Diawl Bach
Diawl Bach ('Little Devil' in Welsh) is a supremely versatile stillwater nymph that imitates midges, buzzers, and ascending pupae. Developed on Welsh reservoirs and made famous at Grafham Water in England. Its simple peacock herl body with silver rib and bronze mallard hackle is lifelike and irresistible at all depths. Fish it on a team of three, slowly retrieved or hanging on the point fly just under the surface film on calm days.
- Type
- nymph (Midge)
- Hook sizes
- #10–14
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall, winter
Materials
- hook: Wet fly or grub hook #10–14
- thread: Black or brown 8/0
- tail: Bronze mallard or partridge fibers
- ribbing: Fine oval silver tinsel
- body: Peacock herl
- hackle: Bronze mallard fibers or brown hen, sparse beard or collar
Tying steps
- Mount a size 10–14 wet fly or grub hook; start black or brown thread.
- Tie in a few bronze mallard or partridge fibers as a short tail at the bend.
- Tie in fine oval silver tinsel for ribbing.
- Twist 3–4 strands of peacock herl and wind a full body from bend to the 3/4 mark.
- Counter-wrap oval silver tinsel in 5 spirals over the herl body.
- Tie in bronze mallard fibers or brown hen as a sparse beard hackle at the head.
- Build a small neat head, whip finish, and cement.
- Inspect the completed fly — the bronze peacock herl body should have a natural sheen, and the beard hackle of guinea or partridge should sweep backward uniformly.