Tying The Ayrshire Man Salmon Fly by Davie McPhail.

[markcurrie1982]

Hi Davie,

Amazing fly as per usual!

I am struggling to find the best hackle capes to use. I only tie salmon flies and mainly in sizes 6 -12 doubles and tubes up to 1". Can you tell me what Whiting badger cape and what Chinese neck cape you use? If I am dying the badger should I get silver badger? I am bamboozled by all the choices!

I fish in Ayrshire so very keen to get some of these tied up for later in the year!

Cheers,

Mark

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mark(markcurrie1982),

I'll send you a link to the Whiting capes I use but for the Chinese capes they come from Veniards so your local tackle shop that sells their materials should be able to help you...

You've got to let me know how you get on with it, if you don't mind me asking...

All the best Davie

[markcurrie1982]

@DavieMcPhail

Hi Davie,

Many thanks for your reply and for the link. Finally I know what I need!

I assume you mean let you know how I get on with fishing the fly? Absolutely. Is it your pattern?

I mainly fish the Girvan (@Bargany) but I'll soon live in the area and hopefully spread around a few places.  I intend to tie the fly in a few different colour variants as I love the profile of it. First big test might be the Tummel in May!

Thanks again,

Mark

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mark,

I tyed this fly a few years ago but never ever gave the fly a name and over that time it's caught fish here and abroad..It got it's name from the Ayrshire Trust as they were looking for a fly that they could name after all the waters of Ayrshire, it's aways good to hear how it does so that I can pass on where it's been working..

I'm glad you like the pattern...

All the best Davie

[difrent44]

Hi Davie im wondering if you could be tying "The Evening Star" (salmon fly)?

ATB Difrent44

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi difrent44,

It's a fly that I have never tyed as you know there's a lot of materials needed to put one together..I'm not going to say no, but if I ever do It would be a very interesting fly to watch being tyed...

All the best Davie

[FinnerFish]

Hi Davie

Beautiful fly as always! I was wondering if you could recommend an all round scissors for someone who ties 12 inch pike flies down to size 22 dries?! Or perhaps 2 scissors for either end of the spectrum? Thanks very much.

Ross

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ross,

I use an allround 4 inch tungsten pair of scissors which I like for all the flies I tye, Dr Slick make a pair which you should be able to find on the internet but I'll send you a link to them..

All the best Davie

[FinnerFish]

@DavieMcPhail Thanks for the reply and all the great videos

Ross

[woodysflies]

A gorgeous fly that has taught me much about stacking fibers. Thanks Davie!

[Weedorful]

could you make a pike fly?

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Weedorful,

I do have one or two requests for a pike fly but it's just getting the spare time to do one as I don't tye many, I'll see what I can do....ATB Davie

[Weedorful]

Hello Davie,

[dkdriftking1993]

i am living in little rock arkansas as of right now

[Weedorful]

dkdriftking1993 where do you live?

[dkdriftking1993]

There are no fly tying shops around me I was wondering if you can recommend a site for me

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi dkdriftking1993,

I see that you live in America and to be honest because of the price of postage from the U.K I would encourage you to buy from there as I buy most of my materials here because of this. I don't have one that I would recommend but look around and before you buy send me a link and I'll have a look at it for you as I may have heard about them...

All the best Davie

[simonmx23]

Once again fab video. Two question for you , what make us your whip finishing tool and I am going to Orkney this June for the 3 time I always use hogs what is your best patterns.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi simonmx23,

The whip finisher I use is a materilli and my best hog would be a claret body and dark coloured roe deer for the wings...I'm glad you enjoyed the video...

All the best Davie

[donegalflyfisher]

Thanks very much davie for the excellent videos, best i've ever seen. I live near the river finn in Co. Donegal and it's single hook only, catch and release. Just wondering if you were to tie a salmon fly on a single hook what hooks you would prefer. Also what single hooks you would prefer to use on tube flies.

Thanks again,

Kyle

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Kyle(donegalflyfisher),

The singles I like to use are Alex Jacksons and Salars, the Salar tube single is also a good one to have...I bought the Alex Jacksons from Pat Nolan who I believe is not far from you...Thanks for the kind words....

All the best Davie

[Weedorful]

Thank you very much i think I understand and I really appreciate your fast reply. I will continue to see more great videos:)!

[Weedorful]

Hi Davie, I admire your work and I enjoy to see your videos everytime. But I have a question; how do you tie the small eyes or metal ball tings on to the hook?

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Weedorful,

The way to put the beads onto a hook is to slide it on by putting the point of the hook through the small hole on the bead, round the bend and up to the eye and for the dumbell you wind the thread between the eyes in a figure of eight until it is tight so that it doesn't roll round the hook. I hope this makes sense to you....All the best Davie

[Weedorful]

Hi Davie,

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi SuperJooooooooooey,

A normal cast would be to cast the fly about 45 degrees down stream mending your line to slow the fly up in the current whether you are fishing a floating or sinking line. The more methods you have the better and also what you tye it on as I would recommend tying in on a tube especially a copper one to get in down and as well help hold the fly in very fast water...

All the best Davie

[MarkWilligar]

Many thanks again Davie, as always, great fly, and great video, kudos to you for helping so many people!

[TheBoobyBasher]

Braw, do you know of anywhere to get cheap SALAR Salmon hooks, in GAC theyre £5 for 10!!!

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi TheBoobyBasher,

£5 would be a great price for these hooks as I have paid more than £7 for the ones I have as I don't know anywhere that you can buy them cheaper....ATB Davie

[finestfisher]

Very nice Mr Davie, Do you do some of your own dyeing ?

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi finestfisher,

I do, but if I see a well dyed cape or fur I'll buy it as I can make some mess when dying materials, my wife and daughter hate the smell so if you can do it outside then I would...ATB Davie

[dreamcaster4639]

Wow that is amazing.

[Kendo2007]

outstanding can see that fly taking a few fish with the colours. hopefully to my rod lol excellent as usual Davie

many thanks

Kenny

[TheFinnmarksvidda]

thats a fly for Altariver :-)

[bumptybump]

Davie,

That's a great looking fly. It was a pleasure talking to you today and I'm looking forward to trying this one out this season. Keep in touch.

Stuart

[ZombiePig100]

Nice fly once again your flat out doing these videos. I'm going to my fly tying lessons 7:00 hope we do a salmon fly. :)