Fly Tying Inventory
Purple Peril
A classic steelhead wet fly with a proven track record on Pacific Northwest rivers, especially the Deschutes River in Oregon. The Purple Peril's combination of purple body and hackle creates an irresistible profile that triggers strikes from summer and winter steelhead.
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Materials
Salmon/steelhead wet fly hook, size 2-8 (e.g., Daiichi 2441)
Black 6/0
Silver flat tinsel
Purple hackle fibers
Silver oval tinsel
Purple chenille or purple wool yarn
Purple saddle hackle, tied as collar
Natural brown bucktail or fox squirrel tail
Black head cement
How to Tie the Purple Peril
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook in vise. Start thread at the eye and wrap a base to the bend. Tie in a short section of flat silver tinsel as a tag at the rear.
The tag adds a flash trigger point at the tail.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a bunch of purple hackle fibers for the tail, about one shank length long.
Keep the tail neat and aligned.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in silver oval tinsel for the rib. Tie in purple chenille and wrap the body forward to 2-3 eye-widths behind the eye.
Create a slightly tapered body, thicker at the front.
- 4
Step 4
Counter-wrap the oval tinsel forward in even spirals and tie off.
4-5 wraps of ribbing provides good segmentation.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in a purple saddle hackle by the butt end. Wrap 2-3 turns as a collar and tie off. Sweep the fibers rearward with thread wraps.
Hackle should reach the hook point when swept back.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in a sparse wing of natural brown bucktail on top, extending to the tail. Trim butts at an angle.
A sparse wing lets the purple body show through.
- 7
Step 7
Build a neat thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.
This pattern fishes best on a down-and-across swing.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KalbyDjVV0
Credit: Ken McLeod