Sydney Fly Rodders' Club Incorporated

MIDGE NIGHT
At the Sydney Fly Rodders' Club Incorporated July fly tying night, in keeping with mid-winter midging, we focussed on Midge life cycle flies ( Chironomids). Pupa from the stomachs of Wainui Bay (Lake Eucumbene) trout came in various colours from reddish / olive to brown/black, 6 to7 mm in length (about a size 18 hook). Occasionally adult midges ball up forming dense colonies that roll along the water surface - best imitated by a Griffiths Gnat (Midge Ball). A good standard rig is a Griffiths Gnat suspending a pupa imitation. As midge rises are usually haphazard all over the place, the Gnat is seen more easily by both fish and fisher.
A member has since found that the blood worm we tied on the night is an excellent Whiting fly.

2026 Tie-In
Last weekend we conducted our 2026 Tie-In. Morning tea included scones jam and cream, maintaining a Tie-In tradition. Four of the attendees identified as “Beginners” and we provided them with dedicated experienced tiers to help. Great to see members tying flies for the first time getting up to speed on the basics.
While we emphasised the fundamental core skills needed to tie any fly, we focussed on the Mayfly life cycle from Nymph to Spinner.
In case you are a saltwater tier - clouding over at the thought of a freshwater brown nymph - did you know that the 10 core skills needed to tie a Hare & Copper are identical to those needed to tie a Gotcha! (Provided you dub and rib the body)
We apply the Skill Lesson instructional approach of Tell-Show-Do where we break each pattern into tying steps leaving no one behind.
A great day was had by all.

WOMENS RECREATIONAL FISHING LEAGUE

The Sydney Fly Rodders Club supports the Women’s Recreational Fishing League. https://www.womensrecfishingleague.org/ Both the League and our Club encourage more women to fly fish. The League particularly encourages every Australian woman to realise their full potential and recognise that recreational fishing is a catalyst for empowerment, wellbeing, and positive mental health.

On the weekend of 8 August the League conducted a conclave at Dunmore Trout Waters https://www.dunmoretroutwaters.com.au/ (just North of Guyra) - a perfect location for the task of teaching casting, fishing and fly-tying to twelve League members. Most had never held a fly rod or tied a fly.
Gavin Van Der Wagen and I (Dave Wilson) were the two Club volunteer helpers.

The pattern we tied was a Hare & Copper Nymph containing just 3 materials but rich in 10 core skills applicable to any pattern. It certainly worked on the local trout.
It was gratifying to see people who have never held a fly rod catch fish the next day using a fly of their own tying. If there was any gap in our instruction it would have been managing panic when “striking” and playing fish. (Dunmore’s main lake is filled with big brood stock trout from the nearby Ebor hatchery and consequently break-offs were too frequent!)

Scott Levi from the ABC radio program Big Fish, interviews Jo Starling about the WRFL weekend. If you missed the program at 5am on Saturdays you can always hear the program at https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/thebigfish

We have a number of female members and encourage more women to join. It was a great weekend (with -6C mornings) however, I’m glad the Sydney Fly Rodders Club volunteered again to help.

Sydney Fly Rodders Monthly Meeting
When: 10 Aug 2026 7:00 PM
Where: Freeway Hotel, 115 Reserve Road, Artarmon, 2064

EVENT DETAILS:

The Monthly Meeting will be held at our regular venue, The Freeway Hotel, 115 Reserve Road, Artarmon, 2064 (Google maps) commencing at 7:00pm. Members will arrive from around 6pm so feel free to come early and enjoy a drink and some dinner with fellow members.

Scott Levi, host of "The Big Fish" on the ABC radio and podcast platforms. This will definitely be meeting to attend.

So come along and enjoy another great night out with fellow members.
Check the website for details of upcoming events.

Gone fishing day coming soon.

Well worth looking in on this online event. I attended this presentation and it highlights the need for much better attention to our waterways.

❗️Attention NSW OzFishers❗️

TONIGHT’s virtual event is your last chance to join the conversation around the future health of NSW’s waterways.

Over the past month, the NSW Community Water Quality Tour has brought together researchers, rec fishers and community groups for lively discussions, fascinating insights and inspiring ideas about how we can work together for healthier waterways and better fishing.

If you couldn't make one of the regional events, you have one final opportunity to be part of the conversation – no matter where in NSW you live, work and fish.

OzFish Unlimited will be hosting the tour’s one and only online session tonight, 23 July, from 7pm to 9pm.

Professor Kirsten Benkendorff of Southern Cross University, marine biologist Dr Ben Diggles, and aquatic veterinary specialist Dr Matt Landos will offer their insight and expertise on some of the biggest challenges facing NSW waterways today.

The session will end with an open discussion – your local knowledge and firsthand observations could play a vital role in turning conversation into community action!

Register for free at ➡ ozfish.org/NswCommunity4cc321.

We can’t wait to see you there!

We have our usual monthly Fly Tying on Monday night and on the 15 August a tie in day of skill development by tying the life cycle of a mayfly.
I have been thinking of warmer days and the selective beetle eaters of summer.

The mild winter weather has plenty of members out chasing trout in the regions lakes.

Dates for the Diary
Casting Practice
14 June 2026 l 9:00 AM l Timbrell Park, Henley Marine Drive, Five Dock

Monthly Meeting
15 June 2026 l 7:00 PM l Freeway Hotel, 115 Reserve Road, Artarmon

Fly Tying
22 June 2026 l 6:30 PM l Freeway Hotel, 115 Reserve Road, Artarmon

HAIR & FLAIR SKILLS
At the Sydney Fly Rodders Club Monthly Fly-Tying night, participants developed hair management skills needed to tie Clousers, Crazy Charlies, Gotchas, Elk Hair Caddis’s and tails on Royal Wulff’s and Humpies using natural hair.
We tied a Clouser demonstrated by Bob Clouser on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwl9ew6E2Pk
Why use the term “Cris/Cross” wraps instead of “Figure-of-Eight” wraps when attaching dumbbell eyes? Those of us raised on freshwater tying were confined to “figure-of-eight” wraps.
Note how Bob introduces immediate tension by firstly wrapping multiple criss wraps, then secondly, he twists (wrenches) the eyes back into place and then applies multiple cross wraps until the counter forces square up the eyes. Then the usual figure of eight wraps (criss/cross), horizontal “helicopter” wraps and H wraps followed by more criss/cross wraps.
Some tiers file the hook to rough it up! Others (like me) form a thin bed of fine dubbing as a base for the dumbbells.
Superglue helps as does knowing where the best hair is located on a Buck Tail.
Belgian casting is the order of the day when casting heavy lead eye Clousers and Belgian Chocolate while tying also helps!



https://flytyingskills.com/ Sydney Fly Rodders' Club Incorporated

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