The Snipe & Purple or Dark Snipe is one of the most famous of all the North Country flies, and can be said to be and imitation of the Iron Blue. Pritt in his book “Yorkshire Trout Flies” published in 1885 and later re-titled and republished as “North Country Flies” in 1886 highly recommended it us on cold early season days.
Dressed with waxed purple silk and lightly hackled with the feather from the outside of a Snipes wing the Snipe & Purple is a fly that should be every serious river fly fishers box. Often fished as points fly along with its cousins the Partridge & Orange on first dropper and the Waterhen Bloa as top dropper. Our tying uses a fine gauge wide gap hook and well waxed Pearsall’s Purple silk for the body. Finished off with two turns of Snipe hackle.  Available in sizes 14, 16,