Tips & Articles

A Key To Success Part 2

Article by: Freddie Bainbridge - Added on - 21st Mar 2007

For this type of fishing I will always use a floating line and a leader of my favored Fulling Mill fluorocarbon, approx two rods in length. I prefer a braided loop, remembering to apply a little gink before fishing and a couple more applications during the day. Should the dropper be required then I will replace the 4lb Fulling Mil with the stronger 5lb, with the dropper approx in the middle of the overall leader length. I have experimented with bloodworm patterns for some time now & have found that the best patterns for floating line use are the original Apps Bloodworm, the single legged version and the very successful Tri-Legged variant. These flies are all tied with blood-red Flexi-Floss an a Glo-Brite (No5) floss body. In my opinion these patterns outfish the commonly seen red marabou varieties by far.

Above - Floatant is applied to the braided loop to allow better take detection

Fishing styles have been tested to the max with these flies, but I have found the most effective method to be as follows. Make a cast to a 10 o?clock position, allow a couple of seconds for the fly to settle then begin a very jerky flicking style of retrieve. This very often provokes a great response form the trout! The Bloodworm can be fished by letting the wind form a curve in the line but I have found less fish fall to this style. If fishing in strong winds or if the fish are holding bottom, try using the Bloodworm Booby (subject to fishery rules) I would opt for a fast-sinking line such as Di5 with a 10ft leader of 6lb Fulling Mill fluorocarbon. Again use a jerky retrieve but be careful not to move the fly too quickly - keep it slow. Don't be afraid to shorten this leader if no takes are offered; removing it in stages of two feet will effectively start to fish the fly closer to the lake bed. I have caught plenty of fish on an overall leader length of two feet!

Use a flicky, jerky style of figure-of-eight retrieve
The clearer the water - The better the result
Always use floating line unless using the eight legged or Booby version
Use 4lb Fulling Mill with a single fly
Use 5lb Fulling Mill when fishing droppers
Cast near reed beds & rushes where possible
Target the shallower water