Red Tag — Worcestershire Gem, Worcestershire Wonder

By Martyn Flynn, Worcestershire, England, 1850s, submitted by Mike Cline.

Description

The Red Tag was 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. The Red Tag was originally designed by Martyn Flynn from Worcestershire, England in the 1850s as a dry fly for grayling. Its original name was the Worcestershire Gem and was also known as the Worcestershire Wonder. A variety of variations of this fly have been created over the years. As described in Australia’s Best Trout Flies - Revisited (2016), Malcolm Crosse: Red Palmer CDC Red Tag Reverse Red Tag Red Tag Nymph 1-2-1 Guide Tag (named after the phone # of its creator--Trevor Berne, Guide, London Lakes, Tasmania 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

Materials

• Body: Peacock Herl
• Hackle: Brown rooster
• Tail: Red fiber

Hooks

• Firehole 419 #14-12 Barbless
• UTC 70 Black

Fly types: Dry Fly, Nymph