White Drunken Daddy Fly

About the White Drunken Daddy Trout Fly

The White Drunken Daddy is a lively, highly visible Daddy Longlegs pattern designed to imitate a cranefly that has been caught by the wind and dumped awkwardly onto the water. With its leggy, unbalanced profile, it gives exactly the right impression of a struggling daddy kicking in the surface film; hence the “drunken” name.

This white version adds an extra level of visibility and attraction, making it useful not only as a Daddy Longlegs imitation, but also as a suggestive small fry pattern when trout are chasing pale baitfish or responding to movement near the surface. It is a particularly good choice in late summer and autumn, when natural daddies are common around grassy banks and trout quickly learn to treat them as an easy meal.

Fishing Tips:

Daddy Longlegs become a popular fly when once autumn starts to take a hold, and the fish get the taste for this easy meal real quick. Fish on an autumn's day when there is a slight breeze in the air. Daddies are not strong at flying, they get caught in light winds and often end up on the surface of the water where they make a mouthful for passing trout. Even if the trout are at a depth, the size of the daddies will attract them up to feed.

Fish the White Drunken Daddy on a floating line when daddies are being blown onto the water. A light breeze is ideal, as Daddy Longlegs are weak fliers and are easily carried onto lakes, reservoirs and river margins, where they become a substantial mouthful for trout.

Start by fishing it static, especially if trout are cruising close to the surface. If there is no response, add small twitches with the rod tip to make the legs kick and suggest a struggling insect. In a ripple, try skating or pulling it gently across the surface to create disturbance.

When trout are feeding deeper, the size, colour and movement of this pattern can still draw fish up. The white body also makes it worth trying when fry are present, particularly around margins, weed beds and shallow bays.

• Imitates: Daddy Longlegs, cranefly, wind-blown terrestrial, struggling surface insect, small fry
• Best season: Late summer and autumn
• Best conditions: Light breeze, grassy banks, ripple, autumn surface feeding and fry activity
• Fishing style: Static, twitched, skated, pulled or used as a searching dry fly

Country of origin for this trout fly: UK

This trout fly is designed to be fished on Dams & Reservoirs, Still Water

Pattern Dressings

• Hook: Longshank
• Thread: Brown
• Legs: Knotted pheasant tail
• Body: Hare's ear
• Rib: Thin pearl tinsel
• Hackle: Red cock
• Back: Tan craft foam