Ever spent a summers evening trying to tempt those fish that are gently sipping something off the surface?

The chances are they were taking ‘spent spinners’, adult females that have returned to the water to lay their eggs. After completing their task, they die and float downstream with their wings splayed flat on the surface. If the fish ‘lock on’ to this easy and plentiful food source, they can be impossible to tempt with anything else.

 

Quite early in my fly fishing ‘journey‘, I chanced upon one Mr Ward, AKA Dry Fly Expert whilst taking an evening stroll along the Wye through Bakewell. He was kneeling on the bank picking off ultra spooky Trout with a Sherry Spinner.

 

After he’d generously taken the time to explain the finer points of his approach he handed me a hand tied example of this fantastic, polypropylene winged fly.
When I told him I’d put it into my ‘fly box of fame’ containing flies given to me by some of my fly fishing hero’s, he barked “No, Fish with it!”, so that’s what I’ve been doing.

 

Last night I waded through 2 productive swims to retrieve it from bank side vegetation and as the fly and I have nearly parted company on several other occasions, I’ve decided to finally retire it before I lose it for good.

It’s not a tough tie so even I should be able to knock up a few replacements but it has been a saviour on a few summer evening and early morning spinner falls, particularly over the last few days. Thank you, Mr Ward!