Cast of the Month -April- Marvin Tait
April's cast of the month comes from Marvin Tait, who offers us some very special sea trout flies that have evolved from years of experimentation.
April can be a very good month for sea trout in Shetland and it coincides with the annual spawning time of the ragworm. Ragworms form great writhing balls in the water and the sea trout feed on them. It can be hard to predict when and where this will happen but find the ragworm and you have found the sea trout. For a more in depth analysis of ragworm spawning see Barry Orde Clarke's excellent article here.
https://thefeatherbender.com/2012/10/31/the-worm-that-turned/
Marvin's needle fly is simplicity itself and Marvin’s consistent success with this fly is a pertinent reminder not to over complicate things.
Brown trout-wise, providing the weather is mild April can bring very good fishing. The shallow lochs have not yet weeded up and offer the chance of connecting with a bigger fish. Usual early season tactics probably work best, fish the shallow areas of the lochs and keep searching the water.
Gold bead damsels and hares ears, mini lures such as cats and Vivas , Clan Chief, Zulus, Bibio’s, Kate Mclaren, Ace of Spades, cormorants , worm flys, peach muddlers and variants there of form the back bone of Shetland anglers' armoury .
April's cast of the month comes from Marvin Tait, who offers us some very special sea trout flies that have evolved from years of experimentation.
April can be a very good month for sea trout in Shetland and it coincides with the annual spawning time of the ragworm. Ragworms form great writhing balls in the water and the sea trout feed on them. It can be hard to predict when and where this will happen but find the ragworm and you have found the sea trout. For a more in depth analysis of ragworm spawning see Barry Orde Clarke's excellent article here.
https://thefeatherbender.com/2012/10/31/the-worm-that-turned/
Marvin's needle fly is simplicity itself and Marvin’s consistent success with this fly is a pertinent reminder not to over complicate things.
Brown trout-wise, providing the weather is mild April can bring very good fishing. The shallow lochs have not yet weeded up and offer the chance of connecting with a bigger fish. Usual early season tactics probably work best, fish the shallow areas of the lochs and keep searching the water.
Gold bead damsels and hares ears, mini lures such as cats and Vivas , Clan Chief, Zulus, Bibio’s, Kate Mclaren, Ace of Spades, cormorants , worm flys, peach muddlers and variants there of form the back bone of Shetland anglers' armoury .
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Ragworm
Ragworm
Hooks- size 10 Head , Size 12 tail
Thread- brown Veevus Dynema 10/0
Tubing- 1mm soft plastic (8 sections) 4mm lengths after slightly melting the ends
Tail – Bronze mallard with some mother of pearl glis n glow
Hackle- brown cock hackle
Body- Brown Micro Cactus Chenille 0.8 mm
Joining the two hooks is 20 pound Dynema whiplash by Berkley. Lead wire is wrapped around the head hook to give it a swimming action
‘For a long time I wanted to create a ragworm pattern but most attempts ended in failure. After an inspiring fly tying demonstration by Barry Orde Clarke at the SAA club room I decided to try again.
I used an idea I had years ago where I used several sections of articulated tube to tie an articulated tube fly for more movement. The technique was perfect for the ragworm and after some practise I finally had a pattern I was happy with. It has proved to be very successful for sea trout, fishing it slowly with subtle twitching for best effect.
The photographs below show the different stages of tying.
Hooks- size 10 Head , Size 12 tail
Thread- brown Veevus Dynema 10/0
Tubing- 1mm soft plastic (8 sections) 4mm lengths after slightly melting the ends
Tail – Bronze mallard with some mother of pearl glis n glow
Hackle- brown cock hackle
Body- Brown Micro Cactus Chenille 0.8 mm
Joining the two hooks is 20 pound Dynema whiplash by Berkley. Lead wire is wrapped around the head hook to give it a swimming action
‘For a long time I wanted to create a ragworm pattern but most attempts ended in failure. After an inspiring fly tying demonstration by Barry Orde Clarke at the SAA club room I decided to try again.
I used an idea I had years ago where I used several sections of articulated tube to tie an articulated tube fly for more movement. The technique was perfect for the ragworm and after some practise I finally had a pattern I was happy with. It has proved to be very successful for sea trout, fishing it slowly with subtle twitching for best effect.
The photographs below show the different stages of tying.
Needle fly
Needle Fly
Hook size 8 long Shank
Thread- white veevus dyneema 10/0
Tail- silver tinsel with mirage over it
Body - silver tinsel with mirage over it
Rib- silver wire
Bug bond the body and allow a tiny bit on the tail to help hold the tail straight
This is another of my own patterns . it looks almost too simple but don’t underestimate how deadly it is for sea trout.
Hook size 8 long Shank
Thread- white veevus dyneema 10/0
Tail- silver tinsel with mirage over it
Body - silver tinsel with mirage over it
Rib- silver wire
Bug bond the body and allow a tiny bit on the tail to help hold the tail straight
This is another of my own patterns . it looks almost too simple but don’t underestimate how deadly it is for sea trout.
Ally's Shrimp
Allys shrimp
Hook- size 6 long shank
Thread- Orange
Body – Orange thread
Rib- Mirage Gold tinsel and gold wire
Wings- Hot orange calf tail / white calf tail with mirage crystal flash over the orange wing.
Tie the first wing on about half way up the shank. Tie the white wing on at the head with pheasant tippet on top.
Hackle – peach hen hackle. Use long hair and hackles for maximum movement.
My personal favourite sea trout fly. Absolutely deadly, and has been my top fly for the last few years. It is also a very good brown trout fly and has been responsible for the capture of some large browns.
When tied with the hook upside down the fly still swims the correct way up. this is a very effective way of like this it swims upright and is very effective at avoiding snagging in weeds and rocks when fishing.
Hook- size 6 long shank
Thread- Orange
Body – Orange thread
Rib- Mirage Gold tinsel and gold wire
Wings- Hot orange calf tail / white calf tail with mirage crystal flash over the orange wing.
Tie the first wing on about half way up the shank. Tie the white wing on at the head with pheasant tippet on top.
Hackle – peach hen hackle. Use long hair and hackles for maximum movement.
My personal favourite sea trout fly. Absolutely deadly, and has been my top fly for the last few years. It is also a very good brown trout fly and has been responsible for the capture of some large browns.
When tied with the hook upside down the fly still swims the correct way up. this is a very effective way of like this it swims upright and is very effective at avoiding snagging in weeds and rocks when fishing.