Salmon fishing flies-bits of hair and feather tied onto a hook- have been used to catch salmon since the early 18th century-particularly in the Scottish rivers. The early salmon fishing flies were huge by today’s standards-some two to three inches long.
Salmon fishing flies come in two main types-the heavy tube flies such as Waddingtons-which are what they say-small metal tubes up to 3 inches long with the fly trailing from the back. Salmon fishing flies such as Waddingtons are used in the early season in heavy cold water when the weight gets the fly down near the bottom of the river where the fish lie early in the season.
The other main type of salmon fishing flies are the low water flies which are fished from April onwards. These are much lighter since the water is lower, clearer and warmer. The fish do not hug the bottom of the stream. Salmon fishing flies for these conditions are smaller and are not cased in a metal tube.
The tying of salmon fishing flies reached its height in Victorian times when the drab patterns of William Scrope and others were followed by more colourful versions- salmon fishing flies such as Jack Scott, Silver Doctor, Dusty Miller and Mar Lodge.
The twentieth century saw modified, smaller salmon fishing flies when the new low water styles were used on earlier patterns such as Logie and Blue Charm. The Logie was so successful that 3490 salmon fell to one fisherman using it on the Dee from 1913 to 1934.
1950 onwards saw the development of the modern hairwing salmon fishing flies such as the Hairy Mary, Garry Dog, Stoats Tail plus the Munro’s Killer created by J.A.J Munro of Abalour on Speyside-a shop bearing his name still exists on the main road in Abalour.
Modern salmon fishing flies are the long tailed patterns –particularly the Ally’s shrimp which has been particularly successful-plus other long tailed salmon fishing flies such as Cascade and the Magus-which come in a variety of colours.
Smaller dark flies tend to be used in low clear water while more colourful salmon fishing flies tend to be used in higher, coloured water. The Ally Shrimp is particularly popular in those rivers such as the Spey which have a peaty colour all season.
Salmon fishing flies are available on line or in specialist shops and there are some really good boxed selections which make great presents for the salmon fisherman. No fly fisherman can have enough flies-even if they are all the same-since a lot get lost in the trees and snagged on the bottom. A good selection of salmon fishing flies should include all the above mentioned classics plus some others-which will be tried when all else fails.
Casting salmon fishing flies will need care and attention-especially casting the heavy tube flies which can inflict nasty wounds .Casting in strong winds can also be difficult-great care should be taken.
When selecting salmon fishing flies always check the rules of the water you intend to fish-some waters do not allow treble hooks-and some ghillies are adamant that single hooks are all you need. Some waters practice a catch and return policy-especially for hen fish so you ideally will require barb less hooks for these.
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