Fly Tying Focus: Steven Shorrock
We are delighted to welcome Fulling Mill pro tyer Steven Shorrock to Fly Tyers' Row at the Glasgow Angling Centre Autumn Open Weekend.
Steven will be demonstrating some of his favourite trout and grayling nymphs and dry flies, drawing on his fishing across the UK and Bosnia. It is a chance to see how he approaches fly design, material selection and the small details that help turn a good pattern into a consistently successful one.
For this week's Fly Tying Focus, Steven has shared the story and dressing behind one of his dependable winter grayling patterns: the Lady Killer.
The Lady Killer
The Lady Killer brings together ideas from two patterns created by Steven's friends and fellow fly dressers, Stevie Dallas and Neil Darling. It combines the rough, suggestive character of Stevie's Scruffy Caddis with the depth-seeking profile of Neil's Deep Swimming Bug.
Tied on a size 10 or 12 curved nymph hook with a 3.5mm or 4mm natural tungsten bead, it is a substantial, heavily weighted fly intended for high water and rivers carrying a little extra colour. The translucent flesh body is marked with purple, while the dark, mobile thorax and fluorescent red hot spot give the pattern plenty of presence without making it overly complicated.
Steven fishes the Lady Killer specifically for grayling, usually on the dropper as part of a Euro or French leader set-up. It is a pattern he saves for winter conditions on rivers including the Welsh Dee, Severn and Derbyshire Wye, when higher water pushes fish deeper. Fished above a heavier point fly, it has accounted for grayling of more than 2lb.
Lady Killer Dressing
From UK Rivers to Bosnia
Based in Cheshire, Steven was first introduced to fly tying by his grandfather nearly 35 years ago. After many years of coarse match fishing, he returned to fly fishing and fly tying, developing a precise style with a particular focus on tactical nymphs and dry flies.
During the trout season, much of his fishing is on the rivers of Staffordshire and Derbyshire, including the Wye, Derwent, Dove and Lathkill, in search of wild brown trout and rainbows. In winter, his attention turns to grayling on the Dee, Wye and Severn. He also travels to Bosnia's Ribnik and Pliva, where large, demanding fish provide the ideal testing ground for finely tied nymphs and dries.
Steven is a regular demonstrator at the British Fly Fair International and Irish Fly Fair, as well as at fly fishing clubs, shops and open days around the UK. Whether you are looking to improve your river patterns, refine your material choices or simply pick up a few practical tips at the vice, make sure you stop for a chat.
Meet Steven at the Autumn Open Weekend
The event is completely free to attend, with free parking, fishing demonstrations, casting lessons, fly tying sessions, weekend-only offers, prize draws and our Golden Ticket free gift.
Explore the full range of fly tying materials available from Glasgow Angling Centre and Fishingmegastore.
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