My top 10 Grayling flies in Scandinavia

For Northern Europe you can find below my absolute top 10 flies that I used between 1981 and 1996. Most of the flies I still using today during my travels all over the world. Some of them have been improved but for others within this top 10 I never found a better one.

 

 

The culard

Hook: Daiichi 1180 size 18-24
Thread: Uni 8/0 black
Body: Herls from a peacock wing feather (black)
Rib: Fine gold wire or yellow silk
Wing: CDC feather cut in the middle
Hackle: Dark dun
Head: Tying thread

The smallest fly in my collection and I am sure it is the size that make this pattern so successful.

Para-ant

Hook:Daiichi 1180 size 10-20
Thread: Uni 8/0 black
Body: Black foam and thread
Hackle: Dark dun tied as parachute
Head: Black foam

A very good pattern for situations there is no hatch at all. I have a strong belief in feeding memory of fish and this is the steak to offer them.

Klinkhåmer Special

Hook: Daiichi 1160 and 1167 size 8-20
Thread: Uni 8/0 tan for body + Danville’s spiderweb for parachute
Body: Fly-Rite Poly dubbing no 19
Wing: One strand of white poly-yarn
Thorax: Three strands of peacock herl
Hackle: Blue dun hackle

My best fly for broken water.

Once and Away

Hook: PartridgeDaiichi 1160 and 1167 size 12-20
Thread: Uni 8/0 grey
Body: One peccary fibre
Rib: segmentation of the body
Thorax: Peacock herl
Wing & Wingcase: Three CDC feathers

A fly with similar effect as the Klinkhåmer but for slow running and still water.

Crazy Sedge (Leon Links)

Hook:Daiichi 1180 size 8-14
Thread: Uni 8/0 brown
Body: Tying thread
Rib: Brown hackle (close windings)
Wing: Reindeer hair from belly (extra long)

Excellent fly for sunny and windy conditions.

Hodal Emerger 1

Hook:Daiichi 1160 and 1167 size 8-12
Thread: Uni 8/0 black
Body: Green or olive-green furry foam
Back: Green transparent flexibody
Rib: Clear monofil 0.25mm
Legs:: Partridge hackle fibres
Wings: Natural Swiss straw
Thorax: Mink dubbing
Eyes: Monofil burned at ends
Antennae: Black bear fibres

Superb fly for the lakes of Hodalen (Norway)

Hodal Emerger II

Hook:Daiichi 1160 and 1167 size 8-12
Thread: Uni 8/0 black
Body: Gold SLF dubbing
Wings: Natural Swiss straw
Thorax: Fiery brown SLF dubbing
Antennae: A bunch of black bear fibres

Excellent fly for lake fishing in northern Europe

Wet Ant

Hook:Daiichi 1180 size 18-24
Thread: Uni 8/0 orange
Body: Golden acetate floss
Legs: Partridge hackle fibres
Head: Peacock herl

A secret weapon for hard conditions

Caseless Caddis

Hook:Daiichi 1160 and 1167 size 8-12
Thread: Uni 8/0 black
Underbody: Fine leadwire
Ribbing: Clear monofil 0.25mm
Body: Furry foam yellow and greenish colours
Back: Flexibody grey transparent
Thorax: Dark brown mink dubbing
Head: Tying thread

A killer in a death drift presentation

Leadhead

Hook: Daiichi 1710 size 8-10, Daiichi 2110-2117 size 10
Thread: Uni 8/0 brown
Underbody: Tying thread
Tag: Fluorecent green flexibody
Tail: Partrige hackle collard style
Body: Hare, rabbit or squirrel dubbing
Head: Leadshot

Deadly pattern for deep pools