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WHO'S THE DADDY?
(Total FlyFisher 2009)

Something for the weekend sir? Loud, leggy and downright provocative, the Rubber Daddy is as deadly as it is fun to use, writes Dominic Garnett. Pictures by Paul Hamilton.

Amongst the many ingenious daddy longlegs patterns employed by the still water trout fisher, one bastard offshoot stands in a league of its own for sheer audacity. The bane of traditionalists as well as small water trout, this brash, straggly beauty is a great pattern for provoking a reaction, even when faced with coloured water or sluggish fish.
Whilst fly fishermen everywhere like to tell themselves, rightly or wrongly, that even their more outlandish patterns mimic nature, the Rubber Legs Daddy makes no such pretence. Sure, it looks well and truly “alive” when manipulated, combining the pulling power of a gold bead with the buzz of rubber legs, but did you ever see a crane fly break dancing beneath the surface? Not on your life. But this manic daddy is the king of wind up merchants.
So why do fish go for these rubber concoctions? Do trout always attack out of hunger, or does annoyance play a part? We may never know, but I suspect that whilst subtle presentations certainly fool trout, sometimes a vigorous action, perhaps even clumsy by comparison, can be deadlier still. But why try to eat something alien? Do the trout find its presence too much of a provocation to resist? I am reminded of one insightful angler’s words on the subject, that “fish don’t think, they react”. And “react” is an understatement when it comes to this gangling customer.

The Ultimate Impact Fly
Love it or hate it, the Rubber Daddy is a supreme “impact” fly. Whilst most patterns offer relatively little in the way of vibration, offering a primarily visual treat, the Daddy possesses an extra kick, quite literally. Knotted rubber legs stir up a real commotion as the pattern passes the trout, often getting an instant response. Might this be the reason that it sometimes gets a reaction when other patterns fail? I am in no doubt that trout can not only see the fly, but feel it too. Perhaps this should also be our first clue as to how to retrieve the daddy.
Many lures and “attractor” patterns are slated for the way in which, allegedly, any fool can strip the line back hard and take fish. This is a debatable accusation when you watch how skilful and deliberate some small water anglers are in their retrieves and certainly, the Rubber Daddy doesn’t benefit from either mindless stripping or from a delicate, snail’s pace retrieve.
The best way to get maximum effect is to give a series of lively twitches and jerks, interspersed by pauses and slower pulls. We can experiment, but above all, make it lively, erratic and committed. If your retrieve becomes pedestrian or monotonous, you are doing it wrong. In a strange way it seems that trout (and even fresh stockies) can almost sense a lack of commitment or confidence on our part. Why else is it that anglers on the same water, using almost identical patterns can enjoy such different levels of success? In less than perfect conditions in particular, the Daddy scores because it provides a “trigger”, and a striking, unusual one at that.
As with any lively pattern, finding the right depth and areas to fish are of paramount importance. Generally I like to commence fishing the Daddy on a floating line, counting down to different depths and watching the line carefully, since the fly offers a degree of “buzz” even on the way down and many a daddy has been snatched on the drop. Where sight fishing is possible, our rubber avenger is also terrific fun- try a few plucks and pauses to grab some attention, before giving it one more fatal kick just as your target fish catches up for a closer look. Often you’ll find that a fish will nail the fly on the pause, just after you have imparted a pluck or draw. Takes can be savage and I see no need to use a tippet any lighter than five pounds breaking strain. There are no hard and fast rules as regards the actual speed of retrieve- a rapid series of snappy pulls can work when fishing for active sub surface marauders, whilst cold and sluggish conditions may require longer pauses and gentler plucks to keep the fly closer to fish not prepared to chase far. Above all however, aim for a reaction. Wishy-washy retrieves are no way to do the Daddy justice.
A good way to tackle active trout cruising the top few feet of the water is to let the fly sink for a few seconds, then give a series of lively twitches before pausing to let it drop down again, and so on. This “sink and draw” style of retrieve makes sure the fly keeps dropping back into a take zone and you might be surprised just how many takes come as you pause and let the daddy is fall through the water. If the fish are lying deeper however, as they were on our visit to Newhouse Fishery where the shots were taken, an intermediate or sinking line may be required.

