Fulling Mill Info:

 

Fulling Mill Products:

Fulling Mill Wet Flies & Streamers

 

Bassano's Bitch Variant

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

The "Bitch Variant” is also called “Fiona” from time to time. I was introduced to this fly by another one of Australia’s top fly fishermen, Royce Baxter from Ballarat. Royce, I believe had been shown this fly by Canadian angler and world championship silver medallist, Donald Tom. The fly is quite brash and fishes as such. I mostly fish this fly on the top dropper although many anglers have more success with it elsewhere in the cast. The red and black colour combination is a great fish catcher whether using dry flies or wets; this fly is no different.

Unlike ‘Shrek’ and ‘Humungous’, this is a fly that fish have a love/hate relationship with. When they are eating it, they will not look at another fly. If I have this fly on the cast for half an hour and have not caught a fish on it, I will take it off because when they want it, they will eat it and pull the rod from your hands in the process. It is a flashy fly and I find it more suitable to coloured water or overcast conditions. I could not count the number of times this fly has saved an unproductive days fishing by catching numerous fish when others are struggling. Again, if a less flashy fly is needed, simply cut some of the flash out of the tail. You will be taking this fly out of the back of a fish’s throat! Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA962

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Fur Fly - Small

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

When fish are in shallow water or tailing in bright conditions, this is my fall back fly. It possesses a great hot spot that trout seem to hone in on but remains subtle due to its size. I first used this fly at Lake Fergus when I was getting a lot of fish to look at the larger version. It was as if they wanted to eat it but changed their mind at the last second. The smaller version did the job for me and has continued to be my go to fly when fish are tough. The smaller profile means it sinks slightly faster than Large Fur Fly and will not "pull fish over" to the fly as readily. However, when fish can been lying stationary or crusading slowly, this subtle fly is eaten more readily and never fails to produce. Barbless.

Sizes: 14

Order Code: COA989

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Fur Fly - Large

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

This is one of my best two flies when fishing early in the season. Originally designed and tied by Rob Sloan, the fur fly is effective today as it was all those years ago. The design of this fly enables it to sink slowly when sticks and twigs are an issue and water levels high. The fur pulsates when the fly is pulled and stopped, making a wonderful frog imitation.

Whether in the western lakes, Little Pine, Bronte or any other water with shallow flats, this is often my fly of choice. Don't be surprised if the fly is also eaten "dry" as it floats after it lands.

As an additional bonus, I have also used this fly to great effect on Lake Eucumbene during low light as a middle imitation. The versatility of this fly is such that it is also a great top dropper fly when pulling wet flies from a boat or when fishing off the shore. Low slow draws with long pauses brings the best results. Barbless.

Sizes: 12

Order Code: COA988

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Humungous - Flashy

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

The Humongous has been an excellent fly for many years but as usual, we are always looking at ways to tie a fly that is just as effective as the original, but is less time consuming at the vice. The Flashy Humongous was conceived during one of these experimental sessions. It didn't quite achieve the goal of working as well as the original because the two flies seem to work well at different times.

This fly seems best in a smaller size than the original and it also has a smaller profile. In mainland lakes, the Flashy Humongous is the go to fly and seems to work well with a fast retrieve. Many competition anglers use this fly in dirty water but I think it is just as effective in clear water.

I have had success with the Flashy Humongous on the point or on either dropper in a team of flies. It is also very good when swinging rivers. Across the world, a black and gold combination is like chocolate to trout so it no surprise that this fly is essential in any lake in Australia. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA987

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Humungous - Gold

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

The Humungous was invented by Scottish fly fisherman, David Downey. As is the case with most woolly buggers, it does not represent anything specifically, but certainly attracts fish in all types of water. Although mostly used as a point fly, the humungous works equally well in the middle. Large sizes work well even when fish are a little shy. This fly catches fish in both lakes and rivers on a fast or slow retrieve although trout do enjoy chasing it! I often catch fish in the sunshine using this fly when all else fails. Competitive anglers in Australia will rarely be without this on the cast whether fishing near the surface or with fast sinking lines. Barbless.

Sizes: 8

Order Code: COA960

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Index Fly

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

The Index Fly is an unweighted damsel imitation. Damsel flies are prevalent in all of our Australian lakes, farm dams and rivers.

