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
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
- Start the Thread
Secure the black thread on the hook shank and lay down a smooth base. - Add the Tail
Tie in a short tuft of red wool at the bend of the hook.
- Tie in the Rib
Secure a length of silver tinsel along the shank for ribbing later. - 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.
- Form the Body
Wrap the peacock herl evenly down to the tail and back up to the eye to create a full, iridescent body. - Add the Hackle
Tie in a black dry-fly hackle at the eye. Palmer it (wrap it evenly) back toward the bend.
- 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.
- Create the Collar
Tie in a few turns of soft black hen hackle just behind the eye to form a mobile collar.
- Finish the Fly
Build a small, neat head with thread. Half-hitch and whip finish to secure. - Final Touch
Gently train the hackle fibres back using a warm hair dryer for a tidy, swept-back look.
