|
| |
|
|
|
|
| The history of Scottish trout
flies is truly rich and colourful. The origin of many of the popular
fly patterns of the last century, and still in common
use
today, is far from clear, lost in the mists of legend and folklore.
But one thing is certain. The many patterns which survived the
century did so because they caught trout, proven patterns,
developed and refined over generations of Scottish fly fishers,
patterns we know so well today - Mallard and Claret, Greenwell's
Glory, Grouse and
Green, Black Pennell, Silver Butcher, Cinnamon and Gold,
Woodcock and Yellow, Soldier Palmer, Blae and Black, Peter Ross,
Teal and Silver, to name but a few. |
|
|
|
We do have some knowledge of the kind of
fishing flies in common use on Scottish rivers in earlier times
from the writings of WC Stewart, "the practical angler", who
promoted the use of simple spider patterns for the most part,
and very effective they were too in catching Scottish trout, I
suspect because of, rather than despite, their simplicity.
Examples of these simple flies, tied in the Stewart style, are
shown below. |
|
|
|
|
Scottish Trout Flies
Stewart's
Black Spider |
|
Stewart's
Red Spider |
|
Stewart's Dun Spider |
We also have to thank John Reid, author of
"Clyde Style Flies", for his descriptions of the very particular style
of fishing flies used by fishermen on that great trout river, the Clyde, including flies
developed by Clyde fishers specifically for their river, flies like the
Hen Blackie, Reid's Assassin and Cran Swallow, as well as other
traditional patterns, such as the Greenwell's Glory, all dressed sparsely to imitate as closely as
possible the insects on the Clyde.
Clyde
Style Greenwell's Glory |
|
Clyde
Style Hen Blackie |
|
Clyde Style Reid's Assassin |
|
|
|
|
|
See also
A Book of Flies.
This little book of flies, transcribed
from a meticulously kept hand-written notebook and published here for
the first time (August 2007), lists detailed dressings of the many fly
patterns used by the author in a lifetime of fly fishing on the Clyde
and other Scottish waters. In listing over 150 trout fly dressings, many
of them little known beyond the Clyde valley, Tom Forsyth has given us a
valuable insight into the kind of trout flies which were popular in
Scotland throughout the twentieth century. Of particular interest to the
modern trout fly fisherman and fly tyer will be the dressings of the
many “Clyde Style” flies, patterns unique to that great Scottish trout
and grayling fishing river. Also included is a helpful Monthly Guide to
Clyde Wet Flies, which lists the flies appropriate for each month
throughout the fishing season on the River Clyde.
For most of us, though, the mention of Scottish
trout flies will conjure up pictures of the many beautiful loch fly
patterns, simple trout flies dressed from native fur and feather, their
origins perhaps long forgotten yet still as popular today as ever among
those who fish for trout on the lochs of Scotland.
|
|
|
|
Scottish Loch Flies
I list below just a small selection of some of the
most famous traditional Scottish loch trout flies, as fished on a cast of three
or four, from a drifting boat or from the loch shore. Most very old
patterns, some of origin unknown, they owe their survival to their
reputation as reliable takers of brown trout on lochs, large and small,
the length and breadth of Scotland. |
|
|
|
Traditional Scottish Loch Trout Flies
Click on images to enlarge
Butcher
 |
"The most deadly loch fly
ever invented, dressed with split wings well laid back, used on
the bob and made to trip across the waves, it is an exceedingly
reliable fly on every loch that I have fished. If winged in the
ordinary way it is quite a good tail fly and used by many in
this position with considerable effect". So said R. C. Bridgett.
Credit for the Butcher is accorded to Messrs Moon and Jewhurst.
Originally known as Moon's Fly, around 1838 the name changed to
"Butcher", the trade of its inventors. The name is apt in other
ways. |
Greenwell's Glory
 |
First dressed in 1854 on the Tweed by James
Wright, of Sprouston, for Canon William Greenwell of Durham, the
Greenwell's Glory has since
become one of the most well known and widely used of all British trout
flies. An excellent general olive representation.
Click to enlarge |
Peter Ross
 |
Dating from the turn of the century and adapted
from the teal and red by Peter Ross of Killin on Loch Tay, this is one of
the most popular loch flies ever devised. A good tail fly.
Click to enlarge |
Black Pennell
 |
Devised in the nineteenth century by H.
Cholmondeley Pennell, the Black Pennell is particularly popular in the
remoter waters of the Highlands. Commonly fished as a bob fly, it is
especially good early in the fishing season when black midges are hatching.
Click to enlarge |
Cinnamon and Gold
 |
Probably deriving from the age-old Cinnamon fly,
the Cinnamon and Gold is particularly good fished in the smaller sizes on the tail of a wet
fly cast.
Click to enlarge |
Grouse and Green
 |
The Grouse and Green is one of the best of the grouse winged
trout fishing flies. A good
imitation of the sedge, or caddis fly.
Click to enlarge |
Blae and Black
 |
The date of this fly's creation is difficult to
pinpoint. Evolved from obscure Scottish origins, it is best fished, like
the Black Pennell, early in the season as a top dropper, probably taken
by the trout for a hatching midge.
Click to enlarge |
Dunkeld
 |
A simplified version of the Dunkeld salmon fly,
this is a good attractor pattern on both lowland and highland lochs. One
of the great loch flies, fished on the tail of a cast as a small fish
imitator, it is also highly regarded as a sea trout fly.
Click to enlarge |
Mallard and Claret
 |
Accredited to William Murdoch of Aberdeen, the
Mallard and Claret has few peers as a general loch fly. No fly box is complete without
it, or its near relative, the Grouse and Claret. A favourite of many trout
fishermen here in Scotland as a
first dropper.
Click to enlarge |
Zulu
 |
Once banned from competitive angling on account of
its killing properties, the Black Zulu is best fished as a bob fly,
tripped along the top of the waves on dull windy days. Almost as good is
the Blue Zulu, a popular variant.
Click to enlarge |
Woodcock and Yellow
 |
Probably the best of the Woodcock series of
trout flies.
Like the Grouse and Green, a good caddis representation used to good
effect on summer evenings. It also has a reputation among Scottish sea trout
fishers.
Click to enlarge |
Red Palmer
 |
Not many flies kill as many trout in the remote
lochs of the Scottish Highlands as the Red Palmer, other than perhaps the Black
Zulu. Particularly good as a bob fly in a big wave. With the addition of a
red wool tail, it becomes the Soldier Palmer.
Click to enlarge |
| |
|
|
|
