Viking Lars | Saturday, 22 February 2020
Fly fishing for sea trout in the salt is without doubt the most popular form of fly fishing in Denmark. It’s far from the oldest - as anywhere, fly fishing was for decades exclusively associated with trout and grayling in rivers and streams. The first reports of fly fishing in the salt in Denmark is from the 1920ies, where a few people were exploring the southern parts of Sjælland with a fly rod. Even a decade later, in the 1930ies, any fishing from the beaches with any type of rod was a rarity.
That has changed! Dramatically to say the least. In the mid/late 1960ies salt water fly fishing began to take shape and has continued to grow and grow in popularity. Even when I began fishing the salt in the early 1990ies, it was rare to see a fly fisher although common to meet other fishermen. Now I almost always meet other fly fishers when out.
With over 5 decades of continued growth it’s natural that many flies have been developed for this fishing. I don’t really have an opinion on when you can call a pattern a classic. Maybe when it’s been widely published, is widely recognised and well known and well accepted?
At least this pattern meets the above criteria. A very simple fly, originated by Danish author and fisherman Steen Ulnits, who early on made fishing his career, writing articles and books on many different subjects. In 1986 he published “Flytying 4” (in a series of books on fly tying), focusing on synthetic materials. In it he presented his brand new fly, The Christmas Tree. The pattern came together after the arrival of flashabou braid in Denmark. The first version was tied on tubes to imitate rag worms. Reading the description of the patterns, it seems to have originated some time in the early 1980ies.
It since made in onto hooks, and this is the version most people know. It’s simple, fast to tie and it really is a very effective fly. I tie both the original version and a slightly more “complex” version, where I add a hackle (here in pink in keeping with the winter season, but I also use olive and brown) and a Pro Sportfisher SoftHead to add eyes and make it look a little more “fishy”. I turn the palmer hackle over wet UV-glue and then set it with the torch, making the fly more or less indestructible.
I’ve caught many fish on this fly (and it’s many variants), and of course the author has as well - and more or less all over the world. If I recall correctly, I think Paul had some good fishing with one of my variants on an English reservoir - maybe Rutland, some years ago.
So go ahead a tie some. The original version takes app. 5 minutes to tie, so they’re fast. I tie mine in #4-8, but you can tie them more or less any size. A version where you gather the “front hackle” in a wing on the underside of the hook, and place a set of dumbbells on the top side of the hook, gives you a great hook-point-up-bottom-seeking-fly.
Have a great weekend!
Lars
Patterns:
Christmas Tree (original):
Hook: Ahrex SA 250 #4-8.
Thread: Red 6/0.
Underbody: Red wool.
Tail, body and fronthackle: Flashabou mylar tube, one piece slipped over body, tied down at tail. Tie off. Stretch in place over body, tie down behind hook eye, floss up mylar and fold back. Tie down as hackle. Whipfinish thread and varnish head. Done.
My variant:
Hook: Ahrex SA 250 #4-8.
Thread: Red 6/0.
Underbody: Red wool.
Tail, body and fronthackle: Flashabou mylar tube, covered in thin layer of Pro Sportfisher Thin Flex UV resin.
Palmer hackle: Pink cock hackle.
Head: Pro Sportfisher clear SoftHead to match hook size, with Pro Sportfisher FlexiEyes to match head size. Eyes secured with Pro Sportfisher Thin Flex UV resin.
Tie down red yarn and wind underbody. Tie off. Floss up a piece of tube for tail, slip over and tie down with red thread. Tie off and varnish or glue. Stretch tube tight over yarn body and tie down behind hook eye. Tie in hackle of choice and tie off. Spread a thin layer of UV-glue and wind hackle in wet glue. Set glue with torch. Floss up mylar tube and fold back. Add a small dab of UV-glue and slip over the Pro Sportfisher SoftHead. Set glue. Glue in eyes. Done.