Duncan Raynor share with us a pattern that has proved successful for him over a number of years during the mayfly hatch.
Inspiration comes from many angles, if you are a fanatical a fly tyer that can mean almost anywhere. Although there is nowhere better than on a river bank where observations of insects, discussions with friends, fishing experiences as well as frustrations can all be tested.
I think the fly tyer today is truly blessed. Not a season goes by without some new material coming out, older materials being improved upon or importantly more environmental responsible alternatives are found.
The inspiration for the Mega May came from a mix of places. An organised fishing trip with a good friend (The Bearded Wanderer) a discussion about mayfly hatches in the Westcountry with a local guide (Nine Lives) and the happy coincidence of some unused Westcountry Rivers Trust angling tokens (http://www.angling2000.org.uk/).
What I thought was required for my fishing was a better emerger mayfly pattern. Big Klinkhammers I had, but it needed more: more life and movement to it.
CDC was needed but it also had to be robust. An all CDC fly would not last long and so what I came up with is a fusion of a Klinkhammer and CDC emeger.
A few thoughts on dressing: it is basically a very big Klinkhammer tied on a Partridge Klinkhammer hook (size 12 works well).
I have always tied in the post and hackle for Klinkhammers first. After a few years of messing about with different options, I have found Tiemco Areo Wing as a good, all round post material but more recently have found a Z-Lon to be even better and slightly more resilient.
When it comes to the post colour I have found tan and grey work best, as does a blend of the two colours. Try and make the post wraps good and tight and get them a good way up the post, this makes for a better base to wrap the hackle around and for a stronger fly.
Hackle choice can also be varied, I like grizzle and also badger. Try to get the balance right here; something that looks like a mayfly's wing in silhouette but is robust enough to get the fly to float.
The tail is pheasant tail. I use up the the fibers at the tip of cock pheasant tails, the ones which are too short to tie nymphs with, keep it relatively short. The rib is brown nymph rib from Funky Fly Tying.
The body is made of natural seal's fur blended with bleached or very light squirrel fur. This season I added a synthetic blend too with some UV highlights.
The CDC is tied in next. I tie the CDC in tip first and then wrap forward towards the post and hook eye. Stop when you get to the back of the post,it helps if you slightly moisten your fingers and sweep the CDC fibers backwards after every wrap. They will look messy but that is the idea.
I then get a short section of ribbing wire and try to wrap this around the CDC and catch it all down , this can take a bit of practice, wetting the CDC helps. This step makes wrapping the Klinkhammer hackle much easier. It keeps the wayward CDC fibers under control and stops them getting trapped as you wrap the hackle horizontally.
The next step is the thorax, I use squirrel dubbing as it is rough and buggy looking. I put one wrap behind the post and then the rest in front. Don't dub the squirrel onto the thread too tightly as this kills the spiky effect we are going for.
Then wrap your hackle three or four times, wrapping downwards.
I finish the fly by doing my whip finish on the post. This can be fiddly! You can move the hook in the vice, but I have found that with a bit of practice it becomes easier.
Trim the hackle stem close to where it is caught in and put a spot of varnish on the base of the post, I find this a good way of setting the wraps and getting a nice resilient fly.
At this point I trim the post down to size and am careful not to cut it too short - there is nothing more frustrating.
So that is it, The Mega May, (the name came from The Bearded Wonder, he was horrified at the size of it) I have had some great fishing using this fly here in the Westcountry, on chalk streams and over on the great limestone loughs in Ireland. It can easily be adapted to your own local conditions and where you fish. I don't think this version of the fly is the perfect fly, no fly is, but I suppose that is what fly tying is all about. The search for the perfect fly continues.