Fly Tying: Purple Haze

Well, winter is fully upon us here in Alaska. For many fly anglers, particularly those of us in Alaska stuck inside the cold and darkness, it’s time to turn on the lamps, sort our tying material, and start tying. Tying flies not only replenishes our fly boxes for next season. In this episode of fly tying, we tie a fly not normally associated with Alaska, The Purple Haze.

Did you know there are over 50 documented species of Mayflies in Alaska? The diversity of Mayflies in Alaska highlights the rich aquatic ecosystems present in the region. These Mayflies play an important role in the food web and serve as indicators of the overall health of freshwater environments.

Originated by Andy Carlson, The Purple Haze is a Parachute Adams-style fly tied with a purple floss body instead of a traditional dubbing body. With a wide range of Mayfly species in Alaska suggests that these insects have acclimated to the unique environmental conditions of the state.

Spring time is bug time in Alaska, especially with food resources being very limited for trout. This makes the the Purple Haze a fantastic addition to carry in your Spring Time Fly Box.

Originator: Andy Carlson

Tied By: Brian Davenport, Photos by Mike Brown both of Mossy’s Fly Shop

Material List:

Hook: Fire Hole 419 sz 12 (you can use any size you choose)
Thread/Body: Purple Super Floss
Tail: Moose Hair
Post: Calf Tail
Hackles: Ginger and Grizzly

Step 1. Start your thread two hook eye widths back of the eye.

Step 2. Using 8 to 10 Moose hair fibers, stack the tips, then tie in on top of the hook shank. The original recipe says to make the tail a hook shank length, we opted to shorten that up. Wrap your floss with touching wraps back to the start of the bend while keeping the moose on top of the shank. Wrap back forward, with touching wraps to the tie in point. Trim off excess hair.

Step 3. Using half a pencil width of calf tail, tie it in facing forward and trim butt ends off at a shallow angle. This forms a thorax tapper. Form a thread dam in front of the post to prop it up.

Step 4. Wrap your floss a quarter of the way up the post to give it structure for your hackles.

Step 5. Picking two hackles that match your hook size, then strip fluffy fibers off to expose bare stem. Facing the shiny side of the feather out, tie the stem to the base of the post. Repeat with second feather.

Step 6. Taking one feather at a time, palmer up the post two turns and then back down, tie off and trim first feather.

Step 7. Repeat this step with the second feather. Tie off and trim. Whip finish at the base, trying to not trap any of the feathers. Trim post to desired length.