The Palmered Brown Bug presents a good silhouette on the surface. And when slightly drowned, the wings give the fly a jittery, fish-enticing action when bucking the flow.
Hook: Mustad 9672, size #10 or #12, debarbed and sharpened
Thread: Black Uni-Thread.
Tail: Natural, Grey Squirrel tail hair, stacked to even tips.
Wing: Natural, Grey Squirrel tail hair, stacked to even tips tied down and divided in two, pointing 45º forward.
Body: Tying thread wound over hair butt ends, clear lacquered.
Hackle: Natural red/brown rooster neck feather, wound on Palmer-style over entire body up to wing split
Rib: 2-lb test monofilament line, wound counter to hackle as reinforcement for hackle feather.
Head: Whip-finished tying thread, clear lacquered to secure.
Thread: Black Uni-Thread.
Tail: Natural, Grey Squirrel tail hair, stacked to even tips.
Wing: Natural, Grey Squirrel tail hair, stacked to even tips tied down and divided in two, pointing 45º forward.
Body: Tying thread wound over hair butt ends, clear lacquered.
Hackle: Natural red/brown rooster neck feather, wound on Palmer-style over entire body up to wing split
Rib: 2-lb test monofilament line, wound counter to hackle as reinforcement for hackle feather.
Head: Whip-finished tying thread, clear lacquered to secure.
After head cement has thoroughly dried, treat the feathers and hair with dry fly floatant for the best buoyancy. Trim off hackle barbs on the bottom of the fly to improve hookset ability. This fly is equally effective on the dead drift, skated over the fish or after it has sunk.
