Dropshotting with Flies, by Anthony Wood

DROPSHOTTING WITH FLIES

If you have followed my pages you will have seen that last year I caught some perch using flies that had been specifically tied for using on the dropshot.
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Recently I was reading an issue of Anglers Mail and lo and behold there was an article on fishing the dropshot using flies, also before someone comes out with horrible comments I’m not saying someone copied me or even that I came up with the idea as I’m fully aware it has been used many many times before I used it. The article did however rekindle my interest in using flies on the dropshot.

I have been looking at a company called ‘Trout Flies UK’ a lot lately as I am thinking more and more about learning to fly fish as it is the only style of fishing I haven’t done yet. It is a family run business and they produce some brilliant looking trout flies such as the damsels which I thought would be absolutely perfect for dropshotting as well as fly fishing.
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Looking on their website I found ’24 damsel flies in a water tight trout box’ (boxed damsel-trout-fishing-flies) which looked absolutely perfect for the job and at only £12.99 for 24 flies and the box I thought it was a bargain. Having got in touch with the company they were extremely helpful and also recommended trying some of the hothead flies that they make as well.

So now I knew what flies to get and waited for them to arrive. The package arrived really quickly and upon opening I was extremely surprised at the superb quality of not only the trout box but the craftsmanship of the flies. Considering the price of these flies the quality is simply stunning, after taking out the cost of the trout box (£6.99) the damsels work out at just 25 pence each!!!!!
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If you run out of flies the box will also be highly useful for storing jigheads in too.
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Okay so I don’t have the right tackle yet for fly fishing so these flies were destined to be used on the dropshot. I tied a couple of the colours on and I was going to start with a yellow, then changed my mind to a hothead, then an orange, finally settling back on the yellow.
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The weekend I was fishing arrived and if I’m honest I didn’t hold out much hope as it had been seriously raining the day before and the canal I was fishing with some friends was highly coloured (I couldn’t see the lures/flies under 1″ of water) and carrying some extra water.

I started out with the yellow fly on the dropshot but due to the colour of the water didn’t get any bites. I moved onto some of my soft Relax Lures and managed five perch but I still really wanted to get a fish on these damsel flies.
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About half way through the day I found some water that was a bit clearer so I put an orange damsel on and cast out my dropshot rig.
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Within a couple of gentle twitches my rod hooped over and line started coming off my reel, either this was a good sized perch or I’d managed to hook a jack pike.
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After a few minutes of reeling in and then losing line when the fish did a run I had a nice little jack pike in my net.

As the wind picked up and the rain started again the fish turned off and I didn’t get any more fish for the day. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and the company, I proved to myself that I can catch fish on these brilliant flies from Trout Flies UK and I will definitely be using them again.
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I also tied up a split shot rig and a carolina rig but didn’t think the conditions were suitable for that rig so will try that at a later stage.

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You can find out more about the flies from Trout Flies UK via these links.

Website: www.troutflies.co.uk
Facebook: /TroutfliesUK
Twitter: @TroutfliesUK

Competition Winners

Here we havePicture1 the winners of the friendly catch and return at Summerfields Trout Fishery in Luton

They were issued with Damsels, Buzzers and Gnats from our Fly Collection by organiser Ted Leather .

With 29 Entrys 49 fish were caught.

WELL DONE GUYS !

Sponsor the Girls !

Although we support as best we can the small fishing clubs we also choose a charity to supprt and this year it is Cancer Research.
Three of our girls are running the race for life in support of this, if anyone wishes to sponsor them the links are below. I am sure many of you have spoken with them over time, there is a book open on who raises the most money!!

Emma – The brummie accent, coming in last at the moment!

Becky – The cute one,

Annie – Miss Glamour Currently in the lead!

Flyde Trout Fishery

Fylde Trout Fishery has a beautiful deep 5 acre lake with clear water. Located in the heart of rural Fylde, yet only 5 minutes from the M55 motorway.

Fylde Trout Fishery was opened in 2009 and is full of hard fighting rainbow trout. The fishery is surrounded by wildlife and has been planted with native trees and hedges to blend in with the surrounding country side.

The trout range from 1.5 pounds to 12 pounds in weight, with some of the fish tagged. If a tagged fish is caught you will win a prize. (Tagged Fish Must Be Returned)

flydevisit the website –flydetroutfishery.co.uk

Windermere Lake

Directions: Take the A591 Crooklands to Keswick Road from the M6 motorway and after about 16 miles you arrive at Windermere and follow the signs to Bowness and you reach the lake. Access can be gained at various places with public access such as Cockshott Point (near the Glebe in Bowness). Access is available at National Trust and South Lakeland District Council owned land. On the west side access is much more restricted as much is private property so a boat is a big bonus as you can fish the entire lake unhindered.

The lake is 10.5 miles long by about 1 mile wide so a very useful publication to obtain is a lake chart available from the Lake Wardens at Ferry Nab. This gives all the lakes depth contours, shallow shoals, bays etc and is a must to enable you to find fishy areas.

Most anglers start off  Trout fishing in March by ‘top lining’ which is trolling a plug, usually a Rapala

Fly fishing can take off in April and is improving as insect life is coming back after vast improvements to control sewerage pollution and nitrates. Good hatches of buzzer are again occurring and often plenty of olives. The lake also gets a genuine Mayfly hatch.

Most fly fishing is sub surface with nymphs, buzzers and tradition wet flies and early morning or evening is the best time with the fly. It usually slows down after June until September and fly fishing is rarely easy but fish are taken each year to 3 or 4lb.


Curley’s Fly Fishery

curleyCurley,s Fly Fishery is situated on the edge of the Rivington Country Park near Bolton.

The main reservoir is a 6 acre fly only water and is stocked with hard fighting, fully finned, triploid Rainbows, Blues and Goldies up to 15lbs. A smaller 1 acre lake is any method, primarily for accompanied children and beginners to fly fishing.

Tuition is available with a resident instructor and the prices seem fair.

You can fish from the bank, pontoon or hire a boat. It is recommended that you book

Farelton View Fishery

farleton-viewFarelton View is situated just outside Kendal in the lake district. Very easy to find just off the M6 at Junction 36. A place I have visited many times. The waters are very well stocked and its truely a great days fly fishing.

The cafe does wonderful food and the hospitality is really warm. A family run business you will find yourself looked after.

The main lake is not crowded by trees so a great place for learners and also has a great disabled access. Full facilities are on site. Hours of fishing are 8.30am until dusk and the pricing structure is very reasonable indeed.

So if you live in the area or are planning a visit to the lake district this summer give Simon and his team a visit for a great days fly fishing.

Broom Fisheries Annan

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Fancy a bit of fishing on the Solway coast? Just a short drive from Carlisle this spot has two waters dedicated to fly fishing, with a further 5 waters it has to be an anglers dream.

Broom Fisheries is an ideal location with super facilities, toilets and refreshments obviousley a must but also a tackle shop on site just in case.

As a family run business for 14 years a friendly atmosphere awaits. Events are held throughout the season and if like me you like a drive out to somewhere new, or indeed you are holidaying and looking for a good spot I would recommend a visit to Broom Fisheries

You can check out their website – http://www.broomfisheries.co.uk/

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