UK FISHING FORUMS

Yes thought that would get you looking.................. of course the correct spelling is boobys, its a fly not liked by many fishery owners and is often banned on many waters. Why ?? i hear you say ...because its deadly, but sadly when fished incorrectly it can deep hook many trout and can lead to damaged or dead fish obviously not what your average trout fishery owner wants to see. Here is a brief guide to how i believe the booby should be fished.

The basic method of fishing the Booby is very simple. Use a fast sinking line, I find a shooting head best, no more than 500 cm (24") of leader to the Booby and cast it out. Give the line plenty of time to sink and pull the fly down to the bottom. Even in only 2 or 3 metres of water this can take 30 seconds or more. If there is any current at all it will take longer.

Once the fly has settled retrieve the fly in short, 10 to 20 cm (12") tugs, pausing between each tug. The pause is important, the fly must be allowed to float back up, because tugging on the line pulls it down. That pretty much is that.


Booby flies have copped some negative flack, especially about some anglers using the fly on a 'heave and leave' basis. That is simply casting out the fly and leaving it until some fish comes along and gobbles it.

I once saw a guy cast out a Booby then walk back up the bank stripping line behind him till he reached a seat and sat down to wait. This made me angry. Then I reflected that this guy was no fly fisherman.

But to ban a fly that is effective for the many who fish it as fly fishermen, for the sake of the very few who fish it as bait fishermen seems to be a bit like using a sledge hammer to drive a tack. Besides I have observed some anglers using a couple of nymphs under a giant indicator on a heave and leave basis.

Any one who believes Booby flies should be banned because they float underwater will I trust never use weighted lines or weighted nymphs for the same fractured logic in reverse. To decry a fly because it is effective when fished as a fly seems to strike at the very core of the inventiveness that has characterised the fly-tiers art since it began.


The name ...well you wouldnt call it TIT HEAD would you ??

Boobies are great Gaz can you tie dog biscuit flies

Yes, the best way to do them is tie them up then roughly cut them into the shape of a dog bicuit or pellet depending how you want to fish it. The other alternative is to glue on something like cork and again chop that to shape, i assume your reffering to the pattern tied up with deer hair them trimmed ??

yes mate i think he is if you would not mind gaz mate i will av a dog biscut one of you let me no the price

I will tie you some up for zip pal if i get a chance before the social i will post step by step tying instructions in my fly tying blog too.

billy barbel wrote:I will tie you some up for zip pal if i get a chance before the social i will post step by step tying instructions in my fly tying blog too.

You are just a big softy! Make the little scroat pay for it, coming on here flashing his teeth, fluttering his eyelashes and generally chatting you all up!

thats very kind of you badger should i apply the RRP's to your orders also then mate seeing as how your in generous mood ......................

guess not then ............... im off for an afternoon till dusk session today at a local carp water supposed to be the place to learn im told.

Good luck Gary. Maybe you can pass on a few tips to me too!

I doubt it mate

hoping to have a crack at fluff chucking on wednesday may 20 with mickytyke of this parish ...... organised through the Dank Side .....can we have a fly fishing social Dan , can we Dan can we

Yes please up here somewhere ............................. for a change Mick if you want some flies let me know i will bring them down for woody to bring back i tie my own and i have boxes and boxes them.....