In this video, I focus not just on an amazing caddis pattern, but on a pattern that I believe imitates a range of emerging invertebrates trapped in the surface film. Essentially, perfect prey items that trout are happy to lazily mop up. Originally devised in the 1980s by Jackie Mathews,…
With the start of the 2026 trout fishing season fast approaching, join us for a full weekend of talks, screenings, demonstrations, good food and great company! What better way to celebrate the start of the new season! I'll be joining a host of fantastic speakers at the Fox and Hounds…
The fly fishing and fly tying event of the year is almost here! BFFI is just five days away, and I’m looking forward to chatting about all things trout, dry flies and rivers, and I’ll be tying in Hall 3 all weekend. If you're planning to attend, I'll have a…
I am overjoyed to announce that, as of January 2026, I have been added to Fulling Mill's Signature Fly Dressers, with a range of my fly patterns included in the 2026 Fulling Mill catalogue. Over the years, many have asked where they can buy my flies; well, now you can!…
At the recent British Fly Fair International (BFFI) event, which took place on Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9, at the Staffordshire County Showground in Stafford, UK, I was asked many great questions. These questions focused not only on trout, dry flies and where we fish them but also…
Each February, the UK’s premier fly fishing show, British Fly Fair International (BFFI), takes place at the Staffordshire County Showground, Stafford, UK. I absolutely love this show! After a couple of hours of driving, helping with setup, the fly tying family was back together again, sharing beers and stories since…
In this video, I focus on the two patterns which cover two lifecycle stages of the UK’s Ephemera Danica or Mayfly. The patterns in this video can easily cover any upwing by sizing them appropriately to match the naturals of your home waters. If you’re interested in reading more about…
Each November, the Irish Fly Fair takes place, and this year (2024), at the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and what a fantastic show. After almost nine hours of driving from South Wales, we arrived to the usual smiles, handshakes, and hugs from our fly fishing family before…
Fishing and tying small flies has been a huge passion of mine for a long time. These small bugs are in our rivers, streams and lakes all year round and are a major food source for trout. Tying small flies will also help you become a more proficient fly dresser,…
In this video, I tie a fantastic generic emerger pattern for trout. While I actually tie a March Brown Emerger imitation in this video, the pattern can be easily tweaked and adapted to cover any emerging upwing by simply changing its size. This generic, template-style dry fly pattern gives a…