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When you look a the amount of  Trout hook variations available, the most obvious characteristic is their size. A number determines the size, they start from a size 2 and go down in even numbers to a size 32. The higher the number, the smaller the hook, which makes a size 32 incredibly small. Commonly, most Trout and even Grayling flies are tied on a size 14.Selecting the right hook size When selecting hook sizes for different fly patter… Read more

Introducing two new hooks to the market, Partridge Catskill Short Shank CLSD and Partridge Catskill Long Shank CSSD. Both bring exciting options for fly fishers targeting Trout and Grayling during the winter months. The Partridge Catskill Short Shank: Is it a viable Spider Hook? It's a dry fly right...The Partridge Catskill Short Shank I believe will quickly earn its reputation as an alternative for tying spider patterns. With its short… Read more

I remember well the excitement of waiting for the book to arrive. ‘BARR FLIES’ How To Tie and Fish the Copper John. The Barr Emerger and dozens of other patterns, variations and rigs. The year was 2007. I have been tying flies for something like 31 years. Yet every single pattern listed and described in this book I had never seen before. Literally, pattern after pattern just jumped out at me. Each one would often fall into a couple of consid… Read more

A very last-minute decision this weekend to hit the River Dee with friends. This time we were fishing the Groves Farm beat on the Bangor on Dee Salmon Anglers ticket. Groves is one of my favourite beats on the Dee as it offers every kind of fishing you could wish for from deep holes through to shallow runs. Our 9am arrival to the beat was greeted by the usual wet conditions and within minutes, the heavens opened up and gave us a nice 15-minute sh… Read more