DHE is my go to dry and has been for some years now, since Bob's first script on it in FFFT.
Deadly fly that's a lot more versatile than a straight forward dry.
DH version good in sizes down to 14 (below that the deer hair is a bit too bulky and you can't get the shape right)
Snowshoe is good for the smaller sizes, but i prefer switching to the Dirty Duster (another of Bob's) which offers both an excellent dry as well as quite a handy spider.
DHE:
S12 Olive or Nat HE; Deadly early season especially when LDO's, Olive Uprights and MB's are the trout's quarry of choice.
Outstanding as a searching pattern especially in rough water or when nothing much is happening.
However it's brilliant on upland streams through the season where trout are generally 'looking up.'
It is also brilliant in fast water through the season.
It is versatile in the sense that it can be fished successfully as a nymph or just sub-surface emerging pattern as well, crippled ones fished 'Duo' style are deadly, especially when you fish the two dry set up i tend to use. (I've even been known to pull the wings off, leaving a wee stump in order to present a fly that sits literally just below the surface, but in truth all you really need do is stick a few chewed ones into the corner of the box)
Again in fast water, especially if you've turned a fish or covered one to no response, simply spit on the fly and pitch it (no drying false cast or just hit the water hard to drown it if you don't fancy gobbing on the fly
) so it fishes through as a wet, dead run first couple casts then fig 8 retrieve if that dosen't work. Hold in tight.
Heavy wing patterns good for duo, but agree Klinks are better, however if you fish the style with the DHE on a dropper it sits correctly and you can see it better.
Tie it with Orvis light blue comparadun DH for a crackin BWO pattern s14, great for late May through June, and again late August (upland waters) through September.
Dirty Duster is another excellent and very versatile fly. Again great as a straight forward dry, but also with the ability to be fished as a spider. Excellent for downstream work in a big wind when olives are being 'pushed' by the wind and 'drowned' by the wave action meaning fish are more responsive to 'swinging dries' (yes i know what the books say, but this really does work better in these conditions for all but the most sheltered , usually in the slack water margins, and 'locked on' fish)
Probably not as good for fooling 'Rod Benders' but great for general fishing.
That said i had two grilse last season in the space of a few casts fishing the DD wet, so you never know.
I wouldn't say it's an out and out spider, and traditional patterns probably much better if you're setting out to fish this style, what i am merely trying to highlight is the versatility of a pattern that allows you to try something different instantly when on the water.
Also try it with an underbody of pearly lurex with black dubbed body over in 12's 14's or 16's on lochs as it's a brilliant Buzzer Emerger patern for loch dry work. Not too bad as a Black Gnat imitation either.
There's no flies ever tied that cover all bases, however these two come pretty close.
If anyone's down at the GAC Open Event this coming weekend, give's a shout as i'll be trying these flies amongst others.
All that's left for me to say is a huge Thanks to Bob, changed my approach, simple is best.
Regards
Allan L
I'll follow this up with a couple of SBS on both.
