Purple Death

Fly: Patrick Welch, Photograph: Hans Weilenmann

Hook: Standard saltwater, size 2/0 Tiemco 9394 or similar
Thread: Danville Plus, hot pink
Weight: .030 Lead
Eyes: Bead Chain; large silver or 7/32 DAZL-EYES Nickel
Tail: Bunny strip; fuchsia, straight cut w/Wine Krystal Flash over
Body: Fuchsia Bunny Fur cross cut

Tying instructions:


  1. I use a Tiemco 9394 # 2/0 hook to tie this fly. I’ve used this hook for years in salt water and it holds up extremely well. Feel free to substitute the hook of your choice.

  2. Attach your Danville Plus, hot pink thread to the hook just in back of the eye and wrap backwards about 10-15 wraps. This gives a good base to attach the eyes.

  3. Hold the bead chain or DAZL-EYES in place about 1/8th inch in back of the eye of the hook and make figure eight wraps around the eyes and hook until secure.

  4. If you are going to weight the fly, tie in the .030 lead wire in back of the eyes and make several wraps towards the bend of the hook and tie off.

  5. Bring the thread to the back of the hook to the bend and attach a small strip of straight cut fuchsia bunny fur for a tail.

  6. Tie on a half dozen pieces of Wine Krystal Flash on top of the rabbit fur.

  7. Put a very small drop of Krazy Glue on top of the rabbit fur and Krystal Flash.

  8. Tie in the cross cut fuchsia rabbit fur and wind forward to about an1/8th of an inch behind the eyes and tie off.

  9. Place a drop of Krazy Glue on the knot you tied behind the eyes.

I like to fish this fly with a heavy 15’ sink tip line on an 8 wt. fly rod. I use a leader that is 5-6’ long when I am fishing for silvers in salt or fresh water.

Cast the fly out out into the water where you see the fish jumping. Let it sink for about 30 seconds. Start stripping the fly towards you in 1’ strips. You will know wihen the silver salmon hits the fly.

If the salmon are down deep, tie on a Purple Death with the weighted DAZL-EYES and use the same technique as above. Sometimes you have to wait about 60 seconds for the fly to get into the fish zone.

Also, hang onto you fly rod while you are letting this fly sink. Sometimes the silvers come along and slam the fly while it is sinking.

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© 2009 Hans Weilenmann
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