The Purple Drummer

An old-time trout wet fly, the Purple Drummer, is a great favourite of anglers who fish trout in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. Both brook trout and their sea-run cousins find the fly quite appealing and it has been popular for as long as I can remember.

Otherwise the fly’s background is still a mystery to me. The design suggests British roots, but that is just a guess. If you know the history of the Purple Drummer, or of another locally popular trout wet fly, the Pink Mystery, I’d appreciate any information you might provide.

Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I have a few dozen Purple Drummers to tie.

Purple Drummer

Hook :            Wet fly 10-14
Thread :         Black
Tag :              Flat gold
Tail :               Red quill
Body :            Claret floss

Rib :               Flat gold
Hackle :         Brown palmered over body
Wing :             Hen pheasant tail with narrow purple quill strips on either side of the wing

An alternate dressing is:

Hook :             Mustad 3906 wet fly hook, sizes 8-10
Thread :          Brown

Tag :                Fine oval gold tinsel
Tail :                Brown hackle fibres with a little purple

Body :             Purple floss or yarn

Rib :                 Oval gold tinsel
Hackle :          Brown palmered over body
Wing :             Married strips of mottled turkey and purple dyed quill