[Mike Gauld]

Hi folks.
Is there anywhere I can buy some WSW lures please ?

Cheers

Mike Gauld

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Mike

Not sure if they are available anywhere nowadays, I think Walter ( Walter's Secret Weapon ) used to tie/sell a few himself?

What peaked your interest? Have you seen somebody fishing them, or read about them in fishing reports?

[James Laraway]

aaaaaaaaaah the infamous WSW

I think i came across them on a Kintore angling club meeting and everyone was bangin' on about them.

They are just simple tadpoles / damsels but with a metal cone as the head instead of a bead if my memory serves me correctly.

So absolutely nothing special or new but somehow they became Aberdeenshire folk law . Everyone heard how deadly they were so more people fished them so they caught more fish so more people fished them and so the cycle went on.

[Mike Barrio]

I used to tie something similar at the fishery, mine was basically an IPN ( Idiot Proof Nymph, remember those? ) replacing the fritz body with one of genetic hackle.

If I were going to tie them today I think I would probably try using a dubbing loop hackle instead, although it was a good way of using up the genetic cape leftovers.

[Mike Barrio]

A few WSWs from a post by Lochter Fishery in 2020: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8880.msg72048#msg72048

I don't know if they sell them, but might be worth a try?

[James Laraway]

so yes they are 'dancers' / tadpoles. I think they origincally had cone heads but i stand to be corrected 

[Jim Eddie]

I used to fish with Walter Senior who originally tied these (Walters Secret Weapon) no James they were not originally come heads 
Unfortunately Walter has not been able to fish for the last couple of years due to ill health.
I think you can get them online

https://www.fish4flies.co.uk/Lures/Goldhead-Lures/WSW-Black

[Mike Gauld]

Thanks for all of the reply gents.
Mike B , i still have a few in my fly box but between snagging in weeds / stones and trees they are dwindling fast !!!

[James Laraway]

I stand corrected 

I used to fish with Walter Senior who originally tied these (Walters Secret Weapon) no James they were not originally come heads 
Unfortunately Walter has not been able to fish for the last couple of years due to ill health.
I think you can get them online

https://www.fish4flies.co.uk/Lures/Goldhead-Lures/WSW-Black

[Mike Barrio]

Thanks for all of the reply gents.
Mike B , i still have a few in my fly box but between snagging in weeds / stones and trees they are dwindling fast !!!

A quick Google of 'Olive WSW' seems to offer plenty of online suppliers Mike, the Caledonia branded ones look a fairly good tie.
For example: https://shop.peaksflyfishing.com/products/wsw-dark-olive-lure-size-10

[Jim Eddie]

Those look like the closest to the original tying 

[Mike Barrio]

Those look like the closest to the original tying 

Thanks for the confirmation Jim, I haven't seen one for years, but that's how I remember them too.