This is the Red Palmer. No doubt some will be sitting thinking that it’s not a Red Palmer, they’ll be saying you tie it with a red Seals Fur body, and they’re right. This version is the one favoured by Tom Stewart in his “Popular flies and how to tie them” serious of books. It also happens to be the pattern I prefer. Being a palmer it is normally associated with the top dropper, but I normally fish it as a point fly and have had great success with it over the years.
You can fish it dry or wet by using the appropriate hackles. In the appropriate sizes it is suitable for Trout and Sea Trout.
In the book Tom Stewart says of the Red Palmer …. “I do not suppose any fly kills more trout in the remote lochs of the Scottish Highland than does the Red Palmer” I don’t know if this is or was true, but I do know that it has caught a lot of trout for me.
As Palmers and Peacock Herl have been covered, this is a slightly abridged step by step. For more details of Herl bodies look here …. http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/?action=view&current=bandpbody.flv
I have tied the hackle in after the body here in order to show you an alternative way of tying in the hackle. To see the way I normally tie them in, look here…. http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=398


HOOK – Wet Fly #6-16
THREAD – Brown 8/0
RIB – Flat Gold
BODY – Peacock Herl
BODY HACKLE – Red Game (Hen for wet fly, Cock for dry fly)
HEAD HACKLE – Red Game Cock

STEP 1
Attach the thread and wind down to the hook bend, catching in the Flat Gold Tinsel and Peacock Herl as you go.



STEP 2
Twist the Peacock Herl into a rope and wrap to the shoulder, and after tying off tie in the body hackle.



STEP 3
Wrap the hackle to the end of the body, then use the rib wrapped up the body to the shoulder to secure the hackle. Whip finish and varnish for the completed fly. This is the way I prefer it as a point fly.



STEP 4
If you want it as a top dropper (bob) fly, tie in a Cock hackle at the head.



Then wrap the hackle, trim off the waste and whip finish for the completed fly.



Add a red tail and the fly becomes the Soldier Palmer.



Or tie in Coch-y-Bonddu hackles and the fly becomes the Gold Zulu.

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ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

Superb post,as ever, Scotfly.

Winter just isn't long enough to tie all the flies I want to but I'll definitely tie some of these .

Thanks


Steve

Thank you Obadiah.
Just put decorating/DIY, work, shopping etc on the back boiler for a couple of months and you will have plenty of time.

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ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

Yeh;I wish.

I've already got January's jobs list and tying flies ain't on it my friend.


Steve

This is a cracking fly, even better than the Red Soldier Palmer in my opinion, well, for broon troot anyway.

doonicus

The Soldier Palmer is my favourite fly on Highland lochans & is on the cast at some point during the day, but always on the bob.
A must have in my opinion for those that fish Highland waters.
See a lot of lowland reservoir fly fishers have found it, indeed reinvented it.
I have always said that some of the old stuff will last long after todays one season wonders are confined to the bin.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

Thats a good looking fly.
Its amazing how a small tweek can change the overall look style of a fly.
Keep 'em coming.

A definite case of the old ones are the best. I wonder who's book in 50 years time will be praising that old classic the Blob!!

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ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

Well if we do I for one will not see it..... thank ****

Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"