This fly originated in the very early 1970s and was attributed to a Brian Kench. It differs from earlier more traditional patterns in as much that there were no moving parts. Despite this it quickly found favour with the fly fishers of the day on the reservoirs and still waters, thanks mainly to the publicity given to it by Bob Church.
At that time I was tying flies for three of the local tackle shops and I was inundated with orders for the original baby doll and the several variants it had ’spawned’. Fortunately Jean, my lovely wife, took it upon herself to deal with all the ‘baby doll orders’ and left me free to carry on tying proper flies.
It was only after a good day at Eyebrook reservoir that I appreciated how good a fly it was. Despite its success over the years it has fallen out of favour and given way to more exotic creations when more man made materials became available to fly tyers.
I would suggest that before you tie this fly you make sure your hands are clean. The baby wool is fluoescent and loses its appeal if it is grubby. I would also suggest that you scrap the fly after a days fishing, after all it is cheap as chips to make.
If you want to give your ‘doll’ a ghostly look gently stroke the wool body with an emery board to raise the fibres, but make sure that the head is well varnished and dry first.
Materials
- Hook -- Long shank or Streamer hook ‘8′ and ‘10′.
- Thread -- Black or Red.
- Body/Tail -- White ‘Baby Wool’.
- Rib -- Silver wire (strong).
Good Luck and Happy Fishing.
Dave Cammiss and the Team
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Hi A. Balazs
Thank you for your comments. Good to know that we have been an inspiration to you to start fly fishing…..its not always easy but more fun. You will find that the flytying itself is a good past time.
Happy fishing
DaveC.and the Team
Hi, I’d like to congratulate all the staff from learnflytying for all the videos. This videos are quite amazing and I have learned a lot from them.
Thank’s for making this videos and again congratulations. Thank you very much.
An Special salute for Mr. David Cammiss from Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar State, Venezuela.
Good Luck for everyone….
Hi Josue
Thanks for your comments. We are a very small and happy team. Jon the cameraman and producer, Andy the musician does the background music and me their father who ties the flies to order. I am the only one who fishes. It is a great pleasure to share our hobby with you guys and girls all round the world and we will continue until my eyes or fingers give out.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team
Hi Dave
Your daddy long legs pattern is one of the simplest I’ve come across – but very effective indeed! One of these brought both stocked rainbows and wild brownies across the net in the late season. More videos please!
Brian Williams
Kendal
Hi Brian
Thanks for your comments. I too feel that most often in life it is the simple things that make the difference. There are so many contributors to fly fishing magazines who make a living out of ‘gilding the Lily’. I have spent some time trying to make the Daddy float better with varying degrees of success only to be told by a friend that he puts a gold bead on his and catches just as many deep down! I suggest that you give the sedge pattern a try next year when the warm nights are back…..it did well for myself and friends this back end.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team
Hello Dave,
Many thanks for all your lessons, they have proved to be most useful.
As a relative newcomer to the fly tying game your tutorials have helped enormously. You have managed to simplify many of the patterns that I was previously intimidated by, so many thanks.
I have also watched Davie McPhails lessons which you recommended, he too is a master, though some of his flies are a little more complex.
Maybe I should keep a check to see if either of you appear on the New Years Honours list for services to fly tying!
Have a great New Year
Gareth
This is great! I have enjoyed your lessons. I will try to tie a couple tommorow.
Thanks
Hi Bill,
Looking forward to your message telling me how many you have caught !!
Glad you are enjoying the lessons.
Happy fishing
Dave C and the Team
Hi,
I went fishing the other day in a dam near the Drakensburg mountains in South Africa. All flies failed, the water was warm and rather murky. I had made a few baby doll patterns the night before and I had them on standby just in case the normal damselfly nymph and dragonfly nymph patterns I make did not work. Well they didn’t! I then got out the baby doll and wham! as it moved across the bottom of the dam a good 1.2kg Rainbow got hold of me. In the next half hour I hooked 4 more. I must say I had a great laugh and was dying to tell you what had happened since I have never seen a lure pattern like this in South Africa.
Happy New Year
David Barbour
P.S. I have now got stuck into tying some other patterns and I am learning many things – thanks.
Hi David
Thanks for your comments. It is good to know that what was once the ‘must have’ lure in your box in the 70s, here in the UK. is still doing the biz for you in SA. I have just had a similar comment from a guy in the USA and he says the addition of tail flash makes it even better. Give it a try…..you might just empty the lake.
Happy fishing
DaveC. and the Team
Hi Dave
Since I first tried this pattern in September last year, I’ve been taking more and more fish on it!
Largemouth bass just slam into it with force and striped tilapia also go for it on every single cast!
My fellow club members have now also added this little marvel to their fly boxes.
Hi Carl
It is not very often that we can export a 1970s stillwater pattern from here in the UK to the USA.
It still works here but no-one uses them any more. We tie them down as small as a 12 wet fly but most commonly a 8 long shank
Happy Fishing
DaveC.and the Team
Just found your site…enjoy it! I really like the Baby Doll patterns and thought I’d give them a try. I looked for the ‘baby wool’ today but couldn’t find any. Is that something special or just regular wool? The folks at the store didn’t know. If it’s something I can’t get local what could you use instead? Thanks in advance, Clay.
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