Fly patterns

This tying of the Black Shrimp is contributed by Ian Woolley, one of the patterns he tied during the course of the Cascade fly tying group. It is a fly which has gained legendary status on the River Ness - and further afield. 

It was developed by leading Inverness angler John Cathcart in memory of his friend Steve Fraser Jnr, who died in a tragic accident in September, 1965. It combines elements of the Sweep, fished by Steve, and the Shrimp, fished by John - both flies securing many salmon for the pair in more plentiful times.

And so the Black Shrimp was born, catching hundreds of fish for John. His best was 13 in a day on the Dochfour beat of the Ness and 51 in three weeks on the club water. John passed away in June 2007, aged 73. His achievements live on each time a Black Shrimp is tied.

The Black Shrimp
Tyer: Ian Wooley

Hook size: 12 to 2 double or treble
Tag: Five turns silver wire
Tail: Long fibres of black cock hackle or, for larger sizes, black squirrel tail
Body: Rear half yellow floss, ribbed silver oval tinsel
Middle hackle: Orange cock
Front half body: Black floss, ribbed silver oval tinsel
Cheeks: Jungle cock (half length of hook), one each side at top
Hackle: Long black cock hackle
Head: Black varnish

The stuff of legends

Here’s something different from top tyer David Mateer who describes it as a blast from the past - the Akroyd, a River Dee fly also known as the poor man's Jock Scott. 

“The Akroyd was also used on the Spey,” says David. “It's tying is very similar to Spey style flies, with low wings and long thin hackles. Another feature of Spey flies is that Jungle Cock cheeks are often tied in facing downwards. 

“More and more tyers are tying classic salmon flies these days. The Akroyd is mainly black and yellow, therefore should be a good early season salmon fly. Why not give it a go!”

The Akroyd

Tyer: David Mateer 

Hook: Large single

Thread: Black and yellow

Tag: Silver oval tinsel and yellow floss or silk

Tail: Two Golden Pheasant crests and orange tippet over

Body: Seals fur, rear half yellow, front half black. Yellow cock hackle palmered over the yellow seals fur

Rib: Medium flat silver

Hackles: Rear black Rhea or black pheasant rump, front teal 

Wing: Brown or cinnamon turkey slips. Jungle Cock cheeks slooping downwards

Head: Black

Tying tips: Use yellow thread for the rear half of the body and black thread for the rest

 Traditional

A variant of the traditional Blue Charm, similar to the Logie Charm, is one of Kenny Mackenzie’s favourite patterns to tie. “I often use variations in body colour and material just to give the standard pattern (ie black) a bit more glitz,” says Kenny. “I don’t know if it helps but it's more fun to tie. The colour and material combinations are endless. These flies have worked for me early in the morning, especially in the General’s Well.”

Blue Charm (Variant)

Tyer: Ken Mackenzie

Hook: Size 3 Salar single (as pictured), or 6 or 8 singles or doubles

Thread: Black

Butt: Medium oval silver tinsel

Tail: Two Golden Pheasant crest feathers with optional red dyed crest feather on top

Front Body: Yellow floss

Rear body: Red floss

Rib: Medium oval silver tinsel

Hackle: Blue Schlappen feather, wound (fairly long, adds mobility)

Under Wing: Natural squirrel

Wing: Doubled left and right bronze Mallard feathers (doubled adds strength and holds shape better)

Eyes: Jungle Cock

Head: Black

Colour and movement

Lawrence Deans shares a fly which has worked well for him over many years. He writes: “Based on the killer Cascade and Ally’s Shrimp salmon flies, I call it the Cascally - along similar lines to Davie McPhail’s tying of the Comally, a Comet and Ally’s Shrimp cross. I hope you like it.”

The Cascally

Tyer: Lawrence Deans

Tag: 3 turns oval silver

Tail: Fine hot orange bucktail with two strands Krystal Flash

Rear body: Flat silver tinsel

Front Body: Black floss

Rib: Oval tinsel

Underwing: Fine black bear with one strand Krystal Flash

Overwing: Hot orange dyed tippet feather

Hackle: Two turns fluo yellow cock and two turns hot orange cock on top

Head: Black

A cross of two famed flies

Club member George MacDonald sent in this fly which incorporates all the colours of the IAC logo, including the 2017 centenary logo. Said George: “This was the original Ness club fly tied by Graham MacKenzie after a brief discussion of the idea down at the Little Isle hut, and kindly presented to me.”

