[Sandy Nelson]

As promised earlier on here are the 6 flies i used all season

Sea-trout/Salmon



This particular fly was on my rod from July through to October 30th and never got changed, hence why its a little scruffy.

Brownies

CDC rusty olive spider



I used this in a 14 mostly with the occasional 12 early season. Great cripple during a hatch or towards the end of the initial action.

CDC Orange spider



I used this in a 14 from late june evenings onwards for anything rising. If it didn't work then the SHE did the trick.

DHE



I used this all season in a 14 with a 12 early season, if they ignored it i used a thinner SHE

SHE



Used in a 14 all year (i tried a 16 but it made no difference)This was the first port of call if the DHE got ignored, if this was ignored i went to the Rusty olive spider or Waterhen bloa

Waterhen bloa



My favorite, used in a 14 all season if there wasn't much happening or all other dries had been ignored.

Confidence and perserverence paid off for 2014. Not changing flies much meant more time spent watching and this proved far more valuable than thinking i was on the wrong fly.

Now i have to go and replenish my stocks in the new year.

Cheers

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

Great stuff Sandy ...... You'll only need a wee fly box for those

Cheers
Mike

[Marc Fauvet]

  !!! 
just one question, Sandy. you're fishing the cdc spiders as spiders, in or just below the surface, correct ?

[Sandy Nelson]

Marc

I fished all the trout flies as single flies, in a traditional dry fly style only to rising fish. The CDC spiders were left to float like a dry so they were in the surface film most of the time as was the Waterhen bloa.
One of my best fish of the season took a CDC rusty olive that was puddle cast downstream to cover him,  from a position 25ft upstream and about 3ft to his right so the fly could have been doing anything when it passed his nose, the fish didn't care as long as there was no drag, i was lucky as there was quite a bit of slack

 

Sandy

[Liam Stephen]

Great post Sandy. Some of my favourite flies amongst them! 

Liam

[Jim Eddie]

Six of the best there Sandy 

 

Jim

[Marc Fauvet]

like your style Sandy. thanks for the detailed reply 

[Allan Liddle]

Like them flees Sandy 

[Simon Hall]

Crackin' set of flies Sandy

[Eddie Sinclair]

Sandy,


I could not agree more. Those flies would see you alright just about anywhere.

Eddie.

[Michael]

Very nice flies, Sandy.

Can you tell me a little more about your technique on the two spider patterns - do you tear CDC from its stem and twist in a dubbing loop? Also, is the thorax on the CDC rusty olive spider a CDC feather wrapped on the hook or do you dub it from fur?

Thanks, Michael

[Sandy Nelson]

Hi Michael

The CDC spiders have a coq de leon tail, a twisted CDC feather with copper wire rib body and a Spun CDC feather for a hackle.

I put the feather in a dubbing loop and then cut away the stalk, the two sides of one feather is plenty for a hackle, spin it and wind it on stroking it backwards, usually about 3-4 turns.
Dead simple, no dubbing, no tearing, just cdc fibres spun in a loop

Hope that helps

Sandy

[Derek Roxborough]

The  3 flies that did it for me were the Orange Invicta , Claret Bumble ,& Blae and Black, for trout and sea trout  easgach 1

[ecoman]

Hello Sandy, I was pleased to see you present flies which were sparsely but cleverly tied with the minimum of components.  It reminded me a lot of Neil Patterson in his book Chalkstrean Chronicle.
I hope that you'll accept a Very well done from this newcomer to the forum.
Ken.

[Ali Mcewan]

Great post sandy, that's what local forums should be about 

[Noel Kelly]

Just seen this thread. Awesome sandy See you in a hanger near us soon btw

[Sandy Nelson]

Cheers Guys

Simple and Strong have been my watchwords for the last few seasons and it has certainly paid off I still overdress a wee bit though, the DHE's are getting sparser as i tie more and they float better with less deer hair 

Looking forward to catching up Mr K, will there be scope/time for fishing?

Cheers

Sandy

[Noel Kelly]

Yup there will be! Might be looking for more tying lessons in the workshop at lunchtimes 2 as it's not going very well!!!

[Allan Liddle]

Got some great DHE variations working really well now, will need to share them soon