The Snipe & Purple Wet Fly

The Snipe & Purple is a traditional wet fly originating from the North of England, designed for fishing shallow, rough streams where food is scarce. Its simplicity, featuring a purple silk body and snipe hackle, makes it an effective pattern for imitating small aquatic insects like midges or emerging mayflies. This fly is ideal for targeting trout in fast-moving waters, where its sparse and natural presentation can entice strikes from fish searching for limited food sources.

Fish the Snipe & Purple with a dead drift in riffles and shallow runs, or let it swing gently through eddies and seams to mimic emerging insects. Its subtle coloration works particularly well in clear, highly oxygenated streams. For maximum effectiveness, use light tippet to allow the fly to drift naturally with the current.