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 CAST OF MONTH APRIL 2015- COLIN WISEMAN

Colin has been tying flies on a near daily basis for over 40 years, and here he shares a selection of his favourite patterns for April.  One of the problems when trying to put together a cast of the month is that there are so many different lochs in Shetland so some of this selection is geared towards clear water and some towards peaty water.

Take note that many of the patterns that Colin ties are variations of traditional time served patterns but with a Wiseman twist, be it a change of hackle here or different rib or tail there, but all are finely tuned and honed to catch trout in the waters of Shetland.

 Colin’s key advice when fishing early season is not to fish too far out and if from a boat casting into the windward shore is the most productive.

For a more in depth look at Colin’s contribution to Shetland Fly tying see the article on him in the Shetland Fly Box section of this site. 

Picture
Claret Bumble Muddler  

 Hook B 175 10-12

Thread – red

Claret deer hair muddler head

Hackles Claret and red cock palmered together

Rib -2 strands pearl or holographic silver

Head Hackle -Blue guinea fowl

Tail   - golden pheasant dyed hot orange

Inspired by john Hadland's interpretation of claret bumbles this a superlative peaty water fly

Colin’s dye recipe for Shetland Claret is  - 3/4 teaspoon claret with a pinch of orange 


Picture
Yellow Tailed Kate 

 B175 10-12
Tail- GB 10
Rib -silver holographic

Thread- Black

Head hackle brown hen

Thread black

Body – black seal fur

Body hackle black cock palmered

A Loch Leven inspired pattern that excels in dark water  


Picture
Badger Loch Ordie


hook size 12-10

2 badger cock hackles tied sloping back - ginked up  

  Black thread 


Picture
Blue Bottle

Hook – B 175 10-12

Body- Black Chenille  

Rib - Blue Holographic Tinsel

Wing -white goose or swan (ginked up)

Head Hackle -Black cock

A very good fly for over cast days 


Picture
Claret Clan Chief Muddler


hook 14-10
Tail -GB 5 over GB 10
Rib -Holographic  Silver
Body-Claret seal fur
Body Hackle- Claret and red palmered together 
Head - claret deer hair

Colin says tied small as in this picture this fly is lethal especially in brown water

Picture
Colin's March Brown

Hook – B 175 size 10-12
Tail -mallard 
Body- Hares ear with olive seal fur mix 
Body Hackle Light Brown Cock palmered
Thread - Yellow 
Rib - Holographic silver
Wing -hen pheasant ginked up with bronze mallard over 
 Colin says the March Brown was a favourite fly of old time Shetland angling legend Zoe Watt who mostly fished only two flies the other being a Shetland black spider. (see future article for dressing) 

Picture
Orange Muddler 

Hook B 170 10-12 -14

Thread orange

 Tail and body   - Orange Wool that came from David Pottinger's shop

Rib – Gold

Light brown Hackle

Muddler head

Colin’s advice is not to over dress this fly that is at its best in clear water  


Picture
Lady of the lake 

Hook B 175- 10-12

Tail GP topping

Thread Black

Body flat gold,

Body hackle orange cock palmered

Wing - grey squirrel

Head- sparse muddler

This Dunkeld variant was inspired by a fly from top Scottish competition angler Francis Jarret and is a good sunny day fly


Picture
Honey fly 

Hook – B 175 10-12

  Body - Honey coloured Fur

 Rib silver holographic Tinsel  

Body - Badger Cock palmer 

Head Hackle - White hen 


Picture
Lindsey Fly 

Hook – B 175- 10-12

Tail GB 13

Olive and orange wool blended together  - Colin sourced this from his wife Lindsey’s favourite jumper hence the name   

Body hackle -Red /olive cock palmered together

Head -Olive partridge