Partridge and Orange

Partridge and Orange
Artificial fly
Type Wet fly, soft hackle
Imitates Emerging caddis or mayfly
History
Creator Unknown, described by T.E. Pritt (1895)
Created 19th century
Other names Spiders
Materials
Typical sizes 12-18
Typical hooks TMC 206BL, Daiichi 1130, Mustad C49S
Thread Persall's Gossamer Silk, 6/0-8/0 nylon, Orange
Tail None
Body Thread
Ribbing Fine gold wire (optional)
Hackle English or Hungarian partridge neck
Thorax Tan rabbit fur
Uses
Primary use Trout, grayling
Other uses Panfish
Reference(s)
Pattern references Trout Flies-The Tier's Reference (1999), Hughes[1]

The Partridge and Orange is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or soft hackle and is fished under the water surface. The fly is a well known fly with its roots set firmly in English angling history. It is an impressionistic pattern fished successfully during caddis hatches and spinner falls.[1] The Partridge and Orange is traditionally a trout and grayling pattern but may be used for other aquatic insect feeding species.

Origin

Pritt's Orange Partridge (1885)

Soft-hackled flies as they are known today and in particular The Partridge and Orange originated in the north country of England and were first described in T. E. Pritt's Yorkshire Trout Flies (1895) although even Pritt gave credit to earlier versions under different names. Pritt was the Angling Editor of the Yorkshire Post at the time.

No. 32. ORANGE PARTRIDGE. Hook 1. WINGS. Hackled as in No. 31. BODY. Orange silk. These are practically the same flies, and are very excellent killers. I prefer the dressing of No. 32 myself, although one will kill as well as the other, and the angler may look upon one of them as indispensable on his cast from April to September, on warm days. It is the Turkey Brown of Ronalds, and the Spiral Brown Drake of Theakston.[2]

Sylvester Nemes in The Soft-hackled Fly popularized this style of artificial fly in the early 1980s while giving credit to Pritt and many others for the evolution of this genera of pattern which had also been known as spiders.[1]

Imitates

The Partridge and Orange resembles emerging caddis pupa, diving adult caddis or sunken may fly spinners[3]

Pattern

Variations and sizes

The Partridge and Orange is typically tied on standard wet fly and nymph hooks unweighted but may be tied on short caddis pupa hooks. Some tiers tie a bead head version. The gold ribbing may be omitted or replaced with a thread ribbing. There are similar versions of this fly known as the Partridge and Yellow and the Partridge and Green. Many tiers include a small section of fur dubbing for a thorax. Soft-hackle nymphs based on the Partridge and Orange design are tied with a wide variety of quill, feather and dubbed bodies.

Images of soft-hackle nymphs
Brown trout with soft-hackle fly 
Typical partridge feather used for soft-hackle flies 
Partridge and Olive, Olive Goose Quill fiber body 
Partridge and Pheasant, Pheasant Tail fiber body 
Partridge and Yellow, Yellow silk body 
Starling and Purple, Purple silk body, Starling hackle 

Additional reading

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Hughes, Dave (1999). Trout Flies-The Tier's Reference. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-8117-1601-7.
  2. ↑ Pritt, Thomas E. (1895). Yorkshire Trout Flies. Leeds, UK: Goodall and Suddick. p. 32.
  3. ↑ Schwiebert, Ernest (1973). Nymphs-A Complete Guide to Naturals and Imitations. New York: Winchester Press. p. 97. ISBN 0-87691-074-6.
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