David Pottinger is one of the cornerstones of trout fishing in Shetland, now in his 70 year of fishing and his .57th season of fanatical fly fishing, if anyone can be classed as an expert it is surely this man. David is famous as a catcher of big brown trout and has proven over many years that it is possible to catch big fish by design rather than by chance and his phenomenal catches over many decades bear testament to this. Described in a Trout and Salmon article on flies for big brown trout written by Stan Headley as 'the man who has caught more big brown trout than anyone not just in Scotland but possibly the world', any flies that come out of this mans fly box are worth a closer look . For more of Davids patterns such as his famous Potty Palmer see the page in the shetland fly box section of this site devoted to his big trout flies.
P. T. I. :- (Pottys T I- Named after a good angling friend visiting on the night of first tying)
This simple drab Loch Ordie style fly was tied with Daddy Long Legs in mind, and in less than three years lifespan, has already accounted for many large brown trout, up to 9 lb plus. Designed to be fished wet when daddies are on the water it is lethal. In the first season I tried it I witnessed a 7.9 pounder bow wave at least 10 yards to attack this fly and a week later on different loch it caught an 8.4 pounder on the 3 rd cast. Tied on a low water salmon hook with two light hen brown hackles lightly palmered along it, is simple but deadly and a potent fly tying reminder that we shouldn't over complicate things.
Hook- Partridge 01 Single Wilson salmon size10.
Body- 2 fairly large medium brown hen hackles wound on not too tightly.
This simple drab Loch Ordie style fly was tied with Daddy Long Legs in mind, and in less than three years lifespan, has already accounted for many large brown trout, up to 9 lb plus. Designed to be fished wet when daddies are on the water it is lethal. In the first season I tried it I witnessed a 7.9 pounder bow wave at least 10 yards to attack this fly and a week later on different loch it caught an 8.4 pounder on the 3 rd cast. Tied on a low water salmon hook with two light hen brown hackles lightly palmered along it, is simple but deadly and a potent fly tying reminder that we shouldn't over complicate things.
Hook- Partridge 01 Single Wilson salmon size10.
Body- 2 fairly large medium brown hen hackles wound on not too tightly.
Red Arsed Olive Hog.
'This fly is a good catcher across the board and should be in all fly boxes'.
Hook- Kamasan B170 size 10.
Body- Red then golden olive seal's fur.
Wing- Roe deer hair.
'This fly is a good catcher across the board and should be in all fly boxes'.
Hook- Kamasan B170 size 10.
Body- Red then golden olive seal's fur.
Wing- Roe deer hair.
POTTYS BLUE AND SILVER
'Predominately a middle dropper fly for me and often finds a place on my cast.Can be the only source of interest some days, accounting for some very nice fish both brown and sea trout'.
Hook- Kamasan B170 size10.
Tail- Golden Pheasant tippet.
Body- Flat tinsel.
Rib- Red wire
Wing & Whisker- Blue Guinea Fowl
Head- Orange UV thread.
'Predominately a middle dropper fly for me and often finds a place on my cast.Can be the only source of interest some days, accounting for some very nice fish both brown and sea trout'.
Hook- Kamasan B170 size10.
Tail- Golden Pheasant tippet.
Body- Flat tinsel.
Rib- Red wire
Wing & Whisker- Blue Guinea Fowl
Head- Orange UV thread.
Red & Orange Sparkler.
'In the right light conditions this fly is a proven killer'
Hook- Kamasan B170 size 10.
Body- Flo Orange Angle Flash.
Rib- Usually Flat Opel Mirage medium - sample has rib braided for durability.
Wing- Rutland Red Mix Angle Flash.
Head- Orange UV thread.
'In the right light conditions this fly is a proven killer'
Hook- Kamasan B170 size 10.
Body- Flo Orange Angle Flash.
Rib- Usually Flat Opel Mirage medium - sample has rib braided for durability.
Wing- Rutland Red Mix Angle Flash.
Head- Orange UV thread.