Information
Many of my flies are slightly different to conventional designs due to being based off the natural and its behaviours or my attempts to provoke certain responses. As such certain flies are more effective when fished a particular way. In this section I hope to offer some guidance and tips on the most effective way I have found to fish each fly that is a little bit different to conventional patterns.
The Hawk Midge
To call this my most productive fly is a massive understatement (as you can see from one of my fly boxes). These flies when presented correctly are taken by fish with such ease and so carefree it sometimes feels like cheating.
The technique I use is to fish a Top hat buzzer about 4 feet from my fly line and then around 5-6 feet away I tie on a Hawk midge on the point.
When cast the hawk midge should sit in or just under the surface film making it very hard to see. That is why you have the Tophat. I strike at anything that boils or takes a few feet behind the Tophat and 99 times out of100 it is a fish that has taken the hawk midge. Dont wait for the Tophat indicator to move or you will miss the fish. Absolutely lethal in a hatch of Chironomids or if fish are rising at all. Colour and size are important when selecting the correct version to use. Black and Tan versions are the most effective for me personally.
The Bait ball & Mutant egg
These flies have been grouped together as they both fish the same way.
Designed as a 'Shock tactic' type fly for those days when the fish are not feeding or being otherwise difficult!
I fish them over depth with an indicator so that they sit on the bottom of the lake/river and they roll and bounce around enticingly.
Not the first fly I will ever tie on my line but definitely useful for those emergency occasions and has saved me from a blank more than once!
