But… (why is there always a but?) what happens when Duffers doesn’t play ball? I think it was pretty universally accepted that last year’s mayfly wasn’t a classic. Winter floods followed by a cold wet spring had an effect on everything from the national mood to the dawn chorus, and in a lot of places the mayfly was a bit of a damp squib. But (a good one this time) there’s sport to be had in the build up and transition.
Flies like the PH’s Dyret, Small and Scruffy Loop and Fowey Cahill Caddis are staples in the run up. Three flies that couldn’t be more different: a shaggy dyret, a looped scruffy olive and a thin bodied, high cut caddis. You can also add the Yellow Pheasant Tale into the mix, which despite its looks was never intended as a mayfly but more of an early season tempter for some very tricky/picky Cornish trout.
Like all my flies these are buggy, general approximations, designed purely with the fish in mind. How they sit in the film is far more important than how they sit in a flybox (they’re full of life in both). But as we get to the main event it’s the SUVM that rules the roost and other flies become just bit parts ready to fill the stage again when all that mayfly malarkey is over and done with.
Designed with and named by my chief fly tester David Burton/Phishtitz, the Shaggy UV Mayfly has been a go-to mayfly for years. Big, buggy (AF) with a fat dubbed back end and emphasised cdc and deer hair wings there really isn’t anything quite like it. I’ve included a clip of film, known as “The Take” which shows what fishing the SUVM is like better than any words can… please watch and enjoy.
So… Mayfly ‘25 is upon us. As I write this I’m tying the Shaggy UV Mayflies for Orvis UK, along with the other 9 patterns, in time for one of the highlights of the year. No doom and gloom, there’s enough of that about, the signs are good and I think we’re in for an epic one this year so get out there and enjoy it.
Tight lines.