Mayfly spinners are go!

Prepping for the Mayfly (Danica) hatches to come...

Inspired by Oliver Edwards and others I've added this spinner pattern to my family of Danica imitations. 

The recipe:

Hook: #10 light wire scud/emerger (yes, this is a big fly!)

Tail: Pheasant tail fibres 

Body: 2mm white foam worked into shape using a tube fly needle mounted in my vice.

Hackle: Cock dyed Iron Blue

Wings: White Tiemco Aerowing with mottling created with a dark brown marking pen 

The spinners on my home water, the Darent in South East England, are normally mainly black and white, with little of the tan and green left that we see in the dun: So I've used an Iron Blue Dun from Christina at Chevron Hackles for the hackle. Better than black. 

I've used an extended body because long shanked hooks in large sizes offer a long lever for angler and fish to become detached. A short shank hook will hold much better.

I like the realistic effect achieved by pheasant fibres but they're so brittle! Anyone got a better material for this? Please let me know.

Only a month to go to the mother of all hatches!

Goodbye Simms G4 Guide boots, hello Simms G3 Guide boots

I've used Simms wading boots for over 20 years. I still have my first pair of Simms Guide boots as spares.

Today my new G3 Guides arrived so I can finally toss the G4 Guides which are the worst wading boots I've ever owned from any manufacturer. Bad design, bad materials, bad build quality.  

The G3 Guides look and feel great! Comfortable and seemingly hard wearing... I'll let you know in a few months.