Tup's Indispensable

R.S. Austin's Tup's Indispensable (1900) is one of the most revered wet flies in the British tradition, with a unique pink-cream body made from wool blended with dubbing from a male sheep. Its soft pink body and blue-dun hackle creates a fly that selective chalk stream trout find irresistible during Pale Waterie and small BWO hatches. Fish it just sub-surface on 5X or 6X on smooth spring creek or limestone stream water.

Type

wet fly (Mayfly)

Hook sizes

#14–16

Target species

trout

Difficulty

intermediate

Best seasons

spring, summer

Materials

• hook: Wet fly hook #14–16
• thread: Yellow waxed 8/0
• tail: Blue dun hackle fibers (optional)
• body: Rear: yellow floss; Front: cream/pink dubbing blend
• hackle: Blue dun hen, 2–3 turns

Tying steps

1. Mount a size 14–16 hook; start waxed yellow thread at the bend.
2. Tie in yellow floss for the rear body portion.
3. Wind yellow floss from bend to the 1/3 mark.
4. Dub the front two-thirds with a pink-cream blend of cream seal and lemon yellow wool.
5. Tie in a blue dun hen hackle; make 2–3 soft turns swept back.
6. Build a tiny head; whip finish and lacquer.
7. Apply one thin coat of lacquer to the finished thread head and let cure completely.
8. Inspect the dubbing blend — the pink and cream should appear as a warm rosy blush, not separate pink lumps.
9. Wet the fly briefly and confirm the dubbing blend appears as a uniform warm pink-cream — if the colors look separated, re-dub with a tighter blend next time.