FLYMPH FORUM

I know, I know, it's a Red Tag. I have a very tough time calling it that. My father always referred to it as a Brown Hackle Peacock. In the plastic bins at the hardware store it was labeled "BH Peacock SIZE 12" (as remembered by a little boy).

Hook - Mustad 3906
Thread - Uni-8/0 Black
Body - Plain Jane Peacock Herl
Collar - Brown Hen Hackle



My dads two favorite flys were the Muskrat and a Streamer called the Brown Bear. He had a few other patterns, but by and large as I remembered it, those were his two favorites.
So why the Brown Hackle Peacock when it wasnt one of his favorites? I was raised in Colorado. He was raised in Utah near the Provo River. When ever the discussion of fly fishing and patterns came up, he would always refer to his early years. He maintained the only fly one needed to catch huge Browns on the Provo River was, you guessed it, the BH Peacock SIZE 12.
I happen to know he always had a couple stashed away anywhere he ever fished, just in case the fish wouldnt hit one of his "favorites".

That would have taken place in the late 1930's till 1944 when he enlisted in the Marines.

Sounds like you have quite a heritage. Always intersting to hear the "why" and the stories behind folks favorite patterns.
Thanks for posting.

Pretty darn looking fly, too.

I have known this is a Red Tag. Great looking fly!

Wonderful post, Wayne. I enjoyed reading your comments, just as much as viewing this photo of the fly. Wonderful stuff.

Thank you Ray, KellyL, and chase creek. Truth is, I needed an excuse to post a fly with quite a bit of Red in it. I wanted to see how accurate my photo was. I wasnt going to post a Red Pt nymph on the flymph Forum.

Did you use a red wool tail?

Very nice "Brown Hackle Peacock". I like the way the body contrasts with the tag and hackle on yours.
Often in older British writings you will see a series of peacock ties, peacock & black.... peacock & brown and so on through the hackle colours, basically they are all the same fly, some with tags- some without, all are fish takers on any given day. Peacock herl has that something special that fish like..... a lot!

Dubbn, Cool that you are showing this classic, especially with the angle of your Dad's preferences. I can relate. I've been tying a few with peacock, but may increase.

I came across an impressive endorsement of peacock herl in THE AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK (1864). It was written by the man to whom Leisenring dedicated his book, calling Thaddeus Norris "America's Greatest Fly Fisherman."

Norris wrote: "Of the peacock's hurl, the copper-colored tint is greatly to be preferred; three-fourths of the bodies of the Trout-flies I make for my own use are wrapped with it."

Leisenring had this to say: "Peacock herl, especially the pure bronze-colored, is a fine material and is used in my dressing of the Red Hackle and Gray Hackle, probably the most killing general purpose flies I have used through the years. Use great care in selecting this bronze herl because it is quite rare. You will probably be forced to buy a package of magenta dye and dye some of the common greenish herl in order to achieve the true bronze effect."

Kelly, I can not believe I forgot the tail in my recipe! To answer your question about wool. I havent a clue. I have had this red yarn for 20 years now, and I dont have the foggiest what it's makeup is.

Thanks MM and Lance for the kind words. I have been guilty the past few years for neglecting Peacock. I will see if I can remedy that this year.

This is timeless whatever you name it. Great pattern. Cool pic.

w