Chalkstream essentials

A misgiving title perhaps, as these two flies are most certainly found in a variety of flowing water other than chalkstreams; but if you frequent this type of environment they will feature highly in the diet of the trout.

Shrimp patterns vary greatly - from simply dubbed bodies with a shell back, to more realistic ties incorporating various appendages and an overall more close-copy look.

I tend to sit in the area occupied by the more realistic flies and although it may seem tricky to tie, Oliver Edwards shrimp is by far one of the best out there.

Oliver Edwards Freshwater Shrimp/Gammarus
Hook: Curved grub hook sizes 12-16
Thread: Danville spiderweb or fine GSP
Tail and Antenna: Partridge
Shellback: Clear flexibody
Rib: Clear mono around 4lb BS or 0.18mm
Body: SLF Finesse Masterclass River and Stream no.14 Gammarus pulex
Legs: Partridge trapped in a dubbing loop

Ephemera danica - the mayfly - needs no introduction. My mainstay dry mayfly pattern has always been the Mohican mayfly; you may spot a common trend, I do love Oliver Edwards patterns, I have no shame in using a lot of his flies, but I digress.

Although the Mohican mayfly is an outstanding fly, sometimes it makes a change to try something different. Having received a copy of Peter Hayes' Fishing outside the box, he wrote that he uses slightly larger PhD's for fishing early in the mayfly hatch when the trout haven't yet got over the size of the real things. Taking things a little further, a PhD tied to represent the mayfly seems logical. A pack of Nature's Spirit mallard flank dyed light olive proved to be a great match for the yellow-olive wings of the natural dun.

Mayfly PhD
Hook: Partridge Supreme Dry sizes 10-12
Thread: 55d GSP
Tail: Moose body or mane
Body: Cream dubbing
Rib: Brown thread
Hackle: Grizzle dyed yellow and medium grey dun wrapped paraloop style
Thorax: Dark Brown dubbing
Wing: Light olive dyed mallard flank