Black Zulu

One of the most popular classic wet flies ever tied. This mysterious fly has been associated by anglers all over the world with hair midges (Bibionidae) but have not hesitated to use it even though no hair midges are visible and still have made a good catch using it. The color combination of the fly is simply classic for the trout, black and red always works, no matter what food is on the move. In Iceland there are three species of hair midges, Bibio nigriventris, Bibio pomonae and the Dilophus femoratus.

When referring to the Zulu being mysterious, it is usually referring to the fact that no one knows for sure where the fly comes from, who tied it, or when. The only thing that can be assumed as a verse is that it is definitely older than the year 1892 because that year it is referred to in Mary Orvis Marbury’s book, “Favorite Flies and Their History”. Everything else about the origin of this fly is shrouded in mystery.

Most of the time you see it tyed as the oldest recipes and drawings say it should be, but of course people have designed it according to their own style, added a bead head to it, tyed the body from a peacock or turned it up into a hydrangea with a wing or a soft hackle.

Author: unknown
Bead: Gold
Hook: Standard nymph 8 – 14
Thread: Black 8/0
Tail: Red yarn
Body: Black yarn or seal and cock hackle
Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel, flat tinsel or wire