The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Emerger

Peacock and Partridge

Insect Species Icon Blue Wing Olive, Callibaetis, Hendrickson and 7 others
Difficulty Icon Medium - 3-5 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater, Warmwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Sproat bend, down eye, nymph hook
  • Thread: UTC 70 Fluorescent Green
  • Rib: Small Gold Wire
  • Thread(2): UTC 70 Black
  • Body: Peacock Herl
  • Hackle: Hungarian Partridge Feather

The Peacock and Partridge is a pretty simple fly that can’t be substituted much without switching the title of the fly.

  • Flash: Adding flash at the butt of the fly can make for a great spot instead of green thread. Flash can also be substituted in for the ribbing.

The Peacock and Partridge is a pretty simple fly that can’t be varied much without switching the title of the fly. With this being said, there are some variations of the pattern that will be very effective in the pursuit of trout:

  • Peacock: Tie an “Ostrich and Peacock” by switching the peacock with ostrich fibers that slim down nicely against the body.
  • Partridge: Feathers like English Grouse soft hackle and dyed hungarian partridge are good ways to vary the soft-hackle.
  • Hot Head: Using a red or pink thread at the head of your fly is a good way to trigger hesitant fish to feed.
  • Beadhead: Adding a bead to this pattern is an effective way to stay deep and fish this pattern as a lead fly on your nymph rig.

The Peacock and Partridge is a fly that combines that natural hue benefits of peacock herl with the fish-attracting properties of a soft hackle shell. Soft hackle flies have been a fly-fisherman’s staple for centuries and this fly should be included in that class of fly. Depending on the size, you can fish this fly as a BWO emerger trailer or as a Green Drake emerger lead fly. It is very versatile and if you have multiple sizes, the fish are sure to be hitting this fly. This combines the best of old-school tying and new-school adaptability.

Don’t limit yourself in how you fish this fly. This fly can be fished traditionally on the swing, but can also be fished on a nymph rig. In smaller sizes, this fly can imitate a small BWO very well and the partridge/peacock combo is sure to get the bite. In larger sizes, this fly has a great variety of possibilities. This could be a lead fly during pre-green drake hatch activity, but also as a trailer fly off of a Green Drake Dun during the hatch. Possibilities are endless with this fly.

Blue Wing Olive

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Northwest
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: East
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Southeast
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Midwest
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24

Brown Drake

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Northwest
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: East
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Midwest
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14

Callibaetis

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Northwest
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: East
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Midwest
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18

Green Drake

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, Midwest
Green Drake
Sizes: #8 - #14
Region: East
Green Drake
Sizes: #8 - #14

Hendrickson

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East, Midwest
Hendrickson
Sizes: #10 - #16

Isonychia

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Southeast
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Midwest
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18

Light Cahill

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East
Light Cahill
Sizes: #12 - #20
Region: Midwest
Light Cahill
Sizes: #12 - #20
Region: Northwest
Light Cahill
Sizes: #12 - #20

March Brown

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, East
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Northwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Midwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14

PMD

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
PMD
Sizes: #14 - #20

Quill Gordon

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East, Southeast
Quill Gordon
Sizes: #12 - #16

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