I only need a few patterns. I have hundreds of flies in pretty boxes which are rarely opened. Over fifty years ago I tied flies semi-professionally, I still like to tie them in batches. The first fly is always scruffy and off-pattern. That’s the one that catches the trout !

GRHE nymph

My car park fly. It frequently stays on the tippet all day. When I clip it off and put it back in the ammo box, I leave a little tag of nylon on the hook so I know it’s been used.

Adams-ish

Not the original pattern. It’s a just a small dry fly that looks like a Grey Duster and Adams cross dresser. I’ve nearly run out of decent grizzle hackles.

Black Buzzer

A realistic imitation made from closed cell Neoprene. I control the sink rate by trimming the white tag. Fished static on a fine tippet, this will catch fish all year round. If I can’t catch trout on this fly, I go home.

Quality Street Sedge

The coloured plastic wrappers from Quality Street chocolates are a joy to collect. Other brands are available. Strawberry creme, caramel and those big, round, flat yellow toffees are the best for sedge flies. Fortunately, each wrapper is only enough for a couple of flies ! The sunlight glows through the plastic wing which doesn’t get soggy.

I have a camera case full of materials, some of which are fifty years old. I haven’t bought feathers for many years, I just pick them up when I’m fishing. My favourite hooks, Tiemco 103bl, are in very short supply, probably due to their popularity. I don’t use beads. I’ve never seen an insect with a huge brass blob for a head.

Happy New Year.