Ballynahinch Badger Atlantic Salmon Fly

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Ballynahinch Badger Atlantic Salmon Fly.

Ballynahinch Badger | www.johnkreft.com

This is one of five Atlantic Salmon flies my friend Jim Fisher purchased during his 1986 fishing trip on the river Spey in Strathspey, Scotland.

Atlantic Salmon Flies | www.johnkreft.com

He was successful landing a 32 inch, 12 pound Atlantic Salmon on a Munro Killer using a Winston 9′ 6 weight fly rod paired with a double taper floating line. He told me it was the only rod he had with him. He fished the fly like steelhead fishing, casting 3/4 downstream and letting the fly swing.

Two Small Ballynahinch Badger Flies | www.johnkreft.com

I was surprised by the size of flies used to catch these fish. I assumed larger flies were used to catch those beautiful fish. He purchased a box of Mustad # 3562 C in sizes 6 & 8 to tie additional flies. He states their sizing is interesting; a size 8 is equivalent to a size 10 standard dry fly.

Jim used Hairwing & Tube Flies for Salmon & Steelhead by Chris Mann, to identify the fly.

I appreciate having a researcher I can count on!

Enjoy…stay home, stay safe!

(John Kreft is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.)

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