Red Tag
The Red Tag is one of the most celebrated wet flies in UK and European fishing, traced to the mid-19th century and still one of the first patterns tied on when conditions are unclear. Its peacock herl body is iridescent and alive under water, and the red wool tag acts as a color trigger that fish key on. Excellent for grayling, brown trout, and sea trout. Fish it on a slow swing through holding water or dead-drift through current seams.
- Type
- wet fly (Caddis)
- Hook sizes
- #8–14
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Wet fly hook #8–14
- thread: Brown or black 8/0
- tag: Red wool yarn (short tuft at tail)
- body: Peacock herl, 4–6 strands
- ribbing: Fine copper wire
- hackle: Soft brown hen, 2–3 turns
Tying steps
- Mount a size 8–14 wet fly hook; start brown or black thread.
- Tie in a short tuft of red wool yarn at the bend as the tag.
- Tie in fine copper wire for reinforcement ribbing.
- Twist 4–6 strands of peacock herl together and wind a full body from tag to the 3/4 mark.
- Counter-wrap copper wire over the herl in 5 spirals to protect the fragile herl.
- Tie in a soft brown hen hackle; make 2–3 turns and sweep fibers back.
- Build a small head; whip finish and cement.
- Inspect the red tag at the bend — it should be a clean, solid rectangle of bright red floss, not fuzzy or splayed, and no longer than 2 thread-widths.