Birkin and Peover River Fly Tips
There are a multitude of Flies for every purpose under the sun these days, and every area and angler have their favourites, far too many for this work as it would be snowed under with complicated lists. So I have chosen a small sample of the old tried and tested ones that have proven beyond doubt over the years. If you believe that there should be others please let me know via the contacts page.
March
As the season starts on the 15th, there are not so many Flies hatching just yet so most of the fishing will be sub surface and variable, depending upon the weather and an early or late Spring.
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The only Mayflies hatching on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks this time of the year are Small and Large dark olive and a scattering of March Browns at mid day. Whereas on the Peover Eye it is reversed, a smattering of Large dark olive, but predominately March Browns just beginning their season.
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The early Grannom Sedge also starts to rise in March through morning time on all rivers
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst the large number of Stonefly and March Brown nymphs.
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Although on the River Bollin Freshwater Shrimp numbers have greatly reduced since the invasion of Demon Shrimp making them less viable as a fly choice.
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In the lakes there is an abundance of water boatman and lesser water boatman, making a corixa pattern favourite along with Blood Worm patterns.
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Pheasant Tail Size 14-16, An excellant spinner pattern for most Baetis (Olives).
Pheasant tail Nymph Size 14-16, Fish below riffles and through pools and margins as low as you can get them. Tungsten bead head variants may be very helpful in this. Represents a multitude of mayfly nymphs and even fry.
April
On the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, Small and Large dark olive are joined by Iron Blue Duns in the afternoon, along with a scattering of March Browns at mid day. Whereas on the Peover Eye it is reversed, a smattering of Large dark olive and Iron Blue Dun in the afternoon following the predominately March Browns at Mid-day, gaining in numbers.
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Greenwells Glory Dry Fly Size 12-18, fished as an Emerger fly or Dun for any of the Olives and Iron blue.
Yellow Sally and Small Brown Stoneflies start a sporadic rise during the afternoon time
The Grannom Sedge also continues to rise through morning time on all rivers amongst the ever present Black Gnats.
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst the large number of Stonefly and March Brown nymphs.
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Iron Blue Dun Size 16, As the name implies a dun fly for the Iron Blue Dun but also can be used for Blue winged olives
Gold ribbed Hares Ear Size 14-16, Fish below riffles and through pools and margins
On the River Bollin Freshwater Shrimp numbers have greatly reduced since the invasion of Demon Shrimp making them less viable as a fly choice.
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May
May is when things get really busy. On the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, Small and Large dark olive and Iron Blue Duns are reducing in numbers but are joined by large numbers of Yellow May Dun from mid morning onwards, replacing the slackening off of March Browns reaching the end of their season.
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Kite's Imperial Size 14-16, Fish as an Emerger, Dun or Spinner for Olives.
On the Peover Eye again the March Browns are finishing their season as the Yellow May Dun starts along with again a smattering of Large dark olive.
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The infamous Danica Mayfly also makes its appearance this month. Black Flies are also hatching out in large numbers on all waterways amongst the ever present Black Gnats. Hawthorn Flies are also present in large numbers falling onto the water surface for a couple of weeks.
Grey Drake Spinner Size 10-12, Fished in the evening as a spent female, again on a dead drift.
Grannom also starts to finish its season just as the Sandfly Sedge begins to rise
Peover Eye sees the Yellow Sally and Small Brown Stoneflies are becoming more numerous during the afternoon time
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps augmented by the green caddis larvae of the Sandfly Sedge and the brown Marbled or Grey Flag caddis fly larvae. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst the large number of Stonefly and green bodied Sandfly and brown bodied Grey Flag or Marbled sedge larvae.
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Walkers Mayfly Nymph Fish the same way as the PTN where the Mayfly hatches occur
Although on the River Bollin Freshwater Shrimp numbers have greatly reduced since the invasion of Demon Shrimp making them less viable as a fly choice.
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June
The Danica Mayfly hatch is at its peak on all rivers and brooks along with Yellow May Dun from mid morning onwards. Also beginning their seasons are the Blue Winged Olive and Pale Watery replacing the Small Dark Olives. Black Flies are also hatching out in large numbers on all waterways amongst the ever present Black Gnats.
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Blue winged Olive Quill Size 14, fished as a dun or spent
As the closed season for coarse fish ends on the 15th, just in time for the Pond Olives to start hatching on the Peover lakes, supplemented by Grouse wing caddisflies along the margins and a plethora of black gnats and other flies
Yellow Sally Stonefly continues to rise during the afternoon on the Peover Eye along with the Medium Sedge. On the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks the Sandfly Sedge, Marbled Sedge and Welshmans Button are prevalent.