I was shown this fly by Royce Baxter from the Ballarat Fly Fishing Club. He and many there use it on Lake Wendouree for most of the year but predominantly during the summer months. Although the fly appears quite large, it certainly works best in this size. Being unweighted, it is usually used on the middle or top dropper when fishing from a boat but it is also a wonderful point fly when fishing from the shore with a floating line. The fly can be retrieved at whatever pace you like but generally works best with a steady, pull, stop, pull retrieve. When weed is growing near the surface towards the end of summer, it is particularly effective.

This is a great fly all around Australia. Barbless.

Sizes: 6

Order Code: COA990

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's McGoo - Olive Head

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

The olive thread head McGoo is another terrific damsel imitation that works very well in all of Australia's shallow impoundments. Whether it is farm dams or large lakes, this semi imitative pattern catches fish. When damsel flies and dragonflies are around, this McGoo pattern is extremely effective. The olive thread head lends itself to being used when the water is clear and the fish are being difficult to catch.

Using slow, long draws followed by long pauses is a good retrieve to start with over the top of weed beds. It doesn't matter if you are fishing off the shore with a floating line or out of a boat, deep and fast, this McGoo rarely lets you down. No Australian fly box is complete without some of these. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA976

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's McGoo - Orange UV Head

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

This fly originates from Ireland and was then further developed by Ballarat fly anglers, Vern Barby and, to a lesser extent, Craig Coltman. Although originally intended as a damsel fly imitation, the fly works very well when none are present. The slim profile makes it very effective when fish are being selective yet it still has "pulling power", attracting fish from a long way off. The fly works well on a floating line when fished from the shore on its own but really comes into its own in a team of flies on sinking lines. I prefer to fish this fly slowly but it is equally effective pulled hard and 'hung'. I have caught fish with this fly on all three spots on the leader but favour the point for the weighted version and the top dropper for the unweighted fly. Used on a SinkI 7 line, it is effective but as good as it is, I prefer it in a scenario when fishing in five feet of water or less. Not surprisingly, this fly is on the leader somewhere for almost all Victorian anglers when fishing lake Wendoree and alike. In Tasmania, there is not a lake it won't work on. In bright weather or when fish are slightly spooky, one piece of flash can be cut out of either side of the tail to increase your catch rate. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA944

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's McGoo - Copper Tungsten Bead

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

This fly originates from Ireland and was then further developed by Ballarat fly anglers, Vern Barby and, to a lesser extent, Craig Coltman. Although originally intended as a damsel fly imitation, the fly works very well when none are present. The slim profile makes it very effective when fish are being selective yet it still has "pulling power", attracting fish from a long way off. The fly works well on a floating line when fished from the shore on its own but really comes into its own in a team of flies on sinking lines. I prefer to fish this fly slowly but it is equally effective pulled hard and 'hung'. I have caught fish with this fly on all three spots on the leader but favour the point for the weighted version and the top dropper for the unweighted fly. Used on a DI 7 it is effective but as good as it is, I prefer it in a scenario when fishing in five feet of water or less. Not surprisingly, this fly is on the leader somewhere for almost all Victorian anglers when fishing lake Wendoree and alike. In Tasmania, there is not a lake it won't work on. In bright weather or when fish are slightly spooky, one piece of flash can be cut out of either side of the tail to increase your catch rate. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA942

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's McGoo - Orange Tungsten Bead

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

As for the McGoo but used more in dirty or milky water and when rainbows are common. This fly is often a first choice for me at the start and end of the season. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA943

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Roy - Gold Tungsten Bead

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

Top Australian angler, Craig Carey developed this fly and we named it after one of his daughters. It is reliable, colourful and attractive! This is the sort of fly that the fish can turn on and off to from day to day. When they are on it, you may as well have three of them on as they will not eat anything else. Having said that, it is more of a middle or top dropper fly and works best with a steady "pull, stop" retrieve. Unlike the McGoo, this fly seems to work better, the deeper the water is. In clear water, it can spook the fish from time to time hence, if you don't catch anything on it within an hour or so, take it off. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA945

