Born here in the west of Ireland, the original Octopus has spawned a huge number of variations, some more effective than others. Very much in the camp of ‘pulling’ patterns, these bright concoctions do good work over deep water when the browns gather is loose shoals. That is not to say they don’t catch trout in other conditions and many angers swear by them during the mayfly. Here is a wee variant fresh from the vice.
Hook: a size 10 or 12 heavy wet fly hook, something like the good old Kamasan B175
Silk: fl. yellow 6/0 or 8/0
Tail: Globrite no. 10 or 11 with a couple of strands of pearl flash
Tag: Mirage Opal tinsel
Rib: fine silver, no. 14 oval is good
Body: Naples yellow seal’s fur
Body hackle: Golden olive cock hackle, palmered
Throat hackles: A couple of turns of a mallard flank feather dyed golden olive wound behind a yellow Golden Pheasant body feather.
Head: tying silk and clear varnish.
Tying is very easy and the only point to watch out for is leaving enough space behind the eye to accommodate all the hackles.
Claretbumbler 