Partridge and Green
The Partridge and Green rounds out the classic North Country trio alongside the Partridge and Yellow and Orange. Its green body suggests caddis larvae and early emergers, while the sparse partridge hackle creates the pulsing motion that makes soft hackle wet flies so effective. Fish it on a classic downstream swing at different depths by varying the speed and angle of your drift. Best from spring through fall on any stream with active caddis populations.
- Type
- wet fly (Caddis)
- Hook sizes
- #12–16
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Wet fly hook #12–16
- thread: Green 8/0
- body: Green silk, floss, or tying thread
- hackle: Gray or brown partridge, 1–2 loose turns
Tying steps
- Mount a size 12–16 wet fly hook; start green thread at the bend.
- Wind green silk, floss, or thread in smooth tight layers from bend to the 3/4 mark.
- Tie in a gray or brown partridge feather by the tip at the 3/4 mark.
- Make 1–2 loose turns of partridge forward; sweep the fibers rearward.
- Tie off the stem; build a tiny sparse head.
- Whip finish and apply a touch of head cement.
- Apply a tiny drop of lacquer to the completed thread head; do not get any on the partridge hackle fibers.
- Inspect the hackle from the side — all fibers should lie swept back at 45 degrees and be evenly distributed.
- Inspect the hackle fibers from the front — they should all radiate forward from the hook point, none crossing or tangled, forming a full collar.