The Claret Killah (PHP Wet Fly) – A Buggy Wet Fly with Pheasant Tail Blood

They didn’t see it coming. Trout don’t expect a fly like this—stripped down, buggy, and mean. The Claret Killah isn’t just another soft hackle. It’s the bloodline of a pheasant tail nymph reimagined, spun in a loop, and finished with the kind of attitude that makes trout leap from the water.

This is the PHP: Pheasant. Hare. Partridge. But around here, we call it the Claret Killah.

Why It Works

The materials are minimal. The design is simple. But this thing hits hard.

• Thread: Claret 8/0 (or 70 denier) — a deep, subtle red that shows just enough

• Body: Pheasant tail fibers spun in a thread loop — super buggy looking 👀 

• Touch of UV Hare’s Ear: Subtle, but buggy as hell — this gets trout curious 🧐 

• Hackle: Hungarian Partridge — it just works lol 

It’s impressionistic. It suggests life without trying to mimic it. That’s why it works.

Fishing the Killah

Fish this fly in any position on a wet fly cast: top, middle, or anchor. It has just enough movement to suggest something alive, and just enough irregularity to make a fish lose its mind.

I’ve had trout come out of the water for this thing. Full send. The Claret Killah doesn’t just get bit—it gets attacked.

Tying Style

This fly was tied using a thread loop, pheasant tail fibers are spun to create a buggy, segmented body. It’s the same approach I used in my snowshoe cripple (wire and marabou).

Add some uv hares ear and a dark partridge hackle collar, whip finish, and you’re done. Dead simple. Deadly effective.

Origins

The Claret Killah was tied by me, cuz I wanted a wet fly that was quick to tie and effective. Durable as well.  Thread loops I love.  Dub or feather  they just work  

And yes, UV Hare’s Ear makes its appearance — like it does in so many of my flies. I trust it. It works. 

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