, fished on a long dropper, has provided the key to succeeding on these sections of water over the last two days of fishing; seven brown trout between 1 and 2lbs, and a wild 2lb rainbow have been proof of its appeal, all fish that have been captured from these previously difficult water structures.
This fly is pretty simple to tie, with the main challenge tying the olive rib body in. Translucent olive rib (medium size) makes the segmented body, secured down with black wire. A black seals fur throat is added, just behind a black tungsten bead, all tied on to a curved grub hook.
The next time you’re on the stream, lift up a few rocks and check out the inhabitants. No doubt, there will be plenty of bright green caddis grubs crawling around.
The Fastwer Caddis can be purchased here
