Red Tag (artificial fly)
{{Short description|Artificial fly fishing lure}}
{{Infobox artificial fly
|name = Red Tag
|image = File:Red Tag Trout Fly Dry.jpg
|caption = Red Tag (dry)
|type=Dry fly, wet fly
|imitates =
|creator = Martyn Flynn
|created = 1850s
|othernames = Worcestershire Gem
|variations =
|sizes=
|hooktype=
|thread =
|tail =
|body = Peacock herl
|wing =
|ribbing =
|hackle = Brown cock hackle
|tag = Red wool yarn
|butt =
|throat =
|cheek =
|shoulder=
|topping =
|head =
|thorax =
|legs =
|bead =
|use1 = Trout
|use2 = Grayling
|ref=
}}
The Red Tag is an artificial fly originally designed as a dry fly for grayling and trout in the north country of England. The fly pattern, when introduced into Australia, particularly Tasmania, became extremely successful and popular for brown trout and remains today as one of the most essential flies for Australian fly anglers.
Origin
The Red Tag was originally designed by Martyn Flynn from Worcestershire, England in the 1850s as a dry fly for grayling.{{cite web |url=http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/red-tag/ |title=Red Tag-Few flies are as classical as the Red Tag |publisher=globalflyfisher.com|access-date=June 22, 2016}} Its original name was the Worcestershire Gem and was also known as the Worcestershire Wonder.{{cite book |title=Orange Otter |author=Knowles, Christopher |publisher=The Medlar Press |location=Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK |year=2006 |isbn=9781899600557 |page=157}} red
Materials
The typical Red Tag is tied with a body of peacock herl, a tail of red or crimson wool, and a red cock's hackle (actual color of hack is reddish brown).{{cite book |title=Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies-A survey of the Literature Complete with Original Patterns 1747-Present |chapter=The Fishing Gazette 1877-1966 |author=Nemes, Syvester |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |isbn=0811700488 |page=60}} The hackle can be hen's hackle for wet fly versions. Hook sizes vary from #16 through #10.{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |title=The New Illustrated Dictionary of Trout Flies |publisher=George Allen and Unwin Ltd. |location=London, UK |year=1986 |isbn=004799035X |pages=154–55}}
Variations
As described in Australia’s Best Trout Flies - Revisited (2016), Malcolm Crosse unless otherwise attributed{{cite book |title=Australia’s Best Trout Flies-Revisited |editor=Crosse, Malcom |publisher=J.M and K. Crosse |location=Hobart, Tasmania |year=2016 |isbn=9780994415929 }}
- Red Palmer {{cite book |title=The History of Fly Fishing, Volume 2, Trout Fly Patterns-1496-1916 |author=Herd, Andrew |publisher=The Medlar Press Limited |location=Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK |year=2012 |isbn=9781907110139 |page=188}}
- CDC Red Tag
- Reverse Red Tag
- Red Tag Nymph
- 1-2-1 Guide Tag
- Seal's Fur Red Tag
As described in The New Illustrated Dictionary of Trout Flies (1986), John Roberts
- Badger Red Tag
- Treacle Parkin
- Green Tag
{{Gallery
| title = Red Tag Variations
| align = center
| footer =
| style =
| state =
| height =
| width =
| captionstyle =
| File:Red Tag Trout Fly Wet.jpg|Red palmer
| File:1-2-1 Guide Tag (Brooks).jpg|1-2-1 Guide Tag
| File:Zulu Tag (Bassano).jpg|Zulu Tag
| File:Red Tag Nymph (Flowers).jpg|Red Tag Nymph
}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
{{Fly fishing}}
{{fisheries and fishing}}