Black Palmer 1839

[Roadkill]

Thomas Hofland The British Angler's Manual, 1839

Body: Ostrich's herl ribbed with sliver twist, and a black cock's hackle over all.

I tied it on a Mustad 9671 #12 with Black Monocord...

IMGP1076 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

Hofland didn't specify what color ostrich, but Pulman in the Vade-Mecum of Fly-fishing for Trout 1841 used black ribbed by gold or silver twist.

My thanks again to Andrew Herd!

[DUBBN]

I seriously like this patterns!!

[joaniebo]

I've tied and fished a Black Palmer for many years in several sizes, mostly in 14s and 16s, using peacock herl for the body and a black Whiting rooster saddle hackle, sometimes a black hen hackle. If I recall, both Oliver Kite and the Rev. Edward Powell both had similar dressings but they called it a "Black Gnat".

Bob