It's been a strange year on my local River Deveron for many reasons but mostly because the olive hatches (mostly BWO's but some LDO's in the mix) have continued in a greater or lesser degree right through the summer (or what we had to constitute one) meaning our trout have remained fixed on this classic shape of dry.That said well into the darkness (which isn't really fully dark through June up here) sedges have appeared but not usually in any number to grab the trout's serious attention, but this year's been a little different and sedge patterns have been required.This, and the fact I also fish the neighbouring River Don which has sedge hatches some evenings that have these insects crawling up your neck and flying into your face, have led me to tying a few imitations the best of which has been this one; my Olive Sedge.Sedge patterns with some form of green 'egg sack' tend to work well at times however I've noted that a switch from floss to a tag of pearl Mirage tinsel has worked better for me, giving a slightly more subtle trigger to the rear end of the fly that doubles as an added attraction to fish targeting 'egg layers' as well as newly hatched / hatching insects where you can find that 'Mother of Pearl' hue similar to hatching Uprights and occasionally buzzers.With the CDC underwing then no oil based floatant is required, instead I prefer to treat this fly with a powder style floatant drying on tissue paper and re-dressing between fish.Cracking and easy to tie river pattern that sits perfectly in the surface film, not too shabby a loch / Stillwater sedge pattern either and worked well for me on a recent Orkney trip picking out sedge hunting fish late in the evening around the margins of the excellent lochs (including my all-time favourite Harray Loch) that they have up there in 'God's Country.' Materials:Hook; Partridge K14A Caddis Emerger size 12 - 16Tag; Small Mirage Pearl Tinsel (use a bobbin holder to apply, it's much easier.Thread; Semperfli 8/0 Light Olive Waxed ThreadBody; Brown Olive Hares Ear DubbingUnderwing; Four or Five Natural CDC PlumesOverwing; Small bunch of Natural Deer Hair Tying Sequence: Step 1. Catch in the fine Mirage tinsel and wind on to form tag, gently whip finish to secure Step 2. For added protection on the tinsel, apply a very fine and small layer of clear varnish Step 3. Catch in light olive thread, secure the end of the tinsel and run thread up to rear of hook eye Step 4. Take a small amount of dubbing and secure on thread Step 5. Wind dubbing down fly to form body Step 6. Wind thread back in open turns to rib fly. Step 7. Take four or five CDC plumes and line up tips before tying in behind hook eye and trimming off waste ends. Step 8. Take small bunch of deer hair, line up tips and tie in with hair fibres just longer than CDC Step 9. Secure Deer hair. Step 10. Trim deer hair leaving cut ends projecting approx 3-4mm at head. Take thread below and form head of fly Step 11. Apply a small amount of clear varnish to thread and complete a 2nd whip finish directly below deer hair head. Pro Team: Allan LiddleTweet
