Diawl bach


Meaning "little devil", the diawl bach is a popular Welsh fly pattern used in British still waters, and an appropriate lure to use when the fish are feeding on midge pupae. The dressing is simple: size 8 to 14 hook, brown thread, a few barbs of brown hackle for the tail, copper wire, a few barbs of peacock herl for the body, and tying thread for the head.
Variations include jungle cock substitute cheeks, red head, hare's ear for the body and flash materials on the back.
Fish as one of a team of three flies drawn slowly on a dry line with a long leader. A particularly effective method is to let the wind push the floating fly line around and look for a twitch in the line as indication that a fish has taken the fly.
It can be effective during a midge hatch, and a flashy version is worth using towards the autumn as a pinfry imitator.

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