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Shrek

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

Shrek has arguably been the most successful Tasmanian streamer pattern over the last few years. It was developed/invented by top Aussie angler, Joe Riley. Utilising the tried and proven colours of green, gold and red, this fly has caught fish in every waterway I have used it. Shrek has been very well thought out.  It has an uncanny knack of catching fish when all else fails and is readily picked out of the cast no matter which position it is fished in. For this reason, it really does not matter where it is placed on the cast. Such is its effectiveness that I have even heard of people using three of them at a time! Whether on the drop, the hang or the pull, this fly works. As is the case with all great flies, many people have tried to make it even better by changing the tying. This is the original and in my opinion, the best tying. If you want to fish it in brighter conditions or when fish are shying away from flashy flies, you can remove some of the flash in the tail. Early in the season it would be unusual not to catch 90% of your fish on this fly when fishing from a drifting boat in lakes such as Arthurs, Little Pine, Penstock, Bronte, Woods, etc.  Amazingly, Shrek works just as well after Christmas as it does beforehand. You can fish this fly with the utmost confidence. Barbless.

Sizes: 8, 10

Order Code: COA961

Order Group: 16

 

Bassano's Wooly Worm - Black

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Christopher Bassano Custom Selection. See Christoper's description below...

I caught my first ever lake fish on this fly decades ago and it is as successful today as it was then. Used as a point fly in a team or on its own while wading and searching early in the season, it is deadly. It sinks at just the right rate and has enough movement to be fished with slow twitches and long pulls. Although this fly works best during overcast and windy weather, at any stage when casting along drop offs and edges of weed beds, it is my go to fly. From Little Pine to Bronte and across the Western Lakes, this inconspicuous fly is best kept simple. Barbless.

Sizes: 10

Order Code: COA939

Order Group: 16

 

Beck's Green Machine

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Bill Beck Custom Selection. See Bill's description below...

I fish the green Machine as a point fly in a team of three flies using a Scientific Anglers Mastery Wet Tip in sink rate V. It is a consistent taker of fish and rainbows, in particular, love it. Use the Lurex Cat as the top dropper and Krystal Cat as middle dropper. Best fished from a drifting boat using a drogue to control the speed of drift. Vary your retrieve rate from short sharp pulls to long slow retrieves until you find a speed the trout like on the day. Also, mix up the depth fished from starting the retrieve as soon as the flies hit the water to counting down in multiples of 5 until the depth the fish are hanging in has been found.

Sizes: 6, 8

Order Code: COA927

Order Group: 14

 

Beck's Krystal Cat

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Bill Beck Custom Selection. See Bill's description below...

This fly is used in my 3 team rig and is attached on the middle dropper. The positioning of these flies is not set in concrete but, over many seasons of guiding, the positions I have recommended have proven the most reliable. Best fished using the Scientific Anglers Mastery Wet Tip in sink rate V with the Green machine on point and Lurex cat as top dropper. Best fished from drifting boat using a drogue to control the speed of drift. Vary your retrieve rate from short sharp pulls to long slow retrieves until you find a speed the trout like on the day. Also, mix up the depth fished from starting the retrieve as soon as the flies hit the water to counting down in multiples of 5 until the depth the fish are hanging in has been found.

Sizes: 8

Order Code: COA929

Order Group: 14

 

Beck's Lurex Cat

Click image to enlarge

Part of the Bill Beck Custom Selection. See Bill's description below...

This fly is used as the top dropper in a team of three flies and is the best catching wet fly I have used personally and when guiding clients. Works best using the Scientific Anglers Mastery Wet Tip in sink rate V and teamed with the Green Machine as point and Krystal Cat as middle dropper. Best fished from drifting boat using a drogue to control the speed of drift. Vary your retrieve rate from short sharp pulls to long slow retrieves until you find a speed the trout like on the day. Also, mix up the depth fished from starting the retrieve as soon as the flies hit the water to counting down in multiples of 5 until the depth the fish are hanging in has been found.

Sizes: 6, 8

Order Code: COA928

Order Group: 14

 

Tom Jones

Click image to enlarge

A hugely popular wet fly all over the world. Effectively imitates a wide range of trout prey items such as tadpoles, damsel nymphs and dragonfly larvae.

Sizes: 8, 10

Order Code: COA926

Order Group: 14

 

 

Back to top