Shetland Anglers Association
  • Shetland
  • Fishing
    • Lochs >
      • Popular lochs
      • Loch surveys
    • Boats
    • Shetland Fly Box >
      • Colin Wiseman's Trout Flies
      • Big Trout Flies
      • Sean McCaffrey's Midge- M and M
      • John Hadland's Trout Flies
      • Allan Liddles Shetland Flies
      • David Pottinger's big trout flies
      • A Norski Lad
    • Cast of the month >
      • Cast of the Month May 2017- Josh Brush
      • Cast of the Month March/April Greame Callander
      • Cast of the Month September 2016- Robert Sandison
      • Cast of the Month - August 2016 - Bobby Irvine
      • Cast of the Month - July 2016 - Billy Reid
      • Cast of the month June 2016 Rae Phillips
      • cast of the month - May- Brian Poleson
      • Cast of the Month -April -Marvin tait
      • Cast of the Month- March - Tony Li
      • Cast of the Month -September- David Pottinger
      • Cast of the Month- August- Gilbert Williamson
      • Cast of the Month July 2015 - Alastair Jamieson
      • Cast of the Month - June 2015- Terry Laurenson
      • Cast of the Month - May - Barry Robertson
      • Cast of the Month- April 2015- Colin Wiseman
      • Cast of the Month - March 2015- Paul Bloomer
      • Cast of the month- February 2015 Connel Gresham
      • Cast of the Month- October- Colin Petrie
      • Cast of the Month-September-Mike Forbes
      • Cast of the Month- August-David John Anderson
      • Cast of the Month - July-David Mcmillan Junior
      • Cast of the Month- June -2014-Graeme Callander
      • Cast of the Month-May-2014-Sean McCaffrey.
    • Sea Trout Fishing
    • Salmon fishing
    • Information brochure
    • Permits
    • Trout food and imitations >
      • Buzzers- Overview
      • Buzzers- Bloodworm
      • Buzzers- Ascending pupae
      • Buzzers emerging
      • Buzzers- Adult
      • Caenis
      • Olives
      • Caddis >
        • Caddis Feeding Behaviour
        • cased caddis
        • Emerging Caddis Pupae
        • Adult Caddis
      • Shrimp
      • Stickleback
      • Corixae
      • Snail
      • Cannibals
      • Daphnia
      • Beatles
      • Leach
      • Terrestrials
      • Dung Fly
      • Daddy Long Legs
    • Rules
  • Competitions
    • Bank Competitions 2023
    • Boat Competitions 2023
    • Competition Results 2023
    • Competition History >
      • Competition Results 2022
      • Competition Results 2021
      • Competition Results 2019
      • Competition Results 2018
      • Competition Results 2017
      • Competition Results 2016
      • Competition results 2015
      • Competition results 2014
    • Trout Festival 2023
  • Links
  • Photographs
    • Photo Archive
  • Contact
  • Trout Festival 2023
Picture
BLOODWORM.

The first larval stage of the chironomidae or buzzer is known by anglers as the bloodworm. In coarse fishing matches bloodworm is considered so deadly it has in many occasions been banned. Quite simply fish love bloodworm. These tiny worm like creatures live in the bed of the lake in mud silt and sometimes sand in numbers approaching billions. They get their name from the dark red crimson blood red colour of some of the species but in Shetland they can vary from red through to olive and various shades in between.

Flies need to be fished as close to the bottom as possible and ideally slowly in this respect various densities of sinking lines are essential to get the flies down to where the fish are feeding. A gold bead damsel nymph in the appropriate colour and size is a very good catcher of blood worm feeders especially fished behind a mini lure to get the fishes attention. There is plenty of scope for experimentation in the development of blood worm patterns for wild brown trout. 

       

Picture
   
Light Olive  gold bead damsel nymph. 

Kamasan b175 size 12

Thread- FL lime green.  I.e. gab 12 

Tail - light olive marabou - two strands olive crystal flash

Body - dubbed seal fur or substitute. (Spiggie dub colour 1 - equal parts insect green, golden olive, medium olive a pinch of yellow light brite)

Rib med red wire 

Head hackle dyed vibrant golden greeny light olive

Gold bead on head

The whole fly should not be over dressed.  Remember it is typed with bloodworm in mind but it is one of those very useful general patterns that will cover a multitude of situations,   I.e.  emerging green buzzer pupae , stickle back, even daphnia feeders .

The gold bead damsel theme also works well in in medium and dark olives with a pearl rib, with or without metal beads, or with hot spots like jungle cock cheeks or a build-up of tying thread.        All in all a must have fly , tie them in sizes from size 14 up to 8 

There is great scope for development of bloodworm patterns for wild brown trout. I have not had much success with the bloodworm patterns constructed with legs of flexi floss which are marketed as bloodworm patterns but have possibly not persevered with them long enough to form a reliable opinion. 

The main thing when specifically targeting bloodworm feeders is slow and on or very near the bottom in likely areas usually early season march to May, but fish will eat them whenever they can. Takes are usually confident but utmost concentration is needed and strike at the slightest movement of the fly.