Halloween, no way to escape to it. This is an opportunity for us to make you discover flies that haunt our boxes and bristle the hair of purists. Let’s start the horrible flies session.
The first is a tribute to one of our specialties: the French baguette. I saw carps going crazy on the shores of Geneva Lake while kids were throwing duck bread. They literally threw themselves on them as if they hadn’t eaten anything for days. I witnessed the same scene at the fishery of Rumilly. One of my friends had in his box some really ugly hoppers with a very white tint. He tore off the paws and made the bows that ate the bread. I tried with nymphs and other flies but nothing worked. Sometimes it’s useful to have bread in your fly box. Only few things wil be needed , wire, glue and a sponge. So turn your bread ovens on …
1- On a hook, tie a piece of sponge to the back of the hook.
2- Bring the thread to the front and add glue on the shank.
3- Fold the sponge to the front and catch it with your thread next to the hook eye.
4- Cut the excess and do your whip finish.
The second one is very well known. Named like norauto, feu vert or mop fly for the British. A very efficient fly in fisheries and that allows to fish on sight very easily. Like for bread, few things are needed: a microfiber glove (you will find some in the garages mentioned above or at Gifi), dubbing and thread.
1- On a curve hook, tie a piece of glove with your thread.
2- Create a dubbing loop and twist the dubbing (gray)
3- Make a thorax.
4- Whip finish
The last one is a very effective streamer. When I discovered it, I was not at all convinced. It was very ugly and frankly I didn’t bet a nail on it and yet… At the first cast, the fly had just landed and BIM, a big dump in the rod. I love fishing with floating line because when you bring it back, you see rainbows running over it creating a wave on the water. Strong feel guaranteed. This pattern is composed only of thread and rubber leg.
1- Make a body with your thread and add rubber legs to the back of the hook (V profile).
2- Bring the thread to the front and add glue on the shank.
3- Turn rubber legs together and catch their with your thread next to the hook eye (V profile).
4- Adjust the lenght and do your whip finish.
Here’s my “unethical” fly series as my friend Joel used to call them.