Fly of the Month Bob Ireton brings together his experience in fly fishing, aquatic entomology, and knowledge of fly tying techniques and materials, to design and tie durable and effective flies.

   Volume 2,  Issue 10                                                                  October 2001

 ORANGE PALMER

By Bob Ireton
Photography by Bob Kimsey and Bob Ireton

The Orange Palmer is an attractor dry fly that is a regional pattern of the Great Smoky Mountain area. Best fished mid day and afternoons during September and October. Other color variations of this fly are appropriate for other times of the year.

I asked Roger Lowe, of Lowe Fly Shop, in Waynesville, North Carolina, and fishing editor of the new 'Southern Anglers Journal', if he would share some background on this fly. He said, "The pattern goes back to the early 1950's. There are several color variations tied for different times of the year. They are basically tied the same, with different colors for the body. The first ones were tied in the Catalochee area, and named for Palmer Creek."

Thanks, Roger, for the information. By the way, Roger just moved about a block to his new shop. If you are down that way, stop in and see him!

MATERIALS:

Hook: TMC 100, Dai-Riki 300, Daiichi 1100, Mustad 94840, Orvis 1509 Size 12-16

Thread: Pale Orange 6/0 for size 12 and larger 8/0 for size 14 and smaller

Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet Fibers

Hackle: Brown and Grizzly dry fly hackle

Body: Orange Polly Dubbing

TYING STEPS:   

Step 1 - Secure hook properly in vice, pinch down barb if desired. Tie in thread one hook-eye space behind eye of hook, and lay on a thread base on the hook shank extending rearward to a point above the barb. Half hitch.
Step 2 - Tie in several Golden Pheasant tippet fibers for the tail. Make tail same length as hook shank.	Click on pictures for larger view
Step 3 - Prepare proper size dry fly hackle. Tie first hackle in above barb, shiny side of feather towards the hook eye. Tie in second hackle same way. Half hitch.	Click on pictures for larger view
Step 4 - Dub a body using a method that works well for the dubbing you are using. Bring body forward toward the eye of hook, leaving enough space to tie in both hackle feathers. Half hitch.	Click on pictures for larger view
Step 5 - Palmer one hackle feather forward, and tie off with a half hitch. Palmer remaining hackle forward, following exact same tract as first feather. Half hitch.	Click on pictures for larger view
Step 6 - Form a head, half hitch, and whip finish. Apply head cement.	Click on pictures for larger view

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