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps augmented by the green caddis larvae of the Sandfly Sedge and the brown Marbled or Grey Flag caddis fly larvae. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst the large number of Stonefly and green bodied Sandfly and brown bodied Grey Flag or Marbled sedge larvae.
Green Buzzer Size 12, fished deep or in the riffles. represents free swimming caddis larva
In the lakes there is an abundance of water boatman and lesser water boatman, making a corixa pattern favourite along with Blood Worm patterns.
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July
The peak of the Danica Mayfly hatch is over but they will still be rising in smaller numbers though this month on all rivers and brooks along with Yellow May Dun from mid morning onwards. Also the Blue Winged Olive are increasing and Pale Watery replacing the Small Dark Olives. Black Flies are also hatching out in large numbers on all waterways amongst the ever present Black Gnats.
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Pond Olives are favourite on the Peover lakes, supplemented by Grouse wing caddisflies along the margins and a plethora of black gnats and other flies
Heron herl plume tip Size 16-18, representing Chironamid emergers, often works when hatches are sparse.
Yellow Sally Stonefly continues to rise during the afternoon on the Peover Eye along with the Medium Sedge. On the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks the Sandfly Sedge, Marbled Sedge and Welshmans Button are prevalent.
Flying Ants will also make an appearance this month, especially on the Birkin Brook beats 1 and 2.
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps augmented by the green caddis larvae of the Sandfly Sedge and the brown Marbled or Grey Flag caddis fly larvae. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst the large number of Stonefly and green bodied Sandfly and brown bodied Grey Flag or Marbled sedge larvae.
Cinnamen and gold Size 14-16, representing Cinamen Sedge.
In the lakes there is an abundance of water boatman and lesser water boatman, making a corixa pattern favourite along with Blood Worm patterns.
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Aug
Blue Winged Olive and Pale Watery replacing the Small Dark Olives with a smattering of other mayflies. Black Flies are also hatching out in large numbers on all waterways amongst the ever present Black Gnats.
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Pond Olives are favourite on the Peover lakes, supplemented by Grouse wing caddisflies along the margins and a plethora of black gnats and other flies
Greenwells Glory Dry Fly Size 12-18, fished as an Emerger fly or Dun for any of the Olives and Iron blue.
Yellow Sally Stonefly continues to rise during the afternoon on the Peover Eye along with the Medium Sedge. On the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks the Sandfly Sedge, Marbled Sedge and Welshmans Button are prevalent.
Flying Ants may also make an appearance early this month, especially on the Birkin Brook beats 1 and 2. Craneflies known as Daddies will start to appear as a good source of food for the trout as well as other species
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps augmented by the green caddis larvae of the Sandfly Sedge and the brown Marbled or Grey Flag caddis fly larvae. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst the large number of Stonefly and green bodied Sandfly and brown bodied Grey Flag or Marbled sedge larvae.
Gold ribbed Hares Ear Size 14-16, Fish below riffles and through pools and margins
In the lakes there is an abundance of water boatman and lesser water boatman, making a corixa pattern favourite along with Blood Worm patterns.
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Sept
On the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks this time of the year are Small and Large dark olive along with Iron Blue Dun and Pale Watery are becoming more prevalent as the Blue Winged Olive hatch is reduced. Whereas on the Peover Eye it is a smattering of Large dark olive.
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Pheasant Tail Size 14-16, An excellant spinner pattern for most Baetis (Olives).
Pond Olives are favourite on the Peover lakes, supplemented by a plethora of black gnats and other flies
Craneflies known as Daddies will start to appear as a good source of food for the trout as well as other species on all waters
The Sandfly Sedge also continues to rise, though its numbers are starting to tail off.
Subsurface, there is a plentiful supply of maturing nymphs of all varieties as well as, on the Birkin and Mobberley Brooks, a large number of Freshwater Shrimps augmented by the green caddis larvae of the Sandfly Sedge and the brown Marbled or Grey Flag caddis fly larvae. Not so many Shrimps on the Peover Eye, but still a respectable proportion amongst and green bodied Sandfly and brown bodied Grey Flag or Marbled sedge larvae.
Pheasant tail Nymph Size 14-16, Fish below riffles and through pools and margins as low as you can get them. Tungsten bead head variants may be very helpful in this. Represents a multitude of mayfly nymphs and even fry.
In the lakes there is an abundance of water boatman and lesser water boatman, making a corixa pattern favourite along with Blood Worm patterns.
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