David Pottinger’s big trout cast
David Pottinger is a legendary catcher of big wild brown trout and has proved that it is possible to regularly catch big wild brown trout by design rather than chance, by choosing the waters carefully, getting to know them in all conditions over a period of years and adopting the right tactics.
This cast of flies has four of Davie's favourite big fish patterns and is is hopefully the first in a series of big fish casts from this highly experienced and popular angler.
David Pottinger is a legendary catcher of big wild brown trout and has proved that it is possible to regularly catch big wild brown trout by design rather than chance, by choosing the waters carefully, getting to know them in all conditions over a period of years and adopting the right tactics.
This cast of flies has four of Davie's favourite big fish patterns and is is hopefully the first in a series of big fish casts from this highly experienced and popular angler.
Potty Palmer
Hook- Kamasan B800 size 8
Thread- Fluorescent orange built up into a prominent hot spot behind eye
Body and tail- Peachy orange wool (Robin Double Knitting, Product code 4006, Shade 163)
Rib- Flat silver UNI Mylar 3/64" overlaid with 6 pound clear fluorocarbon for strength
Body Hackle- A peachy/golden olive cock hackle
Head Hackle- Greenwell hen
The fly has at least 40 seasons under its belt and in the hands of its creator has caught 'well in excess of one hundred' wild brown trout over five pounds in weight from the big fish lochs of Shetland and Orkney. Davy says he prefers it late evenings fished on the surface but it can catch fish at any time of the day on any line density.
Incidentally for fishing at night Davy ties in two minigreen lights (from Sportsfish) at the head of the fly, an addition he describes as 'lethal' on occasions. Davy ran a knitwear business in Lerwick and by some strange coincidence his shop had a superb collection of orange wools. He arrived at the final colour by a process of experimentation and is adamant that some shades of orange wool work better than others. He was getting down to the last few feet of the original Potty's Palmer shade of wool and despite attempts by many to track it down and numerous trials at dying wool to match, no result was as successful as the original shade. However one day his granddaughter came home with a ball of wool for a school knitting project - an almost perfect match!
An article in ‘Trout and Salmon’ magazine by Stan Headley on the best flies for big wild brown trout introduced Davy Pottinger as the man whose 'list of trophy wild brown trout must be the longest in Britain, if not the world’. When asked to choose one fly from his box with which he would happily fish out the rest of his years he instantly picked out his Potty's Palmer. Hunters of specimen wild brown trout take note.
Hook- Kamasan B800 size 8
Thread- Fluorescent orange built up into a prominent hot spot behind eye
Body and tail- Peachy orange wool (Robin Double Knitting, Product code 4006, Shade 163)
Rib- Flat silver UNI Mylar 3/64" overlaid with 6 pound clear fluorocarbon for strength
Body Hackle- A peachy/golden olive cock hackle
Head Hackle- Greenwell hen
The fly has at least 40 seasons under its belt and in the hands of its creator has caught 'well in excess of one hundred' wild brown trout over five pounds in weight from the big fish lochs of Shetland and Orkney. Davy says he prefers it late evenings fished on the surface but it can catch fish at any time of the day on any line density.
Incidentally for fishing at night Davy ties in two minigreen lights (from Sportsfish) at the head of the fly, an addition he describes as 'lethal' on occasions. Davy ran a knitwear business in Lerwick and by some strange coincidence his shop had a superb collection of orange wools. He arrived at the final colour by a process of experimentation and is adamant that some shades of orange wool work better than others. He was getting down to the last few feet of the original Potty's Palmer shade of wool and despite attempts by many to track it down and numerous trials at dying wool to match, no result was as successful as the original shade. However one day his granddaughter came home with a ball of wool for a school knitting project - an almost perfect match!
An article in ‘Trout and Salmon’ magazine by Stan Headley on the best flies for big wild brown trout introduced Davy Pottinger as the man whose 'list of trophy wild brown trout must be the longest in Britain, if not the world’. When asked to choose one fly from his box with which he would happily fish out the rest of his years he instantly picked out his Potty's Palmer. Hunters of specimen wild brown trout take note.
Jungle Cock and Blue
Hook– Kamasan B170 size 12 and 10
Body- Holographic blue tinsel
Wings- Paired jungle cock
Head hackle- Black hen
The inspiration for this fly came from an old pattern, the jungle cock and silver. However after experimentation Davie found that the blue body was a superlative catcher of big trout especially in fertile lochs.
Hook– Kamasan B170 size 12 and 10
Body- Holographic blue tinsel
Wings- Paired jungle cock
Head hackle- Black hen
The inspiration for this fly came from an old pattern, the jungle cock and silver. However after experimentation Davie found that the blue body was a superlative catcher of big trout especially in fertile lochs.
Potty’s Blue Jay
Hook- Kamasan B170 size 8-10
Wings- Paired Blue jay
Body- Flat silver tinsel
Head hackle- Red hen
Wherever salmon swim in fresh or salt water this is Davie's first choice.
Sea, brown and rainbow trout also have a liking for this fly.
Hook- Kamasan B170 size 8-10
Wings- Paired Blue jay
Body- Flat silver tinsel
Head hackle- Red hen
Wherever salmon swim in fresh or salt water this is Davie's first choice.
Sea, brown and rainbow trout also have a liking for this fly.
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Potty Sparkler
Hook- Kamasan B280 size 10 double or Kamasan B800 size 8 long shank. Body, wing and tail- Anglian Water gold and silver mix Eyes- Bead chain. Tied below shank on B800 Head- Orange ostrich hurl The sparkler is a great catcher of big trout and can be fished throughout the depth range and can be a day saver in coloured water. |
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