Pro Review | The Hyper Humpy from Manic Fly Collection
The Blowfly - this generation's Royal Wulff. Never a replacement, but the perfect accompaniment which holds its own. It's the all round, high floating dry which imitates most things terrestrial.
Trout look at prey images and silhouettes more-so than we look at pretty flies in our box. In smaller sizes the blowfly can imitate beetles, and in larger sizes a cicada if need be. Trout see them as a great meal and we just see them. Well, most of the time anyway!
It's easy to lose track of the drift using a white post in variable light, heavy foamlines or as the fly drifts through an interrupted shadow as found around willows, beech trees and rocky outcrops.
Enter The Hyper Humpy - the orange and white contrasting wing makes it easy to see and keep track of the fly - because if you can't see the eat, you can't set the hook, right? We have added bi-coloured hi viz wings to make seeing them a breeze.
We have also added a thin foam back for added durability, enough to assist floatation, but not enough to make it top heavy and spin on finer tippets.
I've been happy to fish them as they come in riffly water or to clip the hackle flush for stillwaters or calmer edge water presentations.
Available in Blowfly, Green Beetle, Brown Beetle and Gum Beetle (in sizes 12 - 14) this may very well become your goto subtle terrestrial, indicator dry or single presentation dry this season.
All in all, the Hyper Humpy deserves a place in every fly fisher's fly box.
Chris Dore
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Dore is a battle-tested fly fishing guide with over 20 years of professional guiding experience, battling the demanding, ever-changing conditions that our New Zealand rivers throw at us.
In 2006 Chris became one of the first New Zealanders to successfully pass the internationally recognised Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructors examination and has since taught many thousands of anglers to up their skillset.
For more in person and on river fly fishing advice and upskilling why not book Chris for a day or three?