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| The flies used in Scottish sea trout fishing are
many and varied. Trout flies, like the Peter Ross,
Butcher, Mallard and Claret and Teal Blue and Silver,
are popular on the loch but in a larger size, perhaps a size 8
or 10. These same sea trout flies will often be used at night on the river
along with modern favourites like the Silver Stoat and the
Medicine. Later in the night, larger lures tied on tubes,
Waddington shanks or needles may be used. In addition to some
modern sea trout flies, such as the needle tube fly shown to the
right, I list below a
selection of popular sea trout flies. Each sea trout fly has established a reputation
through many years of trials by day and night on the banks of our sea
trout rivers. Each has earned its place in the history of sea trout
fishing. |
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| NEW for 2008 ! |
| GRAYS NEEDLE TUBES |
| Slim Stainless Steel Fly Tying
Tubes |
| Needle Tubes, newly
developed and manufactured in Scotland by Grays of
Kilsyth, are now
available online in a variety of lengths and
diameters. The thinnest tube has an outside diameter of
only 1.5 mm, allowing the fly tyer to make very slim sea
trout flies, such as the simplified snake fly shown on the
right. |
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Sea Trout Needle Flies |
| An even slimmer sea trout lure
can be quickly and simply made using ordinary sewing
needles |
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| For more information about the
origin and development of the Needle Fly, see
Needle Flies |
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A selection of more conventional sea trout flies .....
Medicine
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According to its creator, Hugh Falkus, the
Medicine "can be used all through the season on either floating
or sunk line, and is the best all-round sea trout fly I have
come across. A general purpose fly, it is good both at night in
clear water and during the day when the river is in spate and
coloured." In his experience, when sea trout were active at dusk
in fairly streamy water, there was nothing to beat it |
Golden Squirrel
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A good alternative to the
Medicine when a slightly lighter tone of fly is desired. The
hair from the tail of the grey squirrel, in its natural or dyed
form, has successfully replaced the feather wing in many of our
salmon and sea trout patterns. A commonly available material,
its merit lies in its versatility and durability. |
Bloody Butcher
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The Butcher is said to have been invented by
Messrs Jewhurst and Moon, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent in the early
nineteenth century. Together with its near relatives, the Bloody
Butcher and the Kingfisher Butcher, it has been catching trout
and sea trout ever since. This pattern, with more red than the
standard butcher, is considered indispensable by many sea trout
fishers. It has become a sea trout classic. |
Alexandra
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Introduced, under its old name, "Lady of the
Lake", around 1860, it was later re-named in honour of Princess
Alexandra. Some doubt remains over its creator. Some say W.G.
Turle of Newton Stacey, Stockbridge. Others, that it was devised
by Dr John Brunton, a well-known member of the Gresham Fishing
Society and inventor of Brunton's Fancy. So successful a fly was
it that it is reputed to have been banned on some waters. Still
a favourite with many sea trout men. |
Dark Mackerel
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The Dark Mackerel was first
introduced, as a sea trout fly, by Messrs John Dickson, of
Frederick Street, Edinburgh, dressed on Martin outpoint hooks in
sizes 8 and 6. It is a most useful fly, both at night and, in
the daytime, for slightly dark, peaty waters. It also serves as
a useful bob fly on the loch. A good all rounder. |
Pheasant and
Yellow
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In his book "Sea Trout
Fishing", 1929, R.C. Bridgett, having gathered opinions from
sea trout fishers the length and breadth of Scotland,
compiled the following list of the ten most popular Scottish
sea trout flies: Butcher, Peter Ross, Teal and Silver,
Dunkeld, Mallard and Claret, Silver Doctor, Grouse and
Claret, Pheasant and Yellow, Blae and Blue,
Blae and Black. Even today, few sea trout fishers would feel
deprived if restricted to these ten flies. |
Silver Stoat
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Derived
from the Stoat's Tail salmon fly, this silver-bodied version
has become one of the most popular of all sea trout night
flies in use today throughout the British Isles. It is
fished on floating and sinking lines. It can be tied on
singles, doubles or trebles and as tube-flies, Waddingtons,
snakes or needles. In the larger sizes, the hair from a
squirrel's tail, dyed black, often replaces the hair of the
stoat. The plain black hackle may give way to brighter
colours of red, orange, yellow or blue, each fisherman with
his preferred variant. All are successful. A truly great sea
trout fly. |
Mallard and Claret
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Generally attributed to William Murdoch, a
celebrated Aberdeen fisherman, the Mallard and Claret is
probably the oldest of the Mallard series of flies. In the words
of no less an authority than Courtney Williams, writing in 1948,
"For a general fly for any month of the year in fast rivers, for
lake fishing or for sea trout, there can be few more universally
popular flies. For sea trout, the Mallard and Claret is probably
the most popular of all wet patterns, whether fished in the day
or after dark." |
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