Seeing Red
Rubber Daddies can be tied in all manner of colours and sizes, but red still stands as the stand out favourite, closely followed by black. Natural scarcely comes into it- so shoot me, these flies are great fun to tie and use. Other options are manifold- a scruffier hare’s ear style dressing can work nicely, whilst a lime green, bright orange or yellow fly can all have their day and also be useful in coloured water or when bites dry up on subtler variants. Colour combinations also work well- for example, a “Viva” black Daddy with a green hot spot can work well.
A fly to suit the impatient if ever there was one, you’ll usually find out pretty quickly if your current choice will work. Often it is the case that you’ll get few hits on a particular colour, before a change is required to keep the attacks coming. Rainbows do wise up, and on several occasions I can recall casting a bright daddy into a pod of active fish where several bites ensued- followed by a lull. A change to black or another colour immediately earned more takes.
Don’t despair if some fish appear uninterested either- show the fly in a lively fashion to several individuals and one is almost certain to hammer it. If you can find a cluster of fish then so much the better; trout are even more aggressive when there is competition nearby. I like to rove around a small still water, since fish can’t be relied on to patrol evenly at our convenience. All the usual features are worth exploring, but one especially productive and neglected area is simply the “drop off” where the margins slope off into deeper water. Too many anglers just rush their offering through this area, hurrying their fly in so that they can make their next cast. A capital offence! Instead, as your fly gets close to this marginal slope, pause and let it drop for a few brief seconds. Retrieve those last few feet judiciously, keeping your eyes peeled for followers. The most exciting takes of all are these last minute smashes right before your eyes.

Small Rewards
Why is it that trout respond so well to certain patterns on one water, yet elsewhere the same flies are less effective? It is one of the enduring mysteries of fishing. You might expect stocked rainbows to be similar in habits from place to place, but alas, it isn’t always so. I have sneaked the odd trout from larger venues on this fly- but the pattern truly comes into its own on small still waters. Newhouse Fishery and Bellbrook Valley are two typical examples in Devon, but you could enjoy a field day on almost any small day ticket venue up and down the country.
Whichever water I visit, I just love to have a wander and try different areas- particularly on those regular occasions when the water is clear and fish can be located by sight. You can quickly gauge how fish react to your flies- and the Daddy can provoke some savage wallops. Anyone who thinks small still water fishing is tame sport really ought to try it!
The Daddy also has a supreme advantage in Britain’s unpredictable weather. Most of our day ticket locations are stream or spring fed, which is ideal for keeping the water cool and fresh, but not so perfect when there has been a real downpour and the water gains in colour. It’s sod’s law that rain of biblical proportions falls in the days before your planned trip. In such circumstances, many flies just disappear from view. The Rubber Daddy however, might just be your “get out of jail” card. Those rubber legs certainly kick out enough vibration to announce its presence to trout that may be struggling to locate our fly by sight alone; reason enough to own a few in case you do arrive to find ugly conditions.
At other times of year, the daddy can address a very different problem: when the water is warm and the fish have abundant natural food, it is an all too familiar situation to find trout sluggish and unwilling to accept a natural pattern in the heat of the day. Once again, the daddy is a fly that can provoke a reaction on such an unfavourable afternoon.
For several reasons therefore, the Rubber Daddy is a pattern well worth trying on your next still water visit. It’s great fun to use on a lively retrieve and highly effective on virtually any small water. It provokes a reaction where other flies pass unnoticed and could be your best bet given unfavourable conditions. Granted, you might still consider the pattern ungainly in appearance. One or two heart-stopping, rod-jarring takes however and you may find yourself converted to this rubber devil, truly the Daddy of wind up merchants when it comes to provoking a response.

TYING TIPS:
I can honestly say that the commercial variants are almost without exception inferior to “home rolled” models. Making and adapting your own is also great fun. Many variants exist- and you can also try different hooks and bead sizes to get different sink rates. By making your own, you can tailor patterns to your own favourite fisheries. If you regularly fish a real bottomless pit of a water, for example, swap the gold bead for tungsten. If your venue has very clear water, a smaller black daddy could be best.

Variety is the spice:
Of the various patterns tied, my all time favourite is still the bright red Daddy. A “Viva” or hotspot version is also worth trying though, as is a hare’s ear variant. Vivid colours are also fine- and you can use a marker pen to make contrasting bars on legs. The only limitation is your own imagination and a good selection can pay dividends on tricky days.

Lovely Legs
The crucial part of tying a good Daddy is in the legs. They can be knotted just once- but two knots give more “buzz”. Don’t cut your legs too short; around twice the length of the hook is about right. It is also worth gently stretching the ends to make them easier and less bulky to tie in place.
Several brands make leg materials, including Turrall and Veniards- and I’ve even used pole elastic as an alternative. Not all types are alike in thickness- but remember, you can achieve a thinner diameter with some by carefully stretching the rubber. Four legs is about right for slightly thicker rubber- but I up this to six with thinner material. The aim is to give plenty of movement and vibration without crowding the hook.

FACT FILE:
Newhouse Fishery
Our pictures were taken at this scenic small water near Totnes, Devon. This is an ideal sized fishery to enjoy cracking sport with rubber legged patterns. We fished the main 3 acre lake, although there is also a beginner’s pool. Accommodation is also available. A three fish ticket costs £18. Further Details from Adrian Cook, Tel: 01548 821426

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