Dabbler

Sporting a Lime coloured palmer hackles over a Lemon Seals Fur body, this pattern has been very successful during the Mayfly hatches and indeed later in the season when the Sedge hatches get underway. Originally deigned for Lough Derg in Co. Clare in Ireland, this pattern has become a dependable pattern at many different venues and had even been successful with Daphnia feeding fish.

This is one of the original and best of the Dabbler patterns. Originally tied with floss, general preference is for a Dark Claret Seals Fur body, as in our example. The fly is thought to imitate a hatching sedge, although it is often fished prior to a hatch of Mayfly on the Loughs as a Mayfly Nymph imitator. In addition to these representations, the fly has also been responsible for catching fish which have been gorging on Cased Caddis over muddy bottoms in Lough Corrib and Mask. It is equally effective in smaller sizes for Sea Trout and will take Salmon on the Loughs also.

This is the Dabbler version of the famous wet fly of the same name. Due to its larger silhouette, it represents many different insect forms, chiefly Mayfly and Sedge forms. It fishes best in the top dropper position during warm sunny days, yet is equally effective as the evening darkens.

This is one of the most effective patterns in use during the early spring season on the large Loughs. It probably imitates shrimp and hog louse, which are the main food forms available to Trout during the cold early springtime conditions.

This is the "Daddy" of all the Dabbler patterns, being the first of a generation of fishing flies which catapulted Northern Irish angling teams to the fore of the international scene in a few short years. It can be fished effectively anywhere on the leader at any time of the year with confidence, being a reasonable representation of many of the food forms which interest Brown Trout.

Based on the Green Peter, this is a most sedge like creation. It is different from the other Dabblers in that it has a front hackle of Green Olive, giving it a very sedge like profile. It is effective throughout the season, improving in effectiveness as the season progresses from May time.

A strikingly unusual but useful pattern. The body is formed by overlaying a Fluorescent body with Pearl Mylar, producing a very iridescent colour. It is fished on stillwaters for all the Trout species, and quite successfully too. It is excellent in algae coloured water due to its greater visibility in these murky conditions. Certain anglers have reported that it is a good fly for when fish are concentrating on Daphnia.

This pattern is a great pattern for both Brown and Sea Trout in addition to the many Salmon it has claimed over the years. Probably most representative of small fry which all species prey upon, the pattern has an unusual body colour which is created by overlaying the black tying thread underbody with Pearl Mylar, creating a green pearlescent finish which has an almost translucent appearance. The pattern can be fished throughout the season, excelling in the earliest and later months.

This is a vastly underestimated pattern, particularly for Brown Trout when their attentions turn towards small pin fry in the later part of the season. Sporting a red head, the general profile of the pattern is fish shaped, and has been successful for all of the migratory species

This is a relatively modern interpretation of the Dabbler family but indeed a great pattern throughout the season. It highly imitates the emergent patterns of many different insect species. Chiefly among these are the sedges, Mayflies, some species of darker Olives and a myriad of other insects. It fished best on the top dropper used with a floating line.

When a successful style of fly is discovered, it doesn’t take long for the traditional pattern colour themes to find their way into that style. Such is the case with the Thunder Dabbler, based on the Thunder & Lightning. It is very good when fish are feeding on Daphnia and also later in the season when Roach fry are about. Equally successful fished on a floater as a sinking line, this fly is presented with a long pedigree and successful heritage.