July – River Fly Selection

July river fishing in the UK is typically characterised by settled conditions, lower water levels, and a shift away from spring hatches toward summer feeding patterns.

By this point, Mayfly hatches will usually be coming to an end on most rivers. In their place, various Olives and Yellow Mays become the dominant upwinged flies, often providing steady but selective surface feeding, particularly during calmer periods of the day.

Terrestrial insects play an increasingly important role through July. Beetles are a consistent feature, especially along tree-lined banks, and Flying Ants can become highly significant when conditions are right. When these terrestrials fall onto the water, they can trigger sudden and confident feeding, even when fish have been difficult to tempt.

Caddis activity is often prolific during July, with evening hatches in particular providing some of the most reliable dry fly fishing of the month. These periods of activity can be brief but intense, making timing and positioning more important than fly size or quantity.

During bright conditions or between surface activity, subsurface patterns should not be overlooked. Fish may drop below the surface during the middle of the day, and nymphs can remain effective when dry fly opportunities are limited.

The flies in this collection have been selected to reflect typical UK July river conditions, focusing on olives, terrestrials, and caddis patterns alongside dependable subsurface options for quieter periods.

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