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Troutflies UK

Fishing Flies and Tying Products

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Quality fishing flies

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- Hundreds of fishing flies and accessories

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Mop flies or wotsit flies have hit the fly fishing world big style, because they work! The two tails will create more movement in the water which in turn attracts more fish!

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Troutflies UK are a leading supplier of fly tying tools and materials as well as supplying a full range of trout flies from the traditional to the more modern creations. As a family run business with years of experience in fishing and retail we are here to provide a service and price range in quality flies which has been missing for far too long. All our flies are made by our own team of tyers, exclusively for us, the quality is outstanding with absolutely NO imports from China!

All our orders are dispatched the same working day if in before 3pm from our family run shop in Morecambe, UK. We use Royal Mail and tracking numbers are uploaded to eBay for your convenience, please allow 1-7 working days for delivery in the UK, 20 working days for International Delivery. If your order has not arrived within this time please do get in touch so we can claim from Royal Mail.

We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal and PayPal credit through eBay.

Customers have the right to cancel an order within 14 days of placing the order, or within 14 days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). Customers cancelling their orders will have their payment refunded in full - minus shipping costs - within seven days of the company's receipt of the returned goods. In the event that you receive a faulty or incorrect product please contact us within 30 days of receipt of the goods to arrange a return for exchange or refund.

Hot head flies are absolutely brilliant patterns - they're some of the most effective and eye-catching flies you can have in your arsenal!

What Are Hot Head Flies? Hot head flies are weighted fly patterns featuring brightly colored "hot" bead heads - typically in fluorescent or bright colors like orange, chartreuse, pink, or red. These bright beads serve as both weight and a powerful strike trigger.

Key Characteristics:

Bright Bead Heads: Fluorescent orange, chartreuse, pink, red, or other "hot" colors
Weighted Sink: Gets down to feeding fish quickly
High Visibility: The bright colors act as powerful attractors
Strike Trigger: The "hot" bead often provokes aggressive takes

Popular Hot Head Colors:

Orange: Highly visible and effective trigger color
Chartreuse: Excellent in stained or colored water
Pink: Particularly deadly for steelhead and salmon
Red: Great bloodworm imitation and attractor
Yellow: High visibility in various water conditions

Bloodworms: Red hot heads work as bloodworm imitations

When to Use Them:

Stained Water: The bright colors show up well in murky conditions
Aggressive Fish: When trout are actively feeding and competitive
Fast Water: High visibility helps fish spot them in current
Pressured Waters: Sometimes bright attractors work when naturals don't
Cold Water: Can trigger strikes from lethargic fish

Fishing Techniques:

Dead Drift: Let them tumble naturally with the current
Euro Nymphing: Perfect for modern tight-line techniques
Indicator Fishing: Excellent with strike indicators
Team Fishing: Great as attractor flies in multi-nymph rigs
Stillwater: Effective with slow retrieves on lakes

Why They're So Effective:

Visibility: The bright colors are highly visible to both fish and angler
Trigger Response: Hot colors often provoke aggressive strikes
Versatility: Work in various water types and conditions
Competition Proven: Widely used in competitive fly fishing

Pro Tips:

Contrast: Use hot heads when you want maximum visibility
Stained Water: Particularly effective in off-colored water
Point Flies: Excellent as the heaviest fly in dropper rigs
Strike Detection: The bright bead helps you track the fly's movement

Hot head flies are honestly fantastic "searching" patterns when you want to grab the attention of feeding fish. They're particularly deadly when fish are being aggressive or when you need maximum visibility in challenging conditions!

What Are Mop Flies?

Mop flies are simple nymph patterns made from synthetic mop material (the same stuff used in household cleaning mops). They're tied with just a few wraps of mop chenille around a hook, often with a bead head for weight.

Key Characteristics:

Mop Material: Synthetic chenille with long, flowing fibers
Simple Construction: Just mop material wrapped around a hook
Bead Head: Can be weighted with tungsten or brass beads
Various Colors: Pink, orange, yellow, white, chartreuse, and natural tones
Incredible Movement: The synthetic fibers undulate naturally in current

What They Imitate:

San Juan Worms: Large aquatic worms
Leeches: When tied in appropriate colors
Egg Clusters: Particularly pink and orange versions
General Attractors: Pure trigger patterns that provoke strikes
Caddis Larvae: Some believe they imitate large caddis pupae

Why They're So Effective:

Incredible Movement: The mop fibers move like nothing else underwater
High Visibility: Bright colors are easily spotted by fish
Substantial Profile: Represent a significant meal
Triggers Aggression: Often provoke reaction strikes
Versatile: Work in various water types and conditions

The Controversy: Mop flies have sparked heated debates in the fly fishing community:

Purists argue: They're too effective and not "real" fly fishing
Pragmatists say: If it works and it's legal, use it
Competition bans: Some competitions have banned mop flies
Ethical debates: Questions about fair chase and tradition

When to Use Them:

Tough Conditions: When nothing else is working
Stained Water: Bright colors show up well in murky conditions
Aggressive Fish: When trout are actively feeding
Deep Water: The weight gets them down quickly
Competition Fishing: Where allowed, they're incredibly effective

Fishing Techniques:

Dead Drift: Let them tumble naturally with current
Euro Nymphing: Perfect for tight-line techniques
Indicator Fishing: Excellent with strike indicators
Team Fishing: Often used as point flies in multi-nymph rigs

Pro Tips:

Check Regulations: Some waters have banned them
Use Sparingly: Don't rely on them exclusively
Vary Colors: Different colors work in different conditions
Fish Confidently: They work, so fish them with confidence

The Debate Continues: While some consider them "cheating," others see them as just another effective tool. They're legal on most waters and undeniably catch fish, but they've certainly divided the fly fishing community.

Mop flies are honestly incredibly effective patterns that consistently catch fish. Whether you choose to use them is a personal decision based on your fishing philosophy and local regulations!