Red Tag Variant Tutorial

The red tag is a fly that has been around for a long time and was originally designed for Grayling in England. Since then, it's been adapted to a subsurface format and has been embraced by the euro-nymphing community for it's simplicity and fish catching ability. This is a variation that still uses some classic materials like peacock herl but also includes a collar of cdc that moves well in slower water. 

MATERIALS

• HOOK: DAIICHI 1150, TMC 2457, or Umpqua U202
• BEAD: Tungsten (Copper) 1/8"-3/32"
• WEIGHT: Lead Wire
• THREAD: UNI 6/0 (red)
• TAIL: Egg Yarn (flame red)
• BODY: Peacock Herl
• RIB: Copper Ultra Wire
• COLLAR: CDC Feather

TOOLS

• VISE: Renzetti Traveler 2000
• BOBBIN: Griffin Magnum Ceramic
• SCISSORS: Dr. Slick (all purpose)
• HACKLE PLIERS: Stonfo Elite 

NOTES

I like this fly because it can be fished in two ways. I often will allow this fly to swing at the end of my drift to imitate emerging caddis nymphs. The CDC does an amazing job of holding on to small bubbles of air, the same way natural caddis do as the rise though the water column to hatch into adults.