This is the second Mrs. Simpson I have tied. I love the fly, but don’t know how they will fish. I used squirrel tail for the tail, and red wool on the shank. Pheasant feathers, these are my favorites. I used church windows on the first one, but to me this one just looks better.
Very nice indeedee
Hi kelkay,
Very nice tie! This is a very popular fly here in New Zealand (where it originated). It is a great still water fly, but it’s good in rivers too. Generally fished near the bottom in short tugs, but vary your retrieve if that’s not working. In smaller sizes (size 8 and 10) it could be taken for a damsel fly nymph. In rivers it’s fished on a sinking line, standard across and down presentation.
I think it is more likely taken for a dragon fly nymph.
Hi ducksterman,
I won’t argue with that! The fish only let us know they like them, not why! 
Thanks. This fly has no weight on it, how is it going to go down to the bottom? The wool will absorb some water, I guess that is where the weight comes in. I am going to be doing more of these killer style flies.
One of the utubes showed it being tied with a lead wrap…wrapped on over the wool yarn tie in and before wrapping the wool body.
Actually I never heard of a Mrs Simpson but have concocted a fly that I wanted to suggest a dragon fly nymph using these type of feathers but tied in Hornberg style…and using an ice dub brush.
Hi kelkay,
In NZ it’s illegal to add weight to hooks over size 10, so these are usually tied on heavy wire hooks. Also, if it’s fished on a sinking line it will get down there as long as the hook overcomes the bouancy. It takes a bit to fully waterlogg it, so soak it good before starting to fish it.
I must of seen the exact video today, and the guy wrapped the hook with lead. I was surprised to see that. None of the recipes I have seen called for lead. I would like to see your fly.
Jeff, what hooks do they use in NZ for this fly? I used a Daiichi streamer hook. (1710 size 6)
Hi kelkay,
Standard wet fly hooks are used. Streamer hooks are not used a lot here. Kiwi anglers bind the streamer feathers to the shank to help prevent the streamer feathers from getting caught in the hook bend, in the US they used long shaft hooks and left the feathers free. As such, there isn’t a lot of call for long hooks. Mrs. Simpson’s are often tied on size 4 or 6 hooks made of heavy guage wire. I often use a local brand called Black Magic, and use their “A” series (which is the heavy wire ones). Not sure what these would exactly correspond to in Mustad or Daiichi, but something that is basically 2x heavy and standard round bend construction and you’ld be alright.
In New Zealand, we call this style of construction a “killer style” fly.
Thank you Jeff, that is very helpful. I will see what I have that may work. I knew this was a killer style, because somebody told me about it. (after I thought I had come up with a new style…but found out later I didn’t…lol…that’s the way it goes) I sure appreciated the info.
Oh, one more question. I read to use squirrel body hair on one recipe. Then I read to use black squirrel tail. I don’t have any black squirrel tail at all. I have zonker strips of black squirrel, but it isn’t long enough. One video said to use black squirrel tail, or marabou as a sub. I am wondering if black buck tail would be alright, or black calf tail? I have a white calf tail also with brown at the bottom of it. I am thinking any of these would be acceptable. I also have Finn Raccoon in black. For a Mallard Killer I believe a silver fox tail would make a good substitute. What do you think about this, would these all work? What opinion do you have of this? It is cool to ask someone from NZ, cause I want to get these as right and as close to the original as possible. Black squirrel is about impossible to find, unless you get it dyed. I have never even seen a black squirrel, or the tail for sale, that is natural. I may look on Ebay and see if I can get one.
Kelly
Hi kelkay,
Dyed black squirrel is used here (NZ has no squirrels). On many killers, fox squirrel tail is used, so you could use that. Calf tail would work, especially on smaller sizes (since if you use a normal hook, the tail has to be long enought to stick out past the side feathers). In smaller sizes, two pairs, or even one pair, is often enough. One I quite like is called Leslie’s Lure, which has either a red or yellow wool body (slim), tail is pheasant tail fibres, and the sides are from a hen pheasant’s wing. I’ve seen in one old book where they tied the Leslie with the same feathers as a Mrs Simpson, so you could use pheasant tail fibres and call it a Leslie (but that would be pushing it as the same book labelled a Fuzzy Wuzzy as a Mrs. Simpson! So I don’t think this dressing is really a Leslie but rather a Mrs. Simpson varient, and the author had the names all mxied up! Despite that, the book is a great read (Trout at Taupo, by OS Hintz, first publishe din 1955).
I bought this one a few miles south of Christchurch, in a little cafe on the coast.
It looks like it’ll sure get the job done alright. I am surprised you can buy one in the states.
Neat fly; reminds me of an Assam Dragon tied with feathers. Wonder if it was named for Wallace or Marge?
Regards,
Scott
Thanks Jeff I will look more into that. I appreciate the bits on info.
Scott, I have never heard of that. I will have to look that up too.
The Mrs. Simpson is named after Wallis Simpson; the fly originated in the 1930s or 40s. Wallis Simpson is the woman whom Edward VIII gave up the throne of England (1936 I believe) in order to marry.
Jeff,
My apologies for the typo (and we just saw The King’s Speech, too!).
Kelkay,
Here’s a link with some b&w photos:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8sGVmsNIJsEC&pg=PA398&lpg=PA398&dq=assam+dragon+fly&source=bl&ots=FQ9p9xNEZR&sig=lY7bZGwRg4qt1jUIMs7IZod5XN4&hl=en&ei=xYw8TYqAOsO78gaWpc2pCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=assam%20dragon%20fly&f=false
It’s a pattern I believe Charlie Brooks came up with back in the 60’s; don’t see it much any more.
Regards,
Scott