Meaning "little devil", the diawl bach is a popular Welsh fly pattern used in British still waters, and an appropriate lure to use when the fish are feeding on midge pupae. The dressing is simple: size 8 to 14 hook, brown thread, a few barbs of brown hackle for the tail, copper wire, a few barbs of peacock herl for the body, and tying thread for the head.[1]

Diawl bach
Artificial fly
TypeWet fly
History
CreatorBritish
Typical hooksFulling Mill Competition Heavyweight Black size 10
ThreadUni 8/0 black thread
TailDyed black hen fibres
BodyBlack peacock herl
RibbingRed UTC Tinsel with Opal Mirage back
ThroatDyed black hen fibres
CheekJungle Cock

Variations

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Variations include jungle cock substitute cheeks, red head, hare's ear for the body and flash materials on the back.

Fishing approach

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Fish as one of a team of three flies drawn slowly on a dry line with a long leader. A particularly effective method is to let the wind push the floating fly line around and look for a twitch in the line as indication that a fish has taken the fly. It can be effective during a midge (chironomid) hatch, and a flashy version is worth using towards the autumn as a pinfry imitator.[citation needed][original research?]

References

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  1. ^ "7 Diawl back patterns for stillwater rainbow trout". Fly and Lure. Retrieved February 26, 2021.