Purple Haze Quigley Cripple

Purple Haze Quigley Cripple 

Hook:  Size 18 dry fly 

Thread:  Purple 8/0

Tail:  Saddle hackle fibers cut to the same length after you tie them in

Body:  Purple thread for small sizes; floss, dubbing, or 1x 370 Uni Stretch for larger sizes

Ribbing:  Black 6/0 thread

Thorax:  Build a little ball of black dubbing

Wing:  Fine deer hair (dyed green is shown)

Hackle:  Your nicest dry fly hackle in the appropriate size (green grizzly is shown)

Supposedly, this fly was developed when Bob Quigley realized that his Humpy became more effective after it had been chewed up by trout.  All I know is that this cripple pattern is, by far, the most effective dry fly pattern for mayflies I've ever used.  

I use the size and color scheme shown for BWO's but you can tie this thing in any size or color scheme to match any and all mayfly species from baetis to drakes.  You can also tie it really small for the larger midges we get on the lower stretches of the freestones. 

I can confidently say that the Quigley Cripple has caught me more fish than any other dry fly pattern out there.  Feed it to your local snotty, PHD trout today!

Purple Haze Flashback Soft Hackle

The Flashback Purple Haze Soft Hackle

Hook: Size 22-12 (18 is my favorite for the BWO) scud or nymph hook

Thread: Purple 8/0

Ribbing:  Black small dia. wire

Flashback: Pearl tinsel

Body:  Purple thread for small sizes; floss, dubbing, or 1x 370 Uni Stretch for larger sizes

Thorax:  I actually use a purplish colored yarn that I shred up but any rabbit dubbing in purple or black will be great

Hackle: Partridge soft hackle

Head: The thread your using

If you haven't yet discovered the magic of fishing and tying soft hackle flies, 2015 is the year!  In many ways, soft hackles are more traditional than dry flies.  Learning how to fish them in the traditional way is a whole new adventure and there are tons of non-traditional ways to experiment with as well.  Soft hackles are incredibly effective, especially on waters that see lots of pressure.  Chances are, no one else is fishing them.  They are also the bees knees for those porpoising trout that are eating emergers.  Lastly, they can be greased and fished like floating nymphs.  The possibilities are endless.

Make 2015 the year you go back in time and rediscover the most effective fly patterns ever created!

   

Three flies for spring BWOs

For the nymph stage:

The Beer Head Nymph

For the emergent stage:

The Flashback Purple Haze Soft Hackle

For the surface emerger/cripple/adult stage:

Purple Haze Quigley Cripple