TAM CAMPBELL
Tam prefers rivers, especially winter grayling on the Tweed or mid summer trout in clear low water conditions on his local river, the Irvine. When boat fishing he would rather be on a brown trout loch than heavily stocked rainbow waters.
ORANGE HEAD HARE
Hook - Fulling Mill 31165 Super Heavywieght size 8 or 10
Thread - Yellow 6/0
Body - Well picked out hare body fur with plenty of guard hairs over lead wire
Rib - Globrite flo yellow and gold wire wound together
Head - Lead bead painted flo orange and varnished
This is an excellent winter pattern especially when the river has a slight tinge of colour in it. Fish on the top dropper position in a team of three. Grayling will come up from the bottom to intercept this bug as the cast fishes out.
SPARKLE YARN BUG
Hook - Fulling Mill 31165 Super Heavywieght size 8 or 10
Thread - Brown 6/0
Body - Lureflash Sparkle Yarn (cream) over lead wire with a clear Flexibody shellback tinted with brown marker pen
Rib - Gold wire over body and clear mono over shellback
Thorax - Hares fur well picked out
Head - Gold lead bead
A good middle dropper pattern that can take a fish when the action is slow. Smaller versions can be good for early season brownies and try a green tint instead of brown. Unfortunately Lureflash have discontinued Sparkle Yarn and a good sub has yet to be found.
BIG YELLOW BUG
Hook - Siman leaded shrimp size 6
Thread - Brown Kevlar
Body - Dirty yellow elastic from builders dust mask stretched and wound to give segmented look then varnished
This is the anchor of the team. Gets down very quickly even in large rivers like the Tummel and Tweed. Originally tied to catch grayling but the brownies love it. Try it on the point or if you prefer the middle depending on where you fish the heaviest in the team.
HEAVY HARE
Hook - Fulling Mill 31165 Super Heavywieght size 8 or 10
Thread - Brown 6/0
Body - Hares fur well picked out over lead wire
Rib - Globrite flo yellow floss twisted tight and wound on
Head - Gold lead bead
This is the version to try in clear low water as the orange bead can sometimes put fish off. The floss rib turns a nice green colour in the water and on certain days this is the only bug grayling will take. It is very similar to the large freshwater shrimps found in many of the large Scottish rivers.
GOLD HEAD PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH
Hook - Mustad wet/dry size 12
Thread - Black 6/0
Tail - A few strands of pheasant tail
Body - Pheasant tail wound 2/3 hook shank with fine copper wire rib
Thorax - Hares fur well picked out with pheasant tail over as thorax cover
Head - Gold lead bead
Although this pattern became famous on small stillwaters I prefer to use it on wild loch brownies. Fish on the point with two traditional style patterns on the droppers. Most effective when fished on a floater, can be stripped back quickly.
SHIPMANS BUZZER
Hook - Mustad dry size 12
Thread - Black
Breathers - White Poly Yarn
Body - Black seals fur
Rib - Flat medium silver holographic
This is my favourite pattern when rainbows are up on the surface at venues like Mentieth. I fish two with a big dry on the point. If you see any disturbance on the surface between the dry and the tip of your floater hit it hard and hang on. Match the colour to the hatching buzzers.
PEACH MUDDLER
Hook - Kamasan B - 160 size 8
Thread - White
Tag - Silver holographic tinsel
Body - Fluorescent white chenille
Rib - Flat, medium silver holographic tinsel
Wing - Lureflash peach rabbit fur
Head - White deerhair, spun and clipped
Comes into its own on Mentieth in the summer months. Top dropper fly that works well on any line but for visual, exciting sport fish on a floater. Draws fish up from nowhere and can sometimes be frustrating as they follow time after time but refuse to take. A White Cat on a dropper below can take fish that the Muddler brings up.
SUSPENDER MIDGE
Hook - Fulling Mill World Class - short shank special size 16
Thread - Black
Body - Black thread with a very fine copper wire rib
Thorax - One strand of peacock herl with the rib wound through it.
Hackle - Black hen wound then clipped on top
Post - A small cube of black foam
This wee gem solves the age old problem of what to try when fish are sipping in smuts and small buzzers. In flat calm conditions you have to fish it on light leaders so be prepared for explosive runs when you lift into fish. Sits perfectly in the surface film and the foam post makes it easy to see. Can pick out the resident fish as well as stockies.
DEERHAIR EMERGER
Hook - Fulling Mill World Class - short shank special size 10
Thread - Black
Body - Stripped peacock eye quill dyed orange and well varnished
Wing - Rocky Mountain olive white tailed deer hair
This fly is based on a pattern by Bob Wyatt and can be fished on river or loch. I had a memorable day catching quality brown trout on Carron Valley Reservoir from the bank with this pattern and followed that with good rainbows on Glensherup and Lindores. The body can be varied to suit fly hatches and the emerging wing is very easy to see in all conditions. Brown trout tend to hammer this fly while rainbows sip it down. They can also be induced to chase it in calm conditions.