The Purple Peril, like all classic steelhead flies, has been refined and developed over time. One could liken this process to aging a youthful and brawny chardonnay or single malt in oak barrels, yielding an older, more sophisticated version of its youth.
The original Purple Peril was probably a much less sleek or sparse fly, but the collective modern fly tying sensibility has pushed this bug from bushy and bullish to trim and fit. It's fished effectively on the swing in that classic green steelhead water of the Pacific Northwest from Northern California through British Columbia, and that diehard set of Great Lakes steelheaders in the Upper Midwest can also find great success with this fly.
The fly is traditionally tied (like the one below) with a bucktail wing and a tinseled body for a bit of attraction.
To some, the use of synthetics fly tying materials in the dressing of classic fly patterns ought to be an illegal act sanctioned by the IFGA, but to others, the incorporation of new materials in old designs is just part of how the world progresses.
Here's a take on the classic steelhead fly that makes excellent use of Enrico Puglisi's EP Fibers in place of the more traditional bucktail wing. EP Fibers are a soft, ultra-light synthetic fly tying material commonly used in bonefish flies and long, saltwater streamers and baitfish patterns.
Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com
flies and photographs provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment