Fulling Mill Dabbler Claret

Invented by accident, and Ireland has not looked back

Donald McClearn ran out of grey mallard while tying Goslings for a competition in County Down in the mid 1990s, substituted bronze mallard, and created a fly that is now part of the furniture on the Irish loughs. The wing cloaks the whole body rather than sitting on top, which gives the impression of an insect still coming out of its shuck. Claret is the colour that travels best. Fish it in a team on the surface, or on the middle dropper when there is a wave on.