Ness IAC Salmon Fly

Tyer:  Graham MacKenzie

Thread: Black

Tag: Oval silver

Tail: (Layered) Black bucktail then 1/2 strands silver Krystal Flash, yellow bucktail then 1/2 strands gold Krystal Flash and blue bucktail over

Body: Rear half, flat holographic silver. Front half, black floss 

Rib: Oval silver

Under wing: Yellow Arctic Runner, 2 strands gold Krystal Flash

Top Wing: Black Arctic Runner, two strands silver Krystal Flash

Throat: Blue cock hackle

Head: Black varnish

A fly for a club

Ian Lamswood, a new associate member of IAC, submits a selection of his favourite trout fly, the goldhead nymph. He sees it as a good all-rounder which has caught trout on three continents, pike in Dumfries and Ireland, perch in Dumfries - and a grilse on the River Wye!

He explains: “The photograph shows five variants with different bead heads, but the tying materials are similar. It is a gold head, tied to represent an ephemerid nymph, with three tails and a teased out abdomen to mimic legs.

“The natural materials of pheasant tail and seal fur lend themselves well to this pattern, giving it not only a nice outline but also realistic colours, similar to nymphs you can find in still and running waters.”

Dressing

Hook: Size 14 wet down eye

Thread: Brown or black

Tail: Pheasant tail

Thorax: Pheasant tail

Rib: Round copper wire to give segmentation effect and strength

Abdomen: Olive seals fur

Bead head: Favourite size is 2.5mm. Gold or copper are good standard colours, adjusting the material to conditions and depth required. Silver is excellent in clear rivers or where a little more visibility is required and tungsten for deeper fishing. The fly on the right has a silver head and three tungsten beads for a body, to represent a caddis. It was built to catch a deep-lying grayling in a fast flowing river. 

A successful range

Graham MacKenzie has contributed this fly for the series. Inspired by an early autumn sunset, it is tied in the appropriate colours of orange, gold, red and back. Says Graham: “The Sunset is intended for use at last light. But it has been, and still is, a good fly to me at all times of the day and has caught me fish on the Ness, Spey, Findhorn, Dee, Nairn, Beauly and Conon.”

The Sunset

Tyer: Graham MacKenzie

Thread: Red

Body: Gold flat tinsel with a red wire tag and rib. Clear varnish over for durability if you wish

Hackle: Hot orange (wound)

Wing: In two parts - black squirrel over fluo red squirrel, about 1&1/2 times the body length. You can use a wing of your own choosing and add flash or twinkle as they were not available when the fly was first developed. 

Head: Clear varnish over the red tying thread.

Sunset - In all its glory

Jamie's grandfather, Sandy Urquhart, is the inspiration for this salmon fly which uses the colours of the former Dalneigh football team. Although not an angler, Sandy bought Jamie his first fishing rod.

Sandy

Tyer: Jamie Urquhart

Hook: Black nickel Patriot 6, 8 or 10
Thread: Red
Tail: Yellow and blue buck tail with strands of angel hair and UV Krinkle Flash 
Butt: Silver wire
Body: Silver holographic braid
Wing: Black fox pelt/fox tail and silver Krinkle Flash
Hackle: Sunburst yellow over Silver Doctor blue 
Eyes: Jungle cock 

A pair of beauties

The Aurora Cascade

Tyer: Donnie Allan

Hook: Patriot 6, 8 or 10
Thread: Fire orange
Tag: Medium gold oval tinsel
Butt: Fluro green floss
Tail: Orange and yellow buck tail mix
Body: Gold holo tinsel
Rib: Medium gold oval tinsel
Wing: Grey squirrel 
Hackle: Orange over yellow, 2-3 turns each
Cheeks: Jungle cock (optional)

Attractive version

The Mad Ally

Tyer: Ally Henderson

Hook: Wilson double
Thread: Hot orange
Tail: Mixed orange and yellow buck tail with two strands of mirror flash
Rib: Medium oval silver tinsel
Body: Silver tinsel palmered with yellow cock feather
Hackle: Hot orange cock 
Eyes: Jungle cock

Proven