Simmons Attractor Fly

About the Simmons Attractor Trout Fly

Alan developed this fly in 1986 when he had a group of anglers from Switzerland with him and were helicopter fishing the mountain rivers of the West Coast of the South Island, NZ. At that time these rivers were quite unspoiled and were rarely fished, so fish were not angler shy.

2nd. January 1986, the weather was very warm, and on the breakfast table he tied up a fly on a number 8 long shank using a lot of materials from the Christmas tree. His friend John Boyles who guided some of my party scoffed at the fly, saying it looked like a "Christmas Tree". He sneakily picked one up from the table and stuck it into his fishing jacket anyway!

The fish were rising steadily to most well-presented flies but failed to take anything offered. John put on the "Christmas Tree" for a joke. Naturally the fish rose and took the fly nicely, the whole moment was captured on video, including the expressions of surprise and humour at "such a dumb fish".

The great strength of this fly is that it floats high and was very visible in fast rivers but to his surprise it works equally well on still water and these days has become the fly of choice for many anglers on lakes and reservoirs.

Expert Tip:

He had long wondered about the many anglers who subscribed to the school that if a fish refuses a fly then "go smaller". It always made sense to him that a big trout would prefer a big fly and that it must be much more preferable to rise the once to a big fly than 50 times to minute insects.
- Alan Simmons.

Creator of this trout fly: Alan Simmons

Tier of this trout fly: Alan Simmons

Country of origin for this trout fly: New Zealand

This trout fly is designed to be fished on Dams & Reservoirs, Rivers & Streams, Still Water