Fed’s Soft Hackle Zulu

Fed’s Soft Hackle Zulu

If there’s one fly that proves the old adage “the classics never die,” it’s the Soft Hackle Zulu. Thought to be around 300 years old, this enduring pattern has earned a reputation as one of the most effective traditional wet flies ever tied. In fact, it was reportedly banned from competitive angling at one point – too successful for fair play! That’s quite an endorsement, and more than enough reason to keep a few tucked into your fly box.

The Zulu is a simple yet striking fly. Its peacock herl body gives off a subtle shimmer, the red wool tail adds a teasing flash of colour, and the silver tinsel rib provides just the right amount of sparkle to catch a fish’s eye. The fly is completed with a black palmered hackle and a soft black hen collar, giving it a pulsing, lifelike movement in the water that trout find hard to resist.

Over the centuries, the Zulu has inspired several popular variations – the Blue Zulu, Green Zulu, and Peacock Zulu among them – each with their own local devotees and subtle differences in colour and materials. But whether fished on stillwater or stream, traditional or modern tackle, the Soft Hackle Zulu remains a timeless performer.

If you’re looking for a fly that combines history, beauty, and sheer fish-catching power, you can’t go wrong with this ancient Scottish standby. Give it a swim this month—you might just see why it’s been fooling fish for generations.

Materials

  • Hook:  Nymph size 10
  • Thread:  Black 14/0
  • Tail:  Red wool
  • Body:  Peacock herl
  • Rib:  Silver tinsel
  • Hackle:  Black dry fly hackle
  • Collar:  Black hen
Soft hackle zulu materials

Simple, elegant, and deadly effective – the Soft Hackle Zulu is living proof that great design never goes out of style.

Tying the Soft Hackle Zulu

Hook secured in the vise with black thread base and a short red wool tail tied at the bend.
  1. Start the Thread
    Secure the black thread on the hook shank and lay down a smooth base.
  2. Add the Tail
    Tie in a short tuft of red wool at the bend of the hook.
  1. Tie in the Rib
    Secure a length of silver tinsel along the shank for ribbing later.
  2. Prepare the Body
    Bring the thread back to the hook eye. Tie in several strands of peacock herl and twist them into a dubbing rope.
Silver tinsel tied in along the shank with several strands of peacock herl prepared at the hook eye, ready to form the body.
Peacock herl body complete and a black dry-fly hackle tied in at the hook eye, palmered partway down the shank.
  1. Form the Body
    Wrap the peacock herl evenly down to the tail and back up to the eye to create a full, iridescent body.
  2. Add the Hackle
    Tie in a black dry-fly hackle at the eye. Palmer it (wrap it evenly) back toward the bend.
  1. Rib the Fly: You have two options here:
    • Option 1: Secure the hackle with the silver tinsel, then rib the tinsel forward to the eye and tie off.
    • Option 2: Palmer the hackle forward to the eye, tie it off, then rib the body with the silver tinsel.
  2. Create the Collar
    Tie in a few turns of soft black hen hackle just behind the eye to form a mobile collar.
Hackle and tinsel ribbing secured, with a soft black hen hackle collar newly tied in behind the hook eye.
Completed Soft Hackle Zulu—red wool tail, peacock herl body ribbed with silver tinsel, black hackle, and soft swept collar neatly finished.
  1. Finish the Fly
    Build a small, neat head with thread. Half-hitch and whip finish to secure.
  2. Final Touch
    Gently train the hackle fibres back using a warm hair dryer for a tidy, swept-back look.
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Julian Tapping

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