Goran Grubic's Flies              Aleksandar Panic's Flies

            In four decades of fly fishing one has to pass through all possible development phases and gasp many different influences both as tier and fly fisherman. On the following page you will see again how adult fly fishing age, great personal and fishing experience with a strong desire to enjoy every aspect of fly fishing prevail over youthful attempts of “exact imitation”. Among many flies with a bit or more of originality we have chosen just a small fraction of Goran Grubic’s collection, which produced many fine fishing moments in the recent years. Even a brief look on those imitations shows that they are representing total impressionism in tying. Just the basic contours are imitated, which are common for a wide specter of naturals, while details are given free and to fulfill some important conditions: silhouette, size, colour and behavior in the water. Those imitations are universal but also simple for tying and quite durable, which is achieved with the use of certain materials and also with the construction method.

   Danica Grubic is one of the few imitations where author abandoned total impressionism. It is a successful attempt to imitate mature nymph and emerger of the largest mayflies (Ephemera danica). With only four elements there is clear picture of the nymph with its contour, contrast between abdomen and thorax and moveable parts of the body.         Hook: wet fly model #12-10                                Tail: few fibers from pheasant’s tail inserted in the abdomen with a needle                                            Body: furled wool or synthetic yarn, attached near the hookbend                                                             Thorax: Fox fur or some brownish-gray dubbing       Wing covers: fibers from pheasant’s tail

            Deer Hair Floating Nymph is an example how a good idea and skill can produce a fine flies from just one material. Its qualities qualified it, among few hundred more flies, for the famous book Tying Emergers (Leeson and Schollmeyer, 2004). It is very close to universal fly because with the use of different colours of deer hair it may imitate most aquatic insects that have characteristic low lying position during emergences.                                                   Hook: light nymph type #10-16                            Tail, body, thorax and hackle: deer hair tied Muddler-style and clipped to shape 

             Furled Copper Nymph is the imitation for summer fishing in deep and fast water. It was successful both as caddis and mayfly imitation, although it looks more like mayfly nymph. Typical general fly very useful when we don’t know what the fish is taking at the moment.                             Hook: nymph model, # 8-14, weighted with lead wire under thorax                                                          Tail: few fibers from pheasant’s                                 Body: furled copper wire                                           Thorax: gray rabbit dubbing                                      Wing covers: few fibers of pearl Krystal Flash               Bead: gold brass, size according to the hook size

             Goldhead March Brown is the heavy weight version of the old time standard. Its purpose is the same – deep nymphing in the areas where conventional nymph methods are not able to reach. Very successful fly, which in a range of sizes can be used all through the season.                                                    Hook: heavy nymph type 1x long, #8-14, weighted with a lot of lead wire                                                Tail and hackle: partridge hackle from the back      Body: hare’s ear (grayish brown) type dubbing    Ribbing: gold wireThorax: same as body               Bead: gold or silver brass, size according to the hook size

          March Brown Jig Nymph is almost like former nymph but the special hook model and weight distribution help it to hold upside-down position, which in some occasions can be interesting for trout and also snags the bottom much more less often than standard nymphs.                                                          Hook: Mustad C49S, VMC - or similar, #8-14 Other elements are the same as for Goldhead March Brown

         Silver Goldhead Nymph is also a mix between soft hackle (“spider”) fly and a nymph. Shining body improve nymph’s visibility in deep or coloured water, which also increases its attraction.                     Hook: heavy nymph type 1x long, #8-14, weighted with lead wire                                                           Tail and hackle: grizzly or partridge hackle               Body: pale gray fur mixed with some silver and pearl Lite Brite dubbing                                          Ribbing: silver wire                                           Bead: gold or silver brass, size according to the hook size

           Silver Nymph is both imitation of grayish nymphs and small fry. Like previous imitations it joins details from soft hackle flies, Bird’s Nest fly, and small streamers. Its main features are silver body, pulsating feather and upside-down position, which is achieved with the hook model.                                               Hook: TMC 2302, # 8-12, weighed near the head       Tail and hackle: blue dun hen                             Body: silver and pearl Lite Brite                        Ribbing: silver wireBead: silver brass, size according to the hook size

        Synthetic Pheasant Nymph is large dark nymph using the idea of large wet Coachmen, and Teeny Nymph, with the sparkling tail and soft hackle. It is a fly for high spring waters, when it is similarly effective like Prince Nymph, but is much simpler to tie and stands trout teeth much better. Very useful when large Stoneflies are hatching.                                           Hook: heavy nymph type 2x long, #8-12, weighted with a lot of lead wire                                                     Tail: pearl Krystal Flash                                            Body and thorax: pheasant tail (chestnut brown) Lite Brit or similar material                                               Legs: dark partridge hackle, or Whiting Cock de Leon hen hackle                                                              Bead: gold brass, size according to the hook size

            Green Mono Pupa is caddis pupa imitation. Body and longer hackle produce effect of sheath, while its body has sparkling effect when the fly moves from shaded areas to sun.                                       Hook: caddis pupa or scud model, # 10-14     Underbody: silver Krystal Flash                    Overbody: furled fluorescent green monofilament (0.20 mm or similar)                                               Thorax: grey rabbit fur                                   Hackle: partridge hackle from the back                Bead: gold brass, size according to the hook size

          Hairy Sedge representative of simple and tough imitations. It tying can be done in just a few minutes and the result is a fly that floats well, can be used universally and has strong appeal to the fish. Typical high-riding dry fly which associates on fluttering caddis or stone fly.                                                   Hook: dry fly # 8-14                                         Body: olive Fly Rite or similar polypropylene dubbing                                                          Body hackle: quality grizzle hackle in palmer style  Wing: stacked elk hair                                    Hackle: quality hackle reddish brown       

            Goran's Hedgehog is like Deer Hair Floating Nymph, a fly that can be tied very rapidly and than finally shaped with scissors. This is a low-lying caddis imitation of a newly hatched fly just about to start flying. Natural gray model is fine for trout fishing while Hedgehogs tied in florescent colours can be also good for chub.                                                       Hook: dry fly # 10-14                                        Body and wings: four or more bunches of stacked roe deer hair; final shape is given with scissors

                    Hare & Elk a general fly with great floating ability. Body made of hair from (European) hare’s foot and elk wing guarantee floating, and it can also withstand all modern floating liquids (which CDC can’t). It is an emerger useful on both fast and slow water. It does look more like caddis emerger, but can also be when paler coloured duns are on the water.          Hook: dry fly, 1x long, # 10-14                          Body: of hair from (European) hare’s foot placed in a dubbing loop (tying thread or thin copper wire) and twisted to obtain rough dubbing brush                 Wing: elk hair

                  Flame Sedge variation of the Hairy Sedge created for low visibility situations. Orange hair can be seen from a great distance, looking like a small flame on the water. We specially recommend it for elder colleagues with poor eyesight. The trick with highly visible materials can be used in many floating flies, which makes them also very good strike indicators. Hook: dry fly, 2x long, # 8-14                             Body: brown Fly Rite or similar polypropylene dubbing Body and collar hackle: reddish brown cock           Wing: Darker elk or deer hair with about 10 hot orange hairs on top.