Trude Style

By Carter H. Harrison of Chicago, Illinois, 1901, submitted by Mike Cline.

Description

The Trude is a down-wing dry fly pattern usually tied with a calf tail hair wing and a heavy hackle collar. Originally, the Trude was a streamer fly designed by Carter H. Harrison of Chicago, Illinois, in the summer of 1901 while he was a guest at the A.S. Trude Ranch near Big Springs, Idaho. Mr. Harrison was the mayor of Chicago from 1897-1906 and 1911-1915. The fly was created as a joke using red yarn from a cabin rug for the body and hair from a red spaniel for the wing. The “joke” became an instant success and created great interest in the use of hair for a wing. The fly was adapted to a wet fly dressing by including a tail and switching to Fox Squirrel tail for the wing. The angling success of the style inspired many tiers to adapt the hair down-wing to other now famous patterns. Pat Barnes, Dan Bailey, Al Beatty and Gary LaFontaine all adapted the Trude style to their favorite patterns.

Tying Process

Although Calf Tail is the most common winging material, squirrel tail, deer hair, etc. can be used

Materials

• Body: Herl - Floss - Dry Fly Dubbing
• Hackle: Dry fly hackle
• Tail: Deer or Moose Body Hair
• Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet
• Thread: Utc 70 black
• Wing: Calf or Squirrel Tail

Hooks

• Firehole 419 #14-12 Barbless

Target species: Trout

Fly types: Dry Fly