August – River Fly Selection

August river fishing in the UK is often defined by low, clear water and cautious fish, making fly choice and presentation particularly important.

By this stage of the season, Mayfly hatches will have finished on most rivers. Surface activity is instead driven by smaller upwinged flies, with various Olives and Yellow Mays providing the main aquatic hatch when conditions allow. These hatches are often light and sporadic, and fish can be highly selective.

Terrestrial insects play a major role throughout August. Beetles are a consistent and reliable food source, particularly along tree-lined banks, while Flying Ants can become critically important when falls occur. When ant falls coincide with warm, settled conditions, they can produce some of the most concentrated surface feeding of the summer.

Caddis activity remains strong through August, especially during the evening. These hatches can provide excellent dry fly fishing during the last hours of daylight, often when daytime activity has been limited by bright sun and low flows.

During much of the day, however, fish may be reluctant to rise. Subsurface patterns, fished carefully and with minimal disturbance, can remain effective when trout are holding deeper or feeding intermittently below the surface.

The flies in this collection have been selected to reflect typical Allow August river conditions, focusing on subtle upwinged flies, terrestrials, and evening caddis patterns, alongside understated subsurface options for low and clear water.

If you’re unsure which flies best suit your local river or current conditions, we’re always happy to help.