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The Brora Ranger The Brora Ranger (originally tied for Loch Brora/Sutherland sea trout) is an extremely simple wet fly to tie yet on its day it is one of the most effective patterns known for wild brown and sea trout. For some reason it is often bypassed in favour of brighter more modern patterns and this is a great pity as the Brora Ranger can play a multitude of roles in your trout armoury. Some will say it has nymph connotations, others shrimp and some will call it a midge larvae. Its sparse delicate hackle gives it a supremely attractive pulsing movement in both flowing and stillwater and the claret red body often stimulates a highly aggressive response. It fishes well on both the top dropper and the point position of a loch style cast, especially good on a slow to medium pace retrieve in dull overcast conditions rather than bright sunshine. Dressing: Body - claret red tying silk or floss varnished for extra strength. Head - few extra turns of the tying silk to form a neat head below the eye of the hook. Hackle - Black hen wound the length of the body but kept sparse so the claret red shows through. |  | ||
The Gold Ribbed Hares Ear (GRHE) This fly is a supreme trout catcher and can be used with great effect on either stillwater or stream. It is one of the very few successful 'multi purpose' flies representing a range of nymphs primarily olives. Its primarily fished as a sunk wet fly though you can also make dry Hares Ears with wings which float admirably on the surface. Trout will take this pattern at most times of the year are not normally that discriminating. The nymph form is probably the most popular and is effective early and late in the season in still or flowing water and at any time when conditions are overly hard and bright. The dressing here is for the nymph form. For best results keep it light but straggly; Dressing: (from Courtney Williams 'A Dictionary of Trout Flies') Body - Dark hares ear fur spun on yellow tying silk Rib - flat gold tinsel Hackle - Strands of the body well picked out Tail - 3 fine whisks of hare fur |  |
