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A perfect start to the 2008 season on Swannay |
May 2008
May is the month Orkney anglers have been waiting all winter for. The weather
should be warmer and more subdued and the trout fishing should be in full
swing. Fly hatches are what trout respond to, and May should bring staggering
midge hatches on Harray, Swannay and to a lesser extent,Boardhouse. These
generally tend to be black or olive in colour and there are various, more
traditional flies which can produce trout readily in these situations. Hutch’s
Pennel, Bibio, Butchers, Zulus, Olive Dabbler, Hedgehogs, Midge/Buzzer patterns
etc, to name but a few.
This month’s choice of flies has been selected for a few reasons.
The cormorant family of fly patterns, tied to represent hatching, emerging,
midge, have been very successful in recent seasons, and I have no doubt
2008 will be no different. All three flies this month have been tied with
a relatively new material, Synergy micro straggle, the details of which
come with the fly dressing. Each fly demonstrates how a combination of traditional
and up to the minute materials can produce a killing pattern, without looking
too similar. Fished dead slow and stop, or a steady FO8 retrieve, the trout
will just be queuing up for these.
Harray would be the obvious choice for top sport in settled conditions with
the North end of the loch traditionally fishing better early in the season.
Merkister Bay, Bankhead, Decca and Nistaben should produce fish in abundance.
Swannay, probably the dourest of lochs on its day, can be glory-oh during
early May midge hatches and is the preference of many local anglers. Make
the most of May, but please show some restraint if the chance for the basket
of a lifetime comes along.
click on fly to view larger image
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All trout flies supplied by John Munson and photographed by Jim Adams text by Ken Kennedy