Peacock Herl Bodied Flies

[Bass_Bug]

The easiest way for pictures and recipes is to type "fly recipe peacock herl" in a search engine (Google, Bing etc) and then click 'Images'. If you see a particular fly that's appealing to you click on the image and the web page hosting that image will open with the picture and recipe.

[coltranem]

Emerald Caddis
Hook: wet fly (mustad 3906) 14-18
Body: tan dubbing
Rib: copper or gold wire
Thorax: Peacock herl (I used 3 for a size 14..I like to wrap them around the thread before winding on)
Hackle: Partridge

[skondolf]

Syl's midge

[Buddy Sanders]

Guys,

While all of these fancy names and such may mean something to each of you, remember they are not in any way descriptive..one reason that photos are nice, since what may be called Bill's Pride of Invention in Clark County may be called Missy's Misstep in Missoula....and the pattern that your friend 'invented' last week was probably tied by another fellow fifty years ago and called something else....

EVERY fly that uses any material wrapped on it's shank can have that material replaced by peacock herl. Why that requires a new name is beyond me, but that's just how it's been done for decades.

I'd even argue that doing so on ANY fly will make it more effective most times. Peacock herl is amazing stuff.

So if you have lots of herl, use it anywhere you want on any fly you tie. it will work.

Please just don't come up with another useless name....

And please try this simple recipe. It's caught thousands of trout, bass, and bluegills in eight states for twenty years for me:

Hook: any
Tail: any fiber or none, color of choice (I generally use black feather fibers of some sort, but it's not critical)
Body: peacock herl

You can also add a bead head if you want.

Works on trout everywhere they see it.

Buddy

[MR.JML]

Buddy, You will notice that a lot of the Arizona White Mountain Patterns utilize Peacock such as; Pregnanat Peacock Wet, Peacock Lady, Big Lake (White Mountain) Whore, Apache Peacock, etc.
Cheers & Tight Lines !!!!
John Larson (Tucson, AZ)

[Bluegill222]

I do a lot of soft hackles with peacock instead of the trditional floss body. Trouts love 'em, as do the 'gills and crappies.

[Donald Nicolson]

By the way, peacock herl bodies are as traditional as you can get with 'North Country Spiders'
see below.
Here are some options to using peacock herl
I thought I'd show some pix as well.

The Goat's Toe
This is a very popular fly in Ireland and Scotland.
In larger sizes for salmon and sea-run trout.
Smaller sizes as an attracter fly in loch (lough) fishing.
It is also a favourite tying fly of mine,
I have shown it a few times.



Knop Fly



herl
Hook: 14.
Thread: Black silk.
Hackle: A grey, speckled feather from a partridge breast.
Body: A dubbing of mole fur on black silk and ribbed with a single strand of peacock herl.
" Again this fly is included out of historical interest for I cannot guess the natural insect originally imitated by it. The word ?knop? is a Lancashire word for ?knob? but was also used to refer to the bud of a flower."
From Roger Fogg's 'A Handbook of North Country Trout Flies'.

Alpine Spiders

If you are a Tenkara fan, have a look through these fifty year old
flies, quite a few have peacock herl bodies.

http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page43.html

p.s. I tied a bunch of 'Goat's Toes' for a swap on FAOL a few years back,
has anyone tried them?, a good Steelhead fly i'd have thought.

[Stage 1]

Donald Very informative as always.. I will be attempting a few of these myself

[Panman]

Stage: I would go to Hans W. site . When you get on it go to the search feature and enter "Peacock:. You will get enough pictures of flies that use peacock to last you a long long time. Here is a link to Han's site in case you don't have it: http://www.danica.com/flytier/index.html

Tim

[JeffHamm]

Hi Donald,

I submitted the Goat's Toe as a FOTW awhile back. I tried one back in Nova Scotia one afternoon, but no luck (nobody had luck with anything that day though), and forgot to get it out last weekend. Will be giving it a go next time I'm on the water though.

- Jeff