Arizona Peacock Lady

Hook: TMC 3761 or any standard wet, up to 4X long.

Size: #10 – 18.
Thread: black 6/0.
Tail: golden pheasant tippets.
Body: peacock herl (roped).
Rib: gold wire (optional)
Hackle: grizzly (palmered) in the rear and brown in the front.

Instructions:

1.      Tie in several strands of golden pheasant tippets for the tail. 

2.      Tie in the grizzle hackle (3 or 4 turns), tie off.

3.      Tie in 3-4 strands of peacock herl.  Form a peacock herl rope by twisting it around your thread. 

4.      If you use gold ribbing, remember to tie this in prior to the peacock herl. 

5.      Wrap peacock rope near eye of hook and tie off (wrap and tie off gold ribbing here too if you used it and remember to wrap the ribbing in the opposite direction of the peacock). 

6.      Tie in brown hackle, wrap 3-4 times, tie off.

7.      Whip-finish and apply head cement.

Comments: 

     It’s important to form a rope with the peacock herl to give the strands added strength.  Even with doing this, your fly will start to shred after several fish.  Using gold ribbing will also help to keep the peacock from shredding and give your fly an added lifespan.

     I used the AZ Peacock Lady for my first time about 3 years ago.  I immediately noticed an increase in my catch rate.  This is an extremely versatile pattern that can be tied with or without a beadhead.  It can be fished wet, dry, in stillwaters and in moving waters.  I’ve caught fish in almost all scenarios here in AZ with this fly.  I use it as a great search pattern.  I tie these in sizes 12-18, but predominantly use #14 or 16, with a beadhead for best results.  This is my best producing nymph/wet fly in stillwaters and have caught trout over 20” with it.  Works great as a trailer behind a larger streamer pattern or fished as a lead fly with a smaller trailer about 18” behind it.  Productive year-round in Arizona for trout in the White Mtns. or Mogollon Rim lakes.  Also a great fly for bluegill!