Spate rivers can rise and fall fast, and when they do, salmon get moving. With rain forecast and water levels set to climb, now's a good time to make sure you're carrying the right flies for coloured, high water — and a few smaller patterns for once it starts to drop and clear.
Tube flies are the go-to for spate conditions, riding the current well and fishable at any depth. The Collie Dog is a classic Scottish spate pattern with great movement, while Ron Sutherland's Feeler range adds modern materials and UV triggers — the Feeler Willie Gunn and Feeler Helms Cascade both have strong track records in coloured water. As the river drops and clears, step down to something smaller like the Classic Dee Monkey.
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