Grouse and Seal's Hare

[GlassJet]

Hi all,
Well I finally managed to escape the seductive clutches of Ireland, and normal service has resumed - at least for a while. Have I missed much?
I loved being away, but there is no place quite like home waters, and while I've been back this last week, my river is fishing extremely well, despite hot, dry, low water conditions and running as clear as tap water.

I am really enjoying learning to fish these soft hackle patterns, both of my own invention and the classics, and my single most consistently successful pattern is the Greenwell's Spider. Doesn't seem to matter what is on the water, it catches, the trout just love it!

Here's a pattern I would have been out fishing right now (nearly 8 o clock in the evening with me right now) if the weather pattern had not been broken today with a downpour of rain.

It's something for when the flies coming off the water are more reddy-brown than browny-red. I do hope that is not too technical for you...

Grouse and Seal's Hare


Hook: Kamasan specimen #12. Silk: Pearsall's crimson, heavily waxed with Cobbler's wax. Abdomen: blend of crimson seal's fur, fiery brown seal's fur and spikey hare's ear. Thorax: more of the same. Rib: Copper wire. Hackle: Grouse.

I was hoping to photograph it accessorised with a trout, but as I said, couldn't get out today. Maybe tomorrow?

Andrew.

[hankaye]

Cute lookin' lil' rascal...looks buggy enough.

[letumgo]

Nice reddy-brown bug Andrew! (*sincere compliment*) Welcome back.

[DOUGSDEN]

Andrew,
I love it! Very buggy indeed! You are on a roll. Keep rolling and welcome home!
Dougsden

[GlassJet]

Thanks folks!

Nice lookin' fishin' day dawning here, I'll be giving this one a swim before the day is out!

Andrew.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Okay, I can't help myself. That is one beatiful fly. I'd bet it just comes alive in the water. Great dressing.

REE

[GlassJet]

Thanks for the comments!

Got out this afternoon for a couple of hours and began with this fly fished on its own, on 7X tippet, as I wanted to try it out. Third cast and here it is attached to a grayling, fifth or sixth and to a little wild brownie.

Warning to those of a sensitive disposition - beware more monsters from the deep!



Had a couple more trout on it as well, so a promising start. Will be handing a few round my mates, see if it works for them too. I'll be fishing it again definitely - I like buggy little flies, they work well on the small rivers I love to fish. I'm not convinced you can improve on something like the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, but I am very influenced by the Irish style at the moment, and the way they blend their dubbing, and get 'space' in the body. And their use of colour of course.

Afternoon really belonged to the Pheasant Tail Nymph though, had some nice brownies on that today, one couldn't have been much shy of a pound.

Andrew.

[letumgo]

Lovely photos Andrew. I hope to one day catch a grayling. They look like charming little fish.

[Old Hat]

Great fly Andrew, really nice combination in that body of colors and texture.

[chase creek]

Lovely fly - gotta love that crimson!