Fly of the Month – Claret Hedgehog
Without doubt one of the most consistent catching flies for wild loch trout is the now modern classic Hedgehog.
I have many dressings of these for a host of situations and different waters with this one; the Claret Hedgehog just one of my favourites especially for lochs and still-waters that carry any peat colour or are dark in any way.
That said I’ve done very well with this on clear waters also so don’t overlook this one for a real eye-catching fly to chase wild and stocked fish alike.
Hopefully, they still have a bit of work to do as the season moves into the ‘Back-end’ and the troots get more aggressive and I’ll be showing these off to a few trout yet before the 6th of October and the curtain falls on yet another wild Scottish trout season.
After this, however, the ‘Hogs’ will still get an ‘airing’ as they can be devastating on still waters for stocked fish and are always worth having in the ‘armoury.’
I like to fish my ‘Hogs’ either static dry or with a slow figure of eight retrieves; however there are times when a faster strip or ‘pull’ can work wonders; especially if the flies dip below the surface and (with a pause in the retrieve) ‘pop’ back up again which was how these flies were originally designed to be fished.
The knotted pheasant tail legs on either side are optional and I tie my ‘Hogs’ both with and without as I can be amazing just how much of a difference either finish can be to the fish’s taking confidence, especially if fished slow/static.
‘Gink’ them heavy and hold on tight.
Materials for Claret Hedgehog
Hook; Partridge L5A Dry Fly Supreme #10 – 14
Thread; Semperfli Claret Microglint
Tail; Tying thread doubled twice then trimmed and brushed out
Wing; Natural Roe Deer Hair (from the back of the beast) stacked and tied in ‘sections’ from rear of the hook
Body; Tying thread
Legs; Semperfli red pre-knotted pheasant tail legs (2 or 3 on each side)
Head; Veniard Dark Olive Glister dubbed on and then well brushed out back into wing.
Allan Liddle
Based in Moray in Scotland's North East, Allan has specialises with the wild trout from the rivers and burns, lochs and lochans throughout Mainland Scotland and the Isles.
A strong passion for fishing simple dries he feels there's nothing better than to see the fish take off the top, but isn't slow to fish a range of different styles when mood or conditions dictate. Although trout is his first love Allan occasionally chases the Salmon, Grayling stocked fish and even dabbles in salt water when the chance arises.
More from Allan:
Tying a new Deer Hair Emerger Variation
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The Olive Pete Loch Fly, Tied on a Partridge SLD2
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