PURPLE PERIL
HOW TO TIE THE PURPLE PERIL STEELHEAD FLY
The Purple Peril was originated by Ken McLeod in Washington in the 1930's. Its continued popularity today reinforces the old adage that it doesn't matter what color your steelhead fly is, as long as it is purple! The Purple Peril is a go to fly wherever steelhead are found. We like to tie this pattern fairly sparse and fish it deep with a sink tip line and short leader. A great pattern for sullen or spooky steelhead. As with any successful steelhead fly, the Purple Peril has lots of variations, usually involving the addition of a Krystal Flash or Flashabou underwing. Try them all, but be sure to have some of this standard tie in your box! A great advantage of steelhead flies like the Purple Peril is that they are easy and fast to tie, so you can afford to lose a few and fish them deep in the rocks in the deep runs in cold water where they should be fished.
HOOK SIZES: 2, 4, 6 , 8 OR 1.5, 3, 5, 7
HOOK OPTIONS: Mustad 36890, Daiichi 2441, Alec Jackson Steelhead Irons
THREAD: Black Danville 6/0
TAIL: Purple hackle fibers
RIBBING: Oval silver tinsel or flat medium silver tinsel.
BODY: Purple medium chenille
HACKLE: Purple hackle tied as a collar and tied back.
WING: Natural brown bucktail or natural red squirrel tail
HEAD FINISH: Loon Hard Head Black Cement
HOOK OPTIONS: Mustad 36890, Daiichi 2441, Alec Jackson Steelhead Irons
THREAD: Black Danville 6/0
TAIL: Purple hackle fibers
RIBBING: Oval silver tinsel or flat medium silver tinsel.
BODY: Purple medium chenille
HACKLE: Purple hackle tied as a collar and tied back.
WING: Natural brown bucktail or natural red squirrel tail
HEAD FINISH: Loon Hard Head Black Cement
