[TimTheFlier]

As I'm planning my first ever trip to the West coast of Scotland in May and reasonably new to fly tying I was wondering if anyone could provide some patterns that I could attempt to tie that will suit Brown trout in wild hill lochs.

Thanks in advance,
Tim.

[Allan Liddle]

Plenty to choose from on this list but if i was restricted to a 'Desert Island Flee Choice' it would probably include the following traditionals:

Kate McLaren (standard and green tailed versions and a few with hot orange head hackles)
Bibio
Soldier Palmer
Zulu (with red and blue varients)
Loch Ordie (standard, annorexic and green tailed versions)
Clan Chief
All above with muddler heads
Hogs
Half Hogs
Hoppers
Wickhams
Dunkeld
Greenwells Spider
Snatchers (black, olive and claret)
Silver Invicta
Black Nymph
GRHE

All above commercially available and best to stick to sizes 10-14.  I tend to fish dries almost exclusively noe but a quick check of my go to standard broonie box and all the above are still there and well worth an airing.  There's plenty others i could add to this list but even without them if you stuck to the above you won't go far wrong.

[Rob Brownfield]

No Dog Nobblers?

I would add some form of stickleback imitation to that list, for when the wind is wrong, the colour is wrong and the fish just arnt having it.

Has saved a few blank days

[Allan Liddle]

Ok a couple of lures best of which would be the Humongus (Shuggy) but black or olive WSW type tadpoles also worth a swim.  The olive damsel certainly works well as an anchor in big wind days behind your other two flees in a team.

[Peter McCallum]

My most productive fly by a long way is a Deer Hair Sedge (DHS) as per Bob Wyatt

http://www.danica.com/FLYTIER/rwyatt/deer_hair_sedge.htm

Completely bomb proof and absolutely deadly. Fish it dry or wet or in between either on it's own or part of a team. A green or orange body is also a good change.....hell fish two (or three) of them on a cast 

[Allan Liddle]

Yup agree with that Peter.  Whilst you've posted the link i'd like to add the Veyatie Black as well

[Euan Innes]

All above commercially available and best to stick to sizes 10-14

You might want all those in #8s as well you know. Trust me on this one....

Add in claret and golden olive bumbles, mallard (or grouse) and claret and you'll be fine.

Tight lines.

 

[TimTheFlier]

Thank you all for the speedy replies and some great suggestions - I shall get tying and report back on success (or lack thereof !) aftre the trip.

TtF

[Dutchfly]

Hi Tim,
Just curious, where are you going to fish?

All patterns are great, but be sure to bring some black Klinkhamers as well!

Jeroen

[Derek Roxborough]

That you giving all yer secrets away Allan?  easgach1

[Barry Robertson]

Nae many secrets there easgach 
 
I guess i would add a dunkeld sparkler and a dunkeld snatcher to the flies already mentioned!

[Derek Roxborough]

Thats Dryflees diversion Tactics, never let yr right hand know what it is doing,  easgach1

[TimTheFlier]

Dryflee,
My special thanks to you for the list (and additonal suggestions) - that is exactly what I was hoping for.

Jeroen,
Dank u voor uw advies - we're planning to stay near Gairloch and explore the wild hill lochs in the vicinity over about 4 or 5 days.  Can't wait as it's my first trip of the sort and want to stack the luck as much in my favour as possible by at least taking along a selection of flies that should be suitable.

Soundmixer,
Surprised that you suggest #8 !  I was expecting "the smaller the better" for wild hill brownies, so that's come as quite a surprise.

RabbitAngler,
I shall ensure to include a mixture of sizes of the DHS.

The rest of you,
Again, thanks for all the suggestions and advice.

Regards,
Tim.

[Peter McCallum]

RabbitAngler,
I shall ensure to include a mixture of sizes of the DHS.

I must admit I only use them in 10's

[Euan Innes]

Soundmixer,
Surprised that you suggest #8 !  I was expecting "the smaller the better" for wild hill brownies, so that's come as quite a surprise.

Hungry little trout no know bounds, my friend! 
You wait until the wind picks up. Saying that a flat calm last year had them slashing at #8s so you never know.

 

[Peter McCallum]

One of my first outings to a west coast wild loch which was supposed to have salmon & sea trout saw me using blue zulus etc tied on a #4 salmon hook , fish threw themselves on it all day......biggest? around 11" 

Saying that it's the standard size for Hamish 

[Hamish Young]

We should fish together more often Peter...... that way you'd know I seldom fish as small as a #4
H

[Peter McCallum]

 

[Euan Innes]

Tis true!

As Geoffrey Bucknall once said "I have a passion for the meat hooks of yore". He was describing old salmon flies, but he could have been talking about H's trout box.

Never forget, big fly big fish.

And Peter, what's this about Hamish's 11"???? Is this and Orvis guide initiation?? 

 

[Dutchfly]

Sorry Tim, never fished there, I know some of the lochs a bit more to the north...

One piece of advice I can give you is to keep moving! Don't change your flies, change your the bank you're fishing them from. I make 5 casts from one spot, then move to the next when I don't catch a fish. When you do hook up, stay a bit longer for number 2 or 3, but when you only catch small fish: move on!

And take Soundmixer's advice, big flies for big fish.

Good luck,

Jeroen

[Euan Innes]

And take Soundmixer's advice, big flies for big fish.

Good luck,

Jeroen

Thanks Jeroen

That might be the first time someone has said that, ever! 

 

[Peter McCallum]

And Peter, what's this about Hamish's 11"???? Is this and Orvis guide initiation?? 

Thats what he said..........honest your lordship.......

[TimTheFlier]

Jeroen,

Thanks for the tip about moving around - first ever trip to Brown Trout hill lochs, so the advice is greatly appreciated.

I've also heard that if the rain is horizontal the midges can be a plague like pest - is this true for early May ? And will Jungle Formula (50% DEET) keep the little blighters at bay ?

Lastly, any good pubs near Gairloch (I've already heard about Applecross) ?  Gotta have somewhere warm for the tall stories in the evening and to hole up if the W. Scottish weather does it's worst !

Thanks all for attempting to flatten my near-vertical learning curve.

TtF

[Peter McCallum]

If you're up in May the midges may not have woken up to their true potential  . As long as you have wind, in any direction, they won't/can't fly so that's a bonus as its usually windy , however I use a west coast developed product called SHOO which hasn't got DEET - nasty stuff which wil F*** up fly lines - in it   .and is very effective IMHO.

[Euan Innes]

Lastly, any good pubs near Gairloch

The Old Inn just north of Gairloch is pretty good. Old and traditional, good beer, good food and plenty of whisky 

The pub in Kinlochewe is missable, trust me, but there is a really good B&B with great food and company.

http://www.cromasaig.com

Midges? The only thing that  ever worked for me was not washing for a week and chain smoking roll up cigarettes. But that was a hill walking / wild camping trip and not in the company of other people.
If you can get it Avon "skin so soft" works and some of the stores over there do sell it. Once again DO NOT get it on your fly line or flies.