1- Golden Perdigone
Perdigones have become almost indispensable for all nymph fly fishermen. Sometimes these flies, which resemble no insect at all, catch more fish than an imitative fly! Go figure... I think this is because trout are very curious fish, and colorful flies are very appealing to them. This gold pattern works particularly well in summer.
Assembly sheet
- Hook: Hanak 400 BL size 14
- Assembly silk: UTC 70 black
- Tail: red rooster feather fiber
- Body: golden holographic flashabou + thin UV resin
- Thorax: orange mounting silk + drop of black varnish on back
- Head: gold-plated tingsten ball, size 2 mm
Tips and tricks
It's a pattern I like a lot and has brought me many trout. It's possible to mount this fly without the orange throat, but this little tag allows you to trigger quite a few bites. Available in several sizes, from 8 to 16, depending on the season, and also on a straight hook.
2- Dave's Hopper
This grasshopper pattern, created by renowned American fly tyer and angler Dave Whitlock in the 1950s, is truly an effective fly and quite easy to tie. I've been using it since I discovered it in Montana in 1998. I've used other materials and simplified it for my own use. A model that works very well as soon as the locusts arrive.
Installation sheets
- Hook TMC 200 R size 10
- Assembly silk: UTC 70 black
- Tail: Piece of red foam + yellow poly yarn
- Body: Yellow poly yarn + red hackle
- Legs: knotted pheasant fibre
- Wing: Deer
- Head: Carved venison
Tips and tricks
Locust imitations work very well in our French waterways. All we need to do is adapt them to a smaller size than our counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic.
This model floats low on the water when wet, just like orthopterans do. Trout love them as soon as they appear. Don't hesitate to slap the fly on the water to attract the attention of the eagerly awaiting trout and whitefish! Don't hesitate to move the fly with short taps in calm waters. Cardiac patients abstain!
3- Beetle
Another fly I discovered abroad. This time in New Zealand in 2014, where it enabled me to catch some beautiful trout!
Whitefish and trout love the beetles that are often found in the water. This model, with its bluish body and foam underbody, floats very well and makes a nice noise when it lands on the water. Fish don't ask too many questions before gobbling it up!
Assembly sheet
- Kamasan hook TMC 100 size 10
- Assembly silk: UTC 70 black
- Tail: Black pheasant tail
- Body: foam strip + blue holographic Medium tinsel + black deer on back
- V-wing: White calf tail
- Hackle : Black rooster neck âeuros 2 feathers
Tips and tricks
A model to be assembled in sizes 16 to 10 to imitate all kinds of beetles, beetles and other terrestrials. You'll also need to mount it with a green or red tinsel or flashabou body.
Its parachute version is also excellent, and floats lower on the water.
There's also the option of adding small white or black plastic legs to the sides of the fly to increase vibration.
4 - Sand shrimp
When fly fishing for mullet, I use several patterns, including this one which works very well. This is one of the patterns I've had success with and which I tie to my leader regularly when stalking this fish on the flats of Brittany.
Installation sheets
- Hook: 2457 size 10
- Assembly silk: UTC 70 orange
- Tail: Red wool
- Body: Spectra dubbing Hends color 93 + transparent scud back + 16° nylon thread strapping + UV resin
- Head: orange mounting silk
Tips and tricks
It can be used either alone or on a two-fly train. I often use it with the mullet bach, which I mount on a stem a good metre above the sand shrimp on a 16 to 18° fluorocarbon tippet.
I like to animate this fly with quick strips in front of schools of golden or lippus mullet. The red tag is certainly one of the defining features of this fly, even though we know that mullets feed on small crustaceans. To be rigged in sizes 14, 12 and 10 for this hook reference.
5- Brittany Deceiver
The deceiver is a forage fish imitation commonly used to search for freshwater and saltwater predators. A model inspired by the famous Lefty's deceiver created by Lefty Kreh in the 1950s. One of the world's most popular flies, especially for striped bass. Our European sea bass love them too!
Assembly sheet
- Hook: Arhex SA 280 size 2
- Mounting silk: Nano silk 50 D white
- Tail: White bucktail
- Body: White Bucktail
- Back: white buctail + angel hair pearl
- Head: white bucktail + chartreuse bucktail + olive bucktail
- 3D eyes size 6 mm + UV resin
Tips and tricks
This model is entirely bucktail mounted, with no frills, just affixed to the hook shank. It pushes plenty of water and casts well. You can vary the colors at will to imitate the prey of sea bass, but also other predators. I like to have it in my boxes in the following colors: white, white/olive, white/yellow, white with a touch of pink, white/tan, white/blue. This covers most of the sea bass prey. You can add a few tail feathers (saddle) for extra length and vibration.
