Just caught up with Tim Wood, a professional Fly-Tyer who works for Veniard & Partridge and is tied at shows around the country. Tim is preparing for an annual Grayling trip abroad before he heads to Glasgow for the Open Weekend at the end of the month.
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This time of year I look forward to getting out Grayling fishing and my annual trip to Bosnia. I’ve been going there for ten years and it’s become a soft spot for me, especially since you can catch big Grayling on small dries and nymphs with fine tippet. I use a 10ft #3 nymphing rod and a 9ft #3 dry fly rod which allows me to quickly change strategy whenever I need to.
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| Tim with a beautiful Grayling from Bosnia |
While staying in Bosnia I prefer to see fish, it gives me a good buzz and the clarity of the water means you will have the opportunity to fish but you have to be at the top of your game to catch them.
When I see fish, I often position myself behind them where I can judge the distance and depth required for my cast. This will determine what weight of nymph I will need.
My nymphs are mostly natural pheasant tails with different colored beads. I also use a shrimp pattern that I designed myself and it has worked well in the UK and Bosnia.
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| Tim’s shrimp |
It is now known as ‘Tim’s Shrimp’. I tie it in various sizes from #20 to #10. I add various lead weights to the bottom of the body.
As for dry fly fishing, I use a 14ft Trout Hunter Finesse tapered leader attached to my dry fly line, from my tapered leader I use about 3ft to 3.5ft of 8X Varivas tippet. It will be attached with a tippet ring.
When casting to grayling with dries I prefer to cast downstream and pull my line back straight. Because the water is so clear, I have personally found that any tippet that goes past the top of the grayling will reject your fly.
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| The Needle flies |
My dry flies that I will use are Blue-winged olives, Ants and Needle flies down to a #24.
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| Very small terrestrial patterns can be deadly |
There are some hidden gems in Europe for Trout and Grayling that are not too hard to come by from the UK. From the Alps and Spanish Pyrennes to Slovenia and Bosnia some of the best fishing in the world is a short flight away.
If there is anything you would like to know, please come and talk to me at the upcoming GAC Open Weekend September 27-29.”
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All of these fly dressers are at the very top of their game and will gladly go out of their way to show you how to perform the latest techniques and how to tie any style of fly you can think of. They will even take the time to walk you through our massive fly tying department during their scheduled ‘floor time’, helping you select the right equipment and the best fly tying materials and fly tying tools from our wide range. You can also take advantage of some great deals on hooks and materials as well as some new product launches over the weekend.
There really is something for everyone at these events, which is why they’re the biggest in Scotland – and this one promises to be the biggest ever! With FREE parking and FREE entry, there’s plenty to see and do on Open Weekend as well as some fantastic bargains on all kinds of fishing tackle. Keep an eye on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and instore for more information on what’s happening at this event! And don’t forget to register for your FREE GIFT that day! Click HERE for details!
