Flytying: New and Old: Butchers

Butcher

Hook - Wet fly

Thread - Black

Tail - Originally Ibis, few strands of red dyed goose work well.

Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel or wire

Body - Silver tinsel

Hackle - Black

Wing - Slips of blue wing feathers from a mallard wing

This famous wet fly was originally called Moon’s Fly after a butcher called Moon whose favorite pattern it was. Developed by John Jewhurst the fly was newly named by William Blacker around 1838 as per Moon’s profession arguably as a marketing gimmick. Well, the name change worked well as it became one of the bestselling trout flies and I think many falsely associated the name with the killing abilities of this fly. There have also been theories that the color red represents blood, silver the blade and blue wing the apron of a butcher.

Bloody Butcher

Hook - Wet fly

Thread - Black

Tail - Originally Ibis, few strands of red dyed goose work well

Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel

Body - Silver tinsel

Hackle - Red

Wing - Slips of blue wing feathers from a mallard wing

Peacock Butcher

Hook - Wet fly

Thread - Black

Tail - Red hackle fibers

Rib - Silver wire

Body - Silver tinsel

Hackle - Dyed red cock or hen

Wing - Blue peacock neck feather

Eyes - Jungle Cock

Kingfisher Butcher

Hook - Wet fly

Thread - Black

Tail - Goose Shoulder dyed kingfisher blue

Rib - Gold wire

Body - Gold tinsel

Hackle - Dyed hot orange hen

Wing - Mallard blue quill

Hardy's Gold Butcher

Hook - Wet fly

Thread - Black

Tail - Goose Shoulder dyed red

Rib - Gold wire

Body - Gold tinsel

Hackle - Dyed hot orange hen

Wing - Natural mallard quill

The butcher range of flies have been around for years, and account for many fish throughout the season. Great for browns, rainbows and works well for sea trout and even salmon in low water conditions. The Hardy's Gold Butcher is the only one in the series that abandons the mallard blue wings.

Hardy's Gold Butcher (fliesonline.co.uk)

Trout Flies of Ireland - Peter O'Reilly