Red Tag

[Mataura mayfly]

Hans, yes, but that applies to most material. The deeper it goes in the water column the more various the shade of grey. I was refering to surface or above surface colouration as most of the time I try to present these flies "dry" or just under the surface for the initial cast and if I am in the mood (or the trout are not rising to surface flies) I will snap them under as they reach the end of the dry drift and fish them wet on the swing.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Hans, yes, but that applies to most material. The deeper it goes in the water column the more various the shade of grey.

*chuckle* Indeed. The main point I was trying to make is that the herl does not have a specific, be it green, be it bronze, color itself.

Cheers,
Hans W

[flyfishwithme]

This may interest you all. It is from "Grayling and How to Catch Them - Walbran 1895.

No 1. - The Red Tag. Body, bright green karl from the "moon" of a peacock's feather; hackle, bright red cock's; tag, bright red wool; hook, No 0 Kendal scale.
Remarks. - This probably is the very best among the whole list of fancy grayling flies. I was the first to introduce it into the Yorkshire rivers, and its marked success soon made it a leading favourite. A Worcester gentleman gave me a pattern among others, in 1878, and the very first time that I used it on the Yore, I killed no less than twenty-five fine grayling through its agency. Sometimes I add a turn of gold tinsel under the red tag. Wool is preferable to floss silk as the latter soon gets sodden and discoloured.

Well there you have it.

Who would have thought that it migrated across to Australia where it has become probably the best known and used dry fly on the rivers and lakes, especially in Tasmania, for trout. You hardly see it anymore in the fly boxes of Yorkshire. I use it quite often on both trout and grayling where for the former I apply it when a good hatch is on. "Give em something different" was a catch cry of the famous Tasmanian guide - Noel Jestson - and it works a treat.

My version, and I thank you for your compliments, is tied with ginger hackle instead of a good red cock hackle. It would be better with a rich Rhode Island Red hackle. And I have used 8 strands of red floss silk instead of wool.

[DUBBN]

I have heard before that peacock, no matter the color (bronze or green), is black at any depth. I heard it on the internet so it has to be true.

[redietz]

The bronze you use, is it genetic bronze or dyed/ sun bleached green? There in could lie the fact there is little difference. The bronze I have and have sent to a few forum members is from a genetic bronze bird and I see a good difference in it wet compared to green I have. Perhaps some of the forum members that have some bronze I have sent over can comment?

I don't use bronze. I can't see that much difference when wet.

"Bronze" isn't genetic, it's from the part of the eye that is bronze in color.

[Mataura mayfly]

I don't use bronze. I can't see that much difference when wet.

"Bronze" isn't genetic, it's from the part of the eye that is bronze in color.

Therein may lie the reason you do not see much difference. There is a genetic mutation in some peafowl that will throw bronze herl tailed peacocks, both parents must carry the gene for the mutation to occur.
There is at least one breeder in Texas I know of aiming to produce it and a google search should be able to show you some of the different colour mutations that occur on the bird...... not at the dye shop.

[Kelly L.]

This may interest you all. It is from "Grayling and How to Catch Them - Walbran 1895.

No 1. - The Red Tag. Body, bright green karl from the "moon" of a peacock's feather; hackle, bright red cock's; tag, bright red wool; hook, No 0 Kendal scale.
Remarks. - This probably is the very best among the whole list of fancy grayling flies. I was the first to introduce it into the Yorkshire rivers, and its marked success soon made it a leading favourite. A Worcester gentleman gave me a pattern among others, in 1878, and the very first time that I used it on the Yore, I killed no less than twenty-five fine grayling through its agency. Sometimes I add a turn of gold tinsel under the red tag. Wool is preferable to floss silk as the latter soon gets sodden and discoloured.

Well there you have it.

Who would have thought that it migrated across to Australia where it has become probably the best known and used dry fly on the rivers and lakes, especially in Tasmania, for trout. You hardly see it anymore in the fly boxes of Yorkshire. I use it quite often on both trout and grayling where for the former I apply it when a good hatch is on. "Give em something different" was a catch cry of the famous Tasmanian guide - Noel Jestson - and it works a treat.

My version, and I thank you for your compliments, is tied with ginger hackle instead of a good red cock hackle. It would be better with a rich Rhode Island Red hackle. And I have used 8 strands of red floss silk instead of wool.

I find this very interesting. Do you have photos? I have some of those green moon like feathers.

[Kelly L.]

The Red Tag is a fly I've always meant to tie, but never have. After seeing this thread, I am gonna have to try some of these flies I read about, and see photos of. Thanks.

This is my version Kelly. Easy tye, and really effective for me on rivers and lakes.

Thank you. I will have to dig the red wool out. I am gonna have to try these out. (also the one with yellow in it that was mentioned) Photos are very beneficial. This looks like an easy tie, and very very productive.

[Kelly L.]

Kelly, the Red Tag and it's cousins in various forms is a fly you should tie and fish. It is fairly simple, but works well and has been proved through the centuries.

Lance, nice tie and use of some fancy looking herl there. It might just be me, but I would dispense with the body rib of tinsel or perhaps go with wire. The tinsel compresses and constricts the herl a little. Just my opinion and if you are trying to copy/ follow an old pattern please disregard!

Nobody has mentioned the Worm Fly yet. Harness two of these wee fellows together, the rear most fly snelled to the front one with a short piece of tippet (gut in the old days) at tying time and you have yourself a Worm Fly.

Do you prefer hen or cock hackle? Wet or dry fly hook? I have both. I may try both ways too. Thanks for the recommendation. I have been busy, and haven't been tying in the past few days.

[Donald Nicolson]

To think I missed all this great 'conversazione' ( A little bit of literary pretension there).
The Red Tag is still regarded highly by a lot of Grayling anglers. In Woolley's
'Modern Trout Fly Dressing' it has its place along with all the other variations,
Treacle Parkin etc.
As was seen in the fly I submitted for the recent swap, I quite like beetle (Clock) flies.