Paul's November 2022 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Peacock & Partridge Wet Fly

Hook:  Hanak Wetfly Hook H230BL Size #12, or hook of choice. 

Thread:  Fluorescent Green UTC 70 Ultra Thread.

Tag:  Fluorescent Green Thread.

Rib:  Small Gold or Copper Ultra Wire.

Body:  2-3 Strands of Peacock Herl.

Soft Hackle Collar:  Hungarian Partridge Feather. 

This is a ‘traditional’ pattern that is very effective catching trout.  One comment I always state about ‘wet flies’, they are one of the most effective patterns on the river, yet, very few Fly Shops carry them.  If you’re a tyer, ‘This is a Home Run!’  It’s an easy fly to tie and here’s how I do it.

Begin by placing your hook in the vice.  Start your thread on the hook shank leaving an ‘eye length’ space behind the eye.  Take some securing wraps and then cut off the tag end of the thread.  Make thread wraps a little beyond the bend of the hook to create your ‘tag’.  Next, tie in your Gold or Copper Ultra Wire Rib.  Tie it in along the entire hook shank to create an even base for the rest of your fly.  Whip finish and cut off your Fluorescent Green Thread.

Switch over to Black tying thread for the rest of your fly.  Start the thread at the ‘tie in’ point behind the eye.  Take securing wraps and cut off the tag end.  Next, take 2 or 3 Peacock Herl fibers.  Tie them in about an inch back from the tips and wrap backwards binding them all the way to the bend.  Cut the tips off and begin wrapping the Herl forward towards the eye.  You want to create a uniform body.  Wrap up to the initial tie in point and tie them off.  Cut off the butt ends, then wrap your Wire Rib forward.  Use open spiral wraps to segment the body.  Again, tie it off at the initial tie in point behind the eye.  ‘Helicopter’ off the left over wire. 

Now prepare single Hungarian Partridge Feather for the Collar.  Strip off the ‘fuzzy’ feather base.  While holding the tip of the feather, stroke the rest of the fibers rearward.  You are now going to tie in the feather by the tip.  Once affixed to the hook shank you can cut off the ‘tip end’.  Holding the Feather by the butt end, raise it to a vertical position above the hook shank.  Stroke all the fibers rearward.  Take a couple wraps around the hook shank to create your soft hackle collar.  Now secure it with 2-3 wraps of thread behind the eye.  Cut off the butt end and create a 4-5 wrap whip finish.  Add a drop of ‘head cement’ to the thread wraps and you’re done.

There is a great instructional video by Tightlinevideo below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .