The Claret Possum Shuttlecock Variant is Paul Fedeles’ adaptation of the original Claret Shuttlecock fly, renowned for its effectiveness and simplicity. The original Claret Shuttlecock, crafted by Craig Coltman, has earned high praise for its versatility and reliability in various fishing conditions. Coltman emphasises the fly’s ease of tying, excellent buoyancy, and high visibility on the water. Its unique claret colour sets it apart, mimicking an emerging mayfly while standing out in a crowd. This combination of attributes makes the Claret Shuttlecock a staple in many anglers’ fly boxes, ensuring consistent performance season after season.

In this variant, Paul Fedeles introduces a minor yet significant modification to the fly by changing the wing material to black poly-yarn. This adjustment not only simplifies the tying process but also maintains the fly’s core characteristics that make it so effective. Despite this change, the Claret Possum Shuttlecock Variant retains the versatility to be fished alone, in a team, or with a nymph suspended beneath it, ensuring it remains a reliable choice for fly fishing enthusiasts.

Paul’s Note:

Nothing doing today, lots of rain. So I looked around in some old boxes and found this fly from a Sydney Flyrodders weekend tie-in years ago. Craig Coltman was our guest tier. At the time he was the Captain of the Australian Fly Fishing team. You can see his original hi-tech championship super-star fly or you can tie my easy fly. Both will catch fish. His a lot more than mine.

View Craig Coltman’s original Claret Possum Shuttlecock – Flystream Effective Flies #15

Craig Coltman’s Fishing Tips

• A longer wing will improve visibility – and floatability – should you wish to suspend the nymph under the fly.
• Because this fly is designed to have the body hanging below the surface film, only tie the Claret Shuttlecock on the point.
• It is best fished static – I opt for a Possum Emerger when I want to impart movement.
• It also works well as an indicator fly when fishing a suspended nymph, or its own for quick point-and-shoot dry fly fishing.
• Incidentally, this fly can also work well in other colours, such as natural possum and red.

Fed’s Hint: I would kink up the poly-yarn before fishing it.

Materials

• Thread: Claret of black
• Hook: Firehole size 12
• Tail: Black possum tail guard hairs
• Rib: Fine copper wire
• Body: Claret squirrel dubbing or similar
• Wing: Black poly-yarn (different from original)

Tying Instructions

1. Wrap the hook with thread.
2. Tie in about a dozen long guard hairs for the tail.
3. Next, tie in the copper wire ready for ribbing.

3. Tightly dub a body with a claret-coloured dubbing
   – two thirds the length of the hook shank.
4. Rib with the copper wire in the opposite direction.

5. Tie in the black poly-yarn back to the two-thirds point.
6. Dub a thorax of the claret dubbing.

7. Wrap the poly-yarn over the thorax and tie in in behind the eye.
8. Double half hitch under the poly-yarn to force it upwards.
9. Cut the thread and trim the poly-yarn wing to your desired length.