March | April | May | June | July | August

Home Page | Return To Main Site | Return to Previous Page

Fishing a Olive hatch on Harray

June 2008

June is probably the month we have all been waiting for. With conducive weather, the angling on the Orkney lochs for their wild brown trout can be world class. The variety of food items which can be available to the fish make it all very interesting albeit quite challenging at times. Whether it be olives, midge, cow dung, daphnia or caenis, the trout are always opportunistic and will switch onto whatever is on offer very quickly. This month’s cast tries to cover a few of the bases.
Top dropper is the Fox fur Hedgehog, a cracking fly for olive feeding trout, especially on days of broken cloud and sunny spells. The blend of colour of fox fur was devised by Messrs Foreman and Adams with Harray in particular in mind, but this pattern has travelled very well and has accounted for many fish on Watten, Shin and other northern lochs by visiting Orkney anglers.
Middle dropper is the Bibio Snatcher , a reliable all rounder but especially good for midge feeding trout. The Snatcher style of pattern has proved to be excellent at times and can also work well in Fiery brown, Claret and Soldier palmer red.
Caenis can be the “Curse”on many angling venues, but on the whole, the Orkney anglers welcome the arrival of this food item as it can bring a whole loch on the feed. The last two seasons on Harray have produced incredible sport with the trout feeding on the Caenis nymph at depth for weeks on end. The Caenis Muddler has proved to be extremely successful when the fish are right on top mopping up the spent fly. As always, very speedy and accurate casting is required, and an ability to predict what direction the fish is travelling in while trying to tempt them. The fly really has to be pulled across its nose to force a response as they can become very blinkered at times.
Other patterns not to be without would include the Peach Muddler, Doobry Muddler, Watson’s Fancy, Norski Lad, Merkister Maid, Viva, Hutch’s Pennel, Hares ear Shippo and Suspender buzzers in various colours.
KK

click on fly to view larger image

Fox Fur Hedgehog
(Bob)

Hook: B160 12 & 14
Silk: orange
Body: sunburst orange and yellow artic fox tail mixed
Wing: orange dyed roe deer back
Notes: mix the  artic fox fur and dub as seals fur.
use the dark back from the Roe Deer

Bibio Snatcher
(middle)

Hook: Royd black buzzer 14&12
Silk: black
Body: black seals fur/red glister/black seals fur
Rib: oval silver
Hackle: black cock/palmered
Cheeks: jungle cock
Notes:

Caenis Muddler
(Tail)

Hook: B175 12 & 14
Silk: black
Tail:globrite no 16 white
Body: hares fur
Rib: medium mirage tinsel
Head: white deer hair muddler
Notes:

All trout flies tied and photographed by Jim Adams text by Ken Kennedy

Home Page | Return To Main Site | Return to Previous Page