This fly can trace its origins back to Frank Sawyer the legendary river keeper on the Itchen many years ago. The original was tied with just cock pheasant tail fibres and copper wire. As is always the case, in the course of time, it has had many improvements. It is another old pattern which has been adopted by the Stillwater fishers and modified to suit their needs. It is a pattern which is well worth having in your fly box in a selection of sizes and colours.
A good fly on stillwaters in the larger sizes for trout but in the smaller sizes will take trout, grayling and chub in the rivers.
The Dressing
- Hook Long shank or wet fly sizes 6, 8 ,10 ,12 and 14.
- Tail Cock pheasant tail fibres.
- Rib Copper wire.
- Body Cock pheasant tail fibres.
- Thorax Wool, brown, green, orange, olive or red.
- Wing case Cock pheasant tail fibres.
- Hackle Brown cock hackle fibres/ cock pheasant tail fibres.
Happy Fishing
Dave Cammiss and the Team.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
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Hi Michael
The lamp with magnifying glass was a Christmas present from Jon several years ago. We have recently had to modify the bulb holder and switch but all is well now.
The last time I saw one similar was at a craft fair and they were reduced and I was tempted but bought some artists paints instead.
I dont know where you live but if at any time you venture as far as Nottingham and want to spend a boring couple of hours with me you would be welcome……my services are free.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team
Hi Dave, just before the end of the season I tied one of these for my local river, the fish went nuts for it fished on the dropper NZ style with your GRHE on the point, that was the first fish on my home tied flies caught on this fly. I also had 3 to the GRHE with a following 4 on the PTN!
David and crew,
I can’t thank you enough for this site. You have done so much to carry on the tying tradition. The way you explain the tying methods have cleared up a great deal of FOGGY areas for me. But as important as that may be, the way and wit of you narration is a jewel. Being here in the U.S. if I can help you by sending you any kind of tying materials that may be hard to abtain there please ask. My son and I hunt and we find it enjoyable to use materials that we harvest from the field in our fly fishing endeavors. Whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and fox squirrels are a few of the game animals that we take. The fox squirrels come in reds, greys and one rare light yellow color that is a killer fly here on all of our waters. Of course, it is the hardest one to come by.
Again, thank you! If I can send you anything from here let me know.
William
P.S. The one fly that is very effective here is the Zug Bug. I think I have a better understanding of tying it after I saw your method of tying the Prince Nymph. More or less the same materials.
Dave, thanks for the info on finishing fly manually, doing it with a finishing tool just does not always work. I too am a senior,but I am new to tying. Took some classes thru TU but always felt out of place with all the youngsters. Your info is great
Good fly Dave. Again please e-mail me.
Hi SWM
I am now ‘back on the road’ cardiologists willing. Come back to me at your leisure.
DaveC
I am going to tie this when I get home.
Dave,
please email me back you emailing me means a lot to me.
Dave, I tyed this fly using pecock herl and gave it wings
thank you
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