Doc Spratley

Doc Spratley

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Barred mallard barbs

Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel

Body - Dubbed with black lamb's wool

Hackle - Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back and down

Wing - Bunch of ringneck pheasant tail feather barbs tied over the body

Dick Prankard of Mt. Vernon, Washington, originated this fly about 1949. The fly was named after Dr. Donald Spratley who was a dentist in Mt. Vernon. He and his friends used it for fishing the lakes in British Columbia that had large caddisfly hatches. 

Terry Hellekson Note

I was first introduced to this pattern in 1963 on northern Washington's Ross Lake where it was the only fly we used for a full week. The version of this fly that we were fishing with had a peacock herl head and grizzly hackle barbs for the tail. I later learned that it was proving successful for both summer and winter-run steelhead. Needless to say, you will find a great many variations of this pattern and I have found it tied up to size 1/0.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

Doc Spratley

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Barred mallard barbs

Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel

Body - Dubbed with black lamb's wool

Hackle - Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back and down

Wing - Bunch of ringneck pheasant tail feather barbs tied over the body

Head - Peacock herl