We meet this next Thursday 27th November at The Baskerville Arms in Shiplake, from about 19:00- 21:30, as usual.

Programme this Week

Trout and Grayling Group

This week John W will be leading the group tying grayling wet flies: Red Tag and a Greenwell’s Glory – please see attached pattern sheet for the materials required.
These are classic traditional flies and should be in every angler’s trout and grayling fly box! Dressings (PDF)

I encourage any novices to tie the Red Tag with John – it is excellent for trout and grayling.

Sea Trout and Salmon Group

A change - I will be tying an Aurora Cascade on a treble and a double – a good fly on clear peat stained rivers for spring salmon   Dressings (PDF)

Novices

Peter Huggard can assist, however I encourage any novices to watch John’s demonstration of the Red Tag and practice it!

Pre-Christmas Dinner

As you all should know, we have a Dinner at the Baskerville on Thu 11th December (instead of fly tying).
If you are interested – please let Charles Lowe know your menu choice selection and pay, asap!.

Post Christmas Grayling Day.

Are you interested in a day on the River Test and carriers at Wherwell?
Cost is £80/rod, booked individually online. Possible days for up to 8 rods are December: 27th(Sat), 28th (Sun,) 31st (Wed) and Jan 2nd (Fri)

Please let Peter Huggard know what days you would fish if we put a group together and he'll indicate the most favoured day to those interested.

https://www.wherwellestate.co....

FDG Branch AGM

On Thu 8th Jan 2026 we will have a brief AGM and auction of capes, before our regular Fly Tying session.
Our Secretary will email the details and they can be found on the website.

Surplus Tools and Materials

If anyone has any surplus tools or materials that they would like to donate to get new tyers started, then please bring them along.

Game Bird Fly Tying Feathers

The Shooting / Beating Season has started.  Game Bird Feathers for Fly Tying are readily available from several of us. Please let Peter know if you would like any of the following feathers, or indeed any other game bird feathers:

Cock Pheasant Tails for bodies and tails (maybe even some melanistic black ones)
Hen Pheasant Tails & Wings for wings,
Mallard Drake Wing Blues for Butcher wet flies,
Teal black & white Flanks for wings,
French Partridge banded Flanks for hackles,
English Partridge Grey and Brown necks and breasts for hackles,
Jay Wing Blues for hackles,
Goose Quills for bodies,
Some feathers are better (eg Cock Pheasant Tails) in January when they’ve grown longer / thicker.

If there is sufficient demand – ‘we’ could probably dye some batches in different colours.

Please note our planned AGM and raffle of high quality capes donated by the estate of the late Frank Elder.

Without prejudice, we anticipate a short AGM and an opportunity for tying afterwards.

When: Thursday January 8th 2026
Where:  Baskerville Arms, 7 Station Rd, Lower Shiplake, RG9 3NY
When: Meet 1900 for 1915 start

Minutes of the last AGM (PDF)

Images of the capes (PDF)

Agenda to follow with a reminder closer to the time. 

We meet this next Thursday 6th November at the Baskerville Arms in Shiplake, from about 19:00- 21:30, as usual.

Trout and Grayling Group

This week John W will be leading the group tying Grayling wet flies: Disco Shrimp and a Killer Bug. Dressing (PDF)

Sea Trout and Salmon Group

A change from the Programme – Peter W will be tying an Alistair Conehead and an Alistair Tube. This is a proven fly for spring Atlantic salmon fishing in Scotland. Dressing (PDF)

Novices

Peter Huggard apologises that he won't be available this week. Other members will be happy to help you.

Pre-Christmas Dinner

We have programmed to have a Dinner at the Baskerville on Thu 11th December (instead of fly tying). 

If you are interested – please let Charles Lowe know on Thursday so that we can assess the numbers.

Nearer the time Charles will circulate a menu, and you can make your selection and pay.

Post Christmas Grayling Day

Are you interested in a day on the River Test and carriers at Wherwell?

The Wherwell Estate offers some of the best chalk stream fishing in the world, with seven beats and a private lake.
https://www.wherwellestate.co....

Cost is £80/rod, booked individually online. Possible days for up to 8 rods are December: 27th(Sat), 28th (Sun,) 31st (Wed) and Jan 2nd (Fri)
Please let Peter Huggard know what days you would fish if we put a group together and he'll indicate the most favoured day to those interested.

Surplus Tools and Materials

If anyone has any surplus tools or materials that they would like to donate to get new tyers started, then please bring them along.

Game Bird Fly Tying Feathers

The Shooting / Beating Season has started.  Game Bird Feathers for Fly Tying are readily available from several of us. Please let me know if you would like any of the following feathers, or indeed any other game bird feathers:

Cock Pheasant Tails for bodies and tails, Hen Pheasant Tails & Wings for wings, Mallard Drake Wing Blues for Butcher wet flies, Teal Breasts for wings, French Partridge banded Flanks for hackles, English Partridge Grey and Brown for hackles, Jay Wing Blues for hackles, Goose Quills for bodies.
Some feathers are better (eg Cock Pheasant Tails) in January when they’ve grown longer / thicker.

If there is sufficient demand – ‘we’ could probably dye some batches in different colours.

PS If anyone receiving this email would like to be removed from my distribution list – please email me.