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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Badger Loch Ordie
hook size 12-10
2 badger cock hackles tied sloping back - ginked up
Black thread
hook size 12-10
2 badger cock hackles tied sloping back - ginked up
Black thread
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
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
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
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
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
Honey fly
Hook – B 175 10-12 Body - Honey coloured Fur Rib silver holographic Tinsel Body - Badger Cock palmer Head Hackle - White hen |
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 |