WHAT’S IN YOUR BOX?
Connor Newcombe, manager of Kailzie Trout and Salmon Fishery on the River Tweed, shares three of his favourite flies
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB HARDY & PETER GATHERCOLE
OLIVE SNAKE
Hook Size 12 Kamasan B160
Thread Olive Uni-thread
Zonker Strip of olive barred rabbit
Link Orange braid or backing
Front body Black straggle fritz
Thorax Peacock/black sparkle dubbing
Eyes Fluoro yellow dumbbell
My chosen pattern when I want a pulling fly on small stillwaters. I fish it as a single fly on an Airflo Fast Glass line with a seven-weight rod, varying the retrieve speed depending on how the fish want it on a given day. The roly-poly retrieve is my favourite with this pattern, but it is critical the fly moves consistently and evenly, much like a spinner would.