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 2020
    • Boat Competitions 2020
    • Competition Results 2020
    • Competition History >
      • Competition Results 2019
      • Competition Results 2018
      • Competition Results 2017
      • Competition Results 2016
      • Competition results 2015
      • Competition results 2014
    • Trout Festival 2019
  • Links
  • Photographs
    • Photo Archive
  • Contact
  • Boat Competitions 2019
Cast of the Month  - May - Barry Robertson.

All things being equal May should be a good month for the flyfisher as we see an improvement in the weather and rising temperatures. This will mean an increase in insect and aquatic life with the trout becoming more active and willing to feed higher in the water.

 May’s cast of the month comes from charismatic Whalsay man and bank competition stalwart Barry Robertson.  Robertson is a highly experienced angler who has successfully captained the S.A.A. bank fishing team on several occasions both home and away. Barry is particularly adept on Shetland’s premier North and West Side waters such as Eela Water, Punds Water, Vaara, Clings Water, Stump etc. His choice of patterns for May is representative of his expertise on these types of Lochs.

 In bob position is the ubiquitous Clan Chief. Barry says that if he was left with one fly to catch a trout in Shetland then this would be it. I'm sure that many local anglers would find it difficult to disagree with him and the "Clan Chief" would probably take the award for the most frequently found pattern in Shetland fly boxes.  The red and black mix of hackles, giving an overall claret effect, along with the bright dual coloured "target" tail is a combination which the trout find irresistible. The Clan Chief is absolutely deadly on all Shetland lochs and on all line densities although an argument could be made that it is maybe at it's best on coloured or peat stained waters. Needless to say the Clan Chief has spawned a multitude of variations with some of the muddler versions particularly worthy of note. However it is the original classic design which remains the most popular. If it aint broke - don't fix it!

 On middle dropper Barry has chosen a more unusual and uniquely Whalsay fly - the Hammil's Spider.  The Hammil's Spider allegedly originated from the New Zealand lure the Hammil's Killer. It has to be said however that after being downsized for Shetland brownies and given a Bonnie Isle makeover the Hammil's Spider bears very little resemblance to it's parent fly. What we are left with however is a modern pattern in a traditional style. A very effective middle dropper fly which is always something to be treasured!

 On the tail Barry has opted for another very popular fly, the Peach Muddler. The Peach Muddler has its origins in Orkney and like many Orkney patterns has travelled well to Shetland. Often in fly fishing  it is worth remembering the maxim "simple is effective" and this couldn't apply more than to the Peach Muddler. This little gem is a killer all over Shetland and will work on any line density. It is nondescript enough that it can be taken for a whole variety of aquatic life - or indeed nothing at all! The Peach Muddler is one of those flies to reach for when you don't know where to start - and often it will be the one fly on the cast that hasn't been changed after a day's fishing.    



Picture
       Clan Chief
         Butt - Flat Silver.
         Tail - Red Floss over Yellow Floss.
         Body - Black S.L.F. or similar.
         Body Hackle - Red and Black Cock palmered together.
         Rib - Oval Silver.
         Head Hackle - Black Hen.




Picture
Hammil's Spider.
Silk - Red
Tail - Tippets dyed orange.
Body - Red S.L.F. or similar.
Body Hackle - Dyed Red Cock
Rib - Silver Wire.
Head Hackle - Dyed Yellow Cock.



Picture
     Peach Muddler
      Tail - Glo Brite Floss No. 7 & 8
      Body - Glo Brite Floss N0. 7 & 8 chopped & Dubbed.
      Rib - Flat Gold Holographic.
      Head - Dear hair Muddled with a few strands left as collar.