Egan's Purple Dart

Lance, January 2021

The Red Dart is a design combining the best parts of a couple of old favorite fly patterns and applying current materials. The result is a fishy attractor. I came up with the fly at the 2011 World Fly Fishing Championships held in Bolzano, Italy. Fish were being caught on red tags (old school style with yarn tail and peacock body), and prince nymphs. I was having the best success on prince nymphs tied with red thread (hotspot collar) and with peacock ice dubbing instead of natural peacock for the body. My thought was that if I combined the two flies I might find something the fish really liked. So, the red tail from the red tag replaced the biot tail from the prince. I used brightly dyed hackle fibers for the tail instead of wool yarn found in the old school red tag. Peacock ice dub has replaced natural peacock for my prince nymphs so I used the flashy synthetic. I removed the white biots normally found on the back of a prince nymph but kept the prince's brown soft hackle. One more addition and the fly was finished. The hotspot. Hotspots are very common in competition flies and will likely start to take over your nymph box if you start down the hotspot road... Anyway, the last piece of material is the sparse UV pink hotspot added right behind the bead. I have no idea why fish eat this fly. Though it certainly isn't imitative, it is effective, flashy and fishtastic. The Browns, Rainbows, Marble trout and Grayling in Italy liked it, as do fish everywhere I've tried the Red Dart.

Material List
  • Hook: Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook - 14
  • Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Red
  • Bead: Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten Beads - 3.5mm - Gold
  • Tail: Strung Chinese Saddle Hackle - Purple
  • Body: Ice Dub - UV Purple
  • Rib: Sulky Metallic Tinsel - Opalescent
  • Hot Spot: Ice Dub - UV Pink
  • Thread Alt: Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier - Red
  • Hook Alt: Umpqua XC400BL-BN - 14
  • Thread Alt: Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0 - Red
  • Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier
    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

    $2.49
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub
    Ice Dub

    Ice Dub

    $3.50
    Hareline Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Hareline Slotted Tungsten Beads

    Hareline Slotted Tungsten Beads - Classic Colors

    $7.99
    Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten Beads

    Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten Beads

    $6.50
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads

    Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads

    $8.50
    Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook
    Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook

    Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook

    $8.95
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
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    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

    $3.50
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

    $3.50
    Hanak Metallic+ Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Hanak Metallic+ Slotted Tungsten Beads

    Hanak Metallic+ Slotted Tungsten Beads

    $6.99
    Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless Hook
    Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless Hook

    Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless Hook

    $13.25
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

    $3.49
    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads

    Firehole Stones Plated Slotted Tungsten Beads

    $9.50
    Umpqua XC400BL-BN
    Umpqua XC400BL-BN

    Umpqua XC400BL-BN

    $8.95
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

    $3.50
    Hanak H 450 BL Jig Hook
    Hanak H 450 BL Jig Hook

    Hanak H 450 BL Jig Hook

    $8.95
    Firehole Sticks 516 Jig Hook
    Firehole Sticks 516 Jig Hook

    Firehole Sticks 516 Jig Hook

    $8.35
    Sulky Metallic Tinsel
    Sulky Metallic Tinsel

    Sulky Metallic Tinsel

    $4.99
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    $2.99