The polystickle was designed by Dick Walker to suggest a Stickleback. There were millions of them in Grafham in the early days, but I understand you don't see them today.

I have never caught a fish in my life on a polystickle.

This fly has gone right out of favour, unlike a few of Walker's patterns such as the great red sedge and the mayfly nymph which never will go out of fashion. They still catch too many fish.