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The Grey Duster: Why is it our Fly of the Month for August?
The Grey Duster's magic is its simplicity. By August, the large mayfly hatches of spring are long gone. Trout have grown wary and are focusing on smaller, less obvious food sources. The Grey Duster works because it doesn't try to be an exact imitation of a single insect. Instead, its subtle, "buggy" silhouette makes it a versatile "jack-of-all-trades" that looks like several things fish are eating.
A Great Midge Imitation: August is a peak month for midge (Chironomid) hatches, especially on still waters and slow-moving rivers. On a calm evening on any Scottish loch or the slower sections of the Clyde and Kelvin, you'll see the tiny, dimpling rises of trout sipping midges. The Grey Duster perfectly suggests one of these small flies sitting on the water.
A Fallen Terrestrial Insect: The banks are alive with insects in late summer, including small ants, beetles, and various "heather flies" that get blown onto the water. The Grey Duster is just small, grey, and buggy enough for a trout to mistake it for an easy, fallen meal.
A General Attractor: When you see a fish rise but cannot determine what it's taking, the Grey Duster is an excellent choice. Rather than trying to match the hatch perfectly, its suggestive profile is often enough to fool a selective fish when nothing else will.
In August's low, clear water, you need a fly that lands softly and won't spook fish. The Grey Duster's small, natural silhouette registers as "food," not "fake," making it a simple, reliable fly that gets the job done.
You can view our range of Grey Dusters here or tie one yourself with the materials below.
Basic Grey Duster Recipe
Optional (For parachute style wing): Wapsi Standard Cul De Canard - Natural
Want to learn how to tie the Grey Duster? Check out the video below where Davie McPhail shows us how.
| RIVERS | Yellow Owl | |
| LOCHS | Claret Snatcher | |
| WILDCARD PICK | Pearly Dabbler | |
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