Tracing blue lines on a map to reveal hidden treasure!
Chasing Blue Lines On A Map
Morning.
If you're anything like me (which I assume you are if you're reading this), then we've all opened a local map to trace the blue lines - for some reason I always find myself doing this in March - it must be due to the fact that here in Yorkshire the rivers don't usually open until the 1st April, and I can't wait!
Have you ever noticed how the anticipation of an approaching fishing season often outshines the actual fishing?
There you are, organising your fly box for the fifteenth time, studying river maps like they're ancient scrolls revealing hidden treasure ('chasing blue lines'), and telling your significant other "just five more minutes" as you tie just one more fly ...
I firmly believe that it's the anticipation of the first cast that keeps us all coming back - that moment when every pool potentially holds the fish of a lifetime and your back and/or knees haven't started complaining yet.
If we're completely honest, our anticipation doesn't include cold fingers, surprise downpours, or those existential moments when you're standing, thigh-deep, wondering if fish are just an elaborate hoax perpetuated by fly rod manufacturers!
Whilst we can't guarantee the fish will cooperate when the season does open - if we could, our sport would be called 'catching', rather than 'fishing' - we can ensure you're equipped with the perfect arsenal of flies.
Which brings me to our completely redesigned and Brand NEW for 2025 Dry Fly Selection ...
When we first launched Barbless Flies - all the way back in 2014 - we started with just two selections of flies - a set of nymphs and a set of dries.
Our initial aim was to put together separate universal selections of dry flies and nymphs which you could take to any water (be it River or Stillwater) in the UK, and be confident of catching a fish - no matter what time of day, or year.
As the weather starts to (hopefully) warm up and the river season opens, fly anglers from across the country will be blowing the dust off their dry fly boxes and putting them to use in anger on our rivers and stillwaters.
Our original Dry Fly Selection had not really changed at all since we first launched it all those years ago.
Until now ...
I'm absolutely delighted to tell you that we've completely redesigned our best-selling Dry Fly Selection for 2025.
We've curated the NEW for 2025 Dry Selection with the best quality flies available - all tied using the highest quality materials, and on the very best hooks - AHREX.
Which other fly retailers actually tell you which hooks they use? There's a reason they don't tell you.
The one thing which hasn't changed in our selection is it still adheres to our original ethos - 'dry flies which you can take anywhere (at any time of day or year) and they will work' - with the added benefit that the flies are now all tied on AHREX's ultra-premium barbless hooks.
Please Note: Our new Dry Selection features patterns that are so meticulously crafted, you'll want to frame them rather than tie them to your leader. Although, between you and me, they work much better in water than behind glass.
Our NEW for 2025 Dry Fly Selection contains five patterns. Four of which variations you will find in virtually every anglers fly box:
- Elk-Hair Caddis - Al Troth´s legendary Caddis fly. The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the most well known and lethal Caddis patterns. You will generally find two kinds of flies to mimic the adult flies - high and low floaters, this fly is a high floater that will dance around on the surface. Give this fly some movement occasionally. We are supplying three Elk-Hair Caddis, all tied on an AHREX FW503 size 14's in our Dry Selection.
- Olive Emerger - An excellent emerger pattern, with a Z-Lon wing. This pattern is ideal to imitate the change from nymph to dun. We are supplying three Emerging Olives, all tied on an AHREX FW503 size 16's in our Dry Selection.
- Caddis Upright - A stage in the Caddis lifecycle which is often overlooked. Fish this fly free drifting. We are supplying three Caddis Upright's, all tied on an AHREX FW503 size 14's in our Dry Selection.
- Early Dun - This fly is a great generic imitation of the various Olive's which are commonly found in all rivers throughout the UK in the Spring and Summer months. We are supplying three Early Dun's, all tied on an AHREX FW503 size 16's in our Dry Selection.
The fifth pattern in our selection is a little special, it's slightly underwhelmingly called - The Emerging Caddis:
This fly is a very versatile pattern, great fished as a single dry fly on a dead drift or just tweaked a little to give a bit of movement. It sits right in the meniscus and is great when fished in a morning or early evening. We are supplying three Emerging Caddis, all tied on an AHREX FW503 size 16's in our Dry Selection.
Our NEW for 2025 Dry Selection is now available as a selection of 15 flies (5 different patterns - see above - 3 of each). We are supplying all of these for only £22 - shipped FREE of charge to anywhere in the UK and supplied in our eco-friendly packaging.
Just click on any image or button in this email to view the flies in more detail.
Go on, treat yourself for the beginning of the river season. These are the best quality flies available on the market today!
Other Dry Flies To Consider ...
Specialist Dry Selection
only £20.00
The barbless Specialist Dry Fly Selection. To complement our NEW for 2025 Dry Fly Selection we have added this specialist selection of dry flies. These are designs which, over the last few years have proved themselves in the fish catching stakes. Some are generic patterns which represent numerous flies, all can be used in the Spring and Summer months to catch those most wary fish. These flies are all great imitations (all tied on barbless hooks - of course!). In total, there are 16 flies supplied in our eco-friendly packaging. All of these flies are tied using barbless hooks, in sizes 14 and 18 using the highest quality materials.
When fishing with dry flies there is one key aspect that the fly angler needs to concentrate on - keeping them afloat!
Keeping your dry flies floating on the water - not in it - is one of the main skills for effective dry fly fishing.
Why not give this Top Tip a go and use the 'Elastic Band' method to remove water from your fly:
- Attach an elastic band to your vest/pack.
- Hook your fly around the elastic band.
- Holding the tippet, pull the fly to stretch the elastic band.
- Channel your best Eric Clapton/Jimi Hendrix/[insert favourite guitarist here] and twang the elastic band a few times with your free hand.
- This will shed all of the excess water from your fly!
