{{+1}}Mrs Simpson{{-1}}

Developed in New Zealand as a lake fly probably to imitate their small native fish called a Cockabully or perhaps a frog this fly has heaps of applications in our Australian fisheries. We don't have Cockabullies here or an equivalent native fish but despite that they are one of our most successful flies around weed beds in both lakes and rivers. They can be fished from dead drift to “roly poly” but my favourite retrieve is a reasonable fast figure eight.

Materials

Hook	Thread	Tail	Body	Wings
Long Shank Size 6 to 10	Black	Squirrel Tail Fur or substitute	Original tie is red wool but yellow wool or orange wool are also popular	Ring neck Pheasant Window Feathers

Process

A	Wind the thread from the 95% position to the bend of the hook in touching turns. Understanding hooks Tie in a tail equal in length to half the length of the hook. Tails on flies Take the thread all the way along the hook shank back to the 95% position.

B	Take a length of wool and strip 2 stands out. Tie the 2 strands of wool in at the 95% position. Hold the wool above but along the top of the hook as you wind the thread toward the tail. This will keep the wool sitting right on top of the hook shank. Once the wool is tied along the top of the hook shank all the way to the bend of the hook wind the wool forward in touching turns to the 1/3 position. Tie the wool off on top of the hook shank but do not trim the excess.

C	Select 6 equal church window feathers. Tie one church window feather along the side of the fly at the 1/3 position. The tips of the feather should extend cover anything from most of the tail except for a few strands or you can leave a distinct tail protruding behind the rear church window feathers. Bending hackles Pick up the wool and wind it forward to the 2/3 way position in touching turns. Tie it off on top of the shank but do not trim the excess.

D	Tie one church window feather along the side of the fly at the 2/3 position. The tips of the feather should extend half way along the feathers tied in at the 1/3 position. Pick up the wool and wind it forward to the 95% position in touching turns. Tie it off on top of the shank and this time trim the excess.