The Green Beast

by Jonathan on September 1, 2009

The green Beast is an old pattern devised by a gentleman called Alan Pearson. He enjoyed a reputation for catching a lot of big trout in small still waters. It is a simple fly to tie and I thought you might like to give it a try. Originally it was supposed to imitate aquatic beetle larvae but I think it is more likely to be taken for a damsel nymph. With this in mind it might be worth trying a rib of blue or green lurex.

The Dressing

  • Hook - Long shank 8 ( Kamasan 830).
  • Lead -- wire underbody optional.
  • Thread -Green.
  • Tail -- Green Cock hackle fibres fairly short.
  • Body -- Green floss tapered to tail.
  • Rib - Silver wire. ( blue or green lurex optional).
  • Hackle -- Brown partridge back 2 turns.

Regards Dave C. and the Team

{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }

irishflyman November 18, 2010 at 3:38 am

hi dave
do you have a video on how to tie the green well spider ..if not can you tel me what i will need to tie this fly
thanks
gerard

DaveC November 19, 2010 at 11:49 am

Hi Irishflyman
Thanks for your watching the site.
The Greenwells was one of the first flies on the vids. It is on ‘ Beginners Lesson 7′, together with the Partridge and orange. Scan down the Brginners page and click on ‘ previous lessons’
Hope this helps.
Happy Fishing.
DaveC.and the Team.

irishflyman November 20, 2010 at 1:54 am

thanks i found it…do you have any suggestions on flys that are good for rainbow trout on lakes ?
thanks
gerard

DaveC November 21, 2010 at 12:48 pm

Hi Irishflyman
I spend every opportunity in the summer fishing for rainbows. I find myself tying all kinds of patterns but fishing with only half a dozen regularly.
Favourites Montana nymph …green,yellow or red thorax with or without gold bead head.L/s 10 or 12
Damsel nymph with or w/o gold head L/s 10 or 12
Both of these on point
Droppers usually only one at a time
black or olive buzzers size 12 ….red thorax, body black/olive new czech nymph ribbed fine copper wire.
Diawl Bach
Hares Ear

Not very exciting selection but I usually catch my share.
Happy fishing
DaveC. and the Team

MikeG December 5, 2010 at 10:29 am

Hi Dave,
I really enjoy your website and have learned a lot. I was wondering if you will be doing any new patterns? It’s been a while since you put on anything new.
Thanks again for all the help and the website!
MikeG

sternsteven December 5, 2010 at 11:12 am

Dear David
just want to send seasons greetings and thanks on behalf of everyone who has benefitted from your kind direction through the gentle art. I was really hoping that you were feeling better now after the slings and arrows of the NHS. I’m hoping that you’re planning on stepping back in front of the camera in the New Year

kind regards

steve stern

DaveC December 6, 2010 at 11:38 am

Hi sternsteven
good to hear from you. Yes it has been a trying year but ‘We will be back!’.
I am still a bit battered from ops on hand, leg and heart but the spirit is strong. Jon has already been hinting the time is up!
I have spent a couple of days getting my creaky digits in form tying up some ’16′s wet spiders as a Christmas present for a friend to use on the Derwent and Dove. They were not unsatisfactory.
Thanks for your concern.
Regards
DaveC.and the Team

DaveC December 6, 2010 at 11:41 am

Hi MikeG
Thanks for your comments. I have just about got myself back together after my ops and we will be doing more vids soon.
Happy fishing
DaveC.and the Team

Jon Ractliffe December 7, 2010 at 6:34 am

Glad to hear you are bearing up and are on the mend. Having had CT ops on hands I do dread the cold weather. And that I see is something that you have been getting a lot of this last week.
Seasons greetings to you and yours from your follwers in the mid west.

steven December 8, 2010 at 12:22 am

hi, do you have a video on how to tie the Grey Wulff

arthur hoppper December 15, 2010 at 4:21 pm

hi
thinking of taking up fly fishing found your site by looking at various sites on fy fishing& tying must say really enjoyed your fly tying videos are there any fly tying vices &tools you could reccomend for a begineer
kind regards
arthur

D Beaudet January 12, 2011 at 4:43 pm

Hi David,
How can I get hold off your DVD lesson.Can I down load or can I buy them. I do not have the web at home only at work.

DaveC January 12, 2011 at 5:53 pm

Hi D Beaudet
thanks for your e-mail. Sorry but at the moment we do not do a DVD. We have given serious thought to doing it but I am a practising geriatric and my son has a proper life to live. (He is not a fisher). The year is young and who knows what the future will bring.
Happy fishing
Dave C. and the Team.

Greg Shapley February 5, 2011 at 1:03 am

Hello Dave,

I recently discovered your website and appreciate it very much. I’m new to flytying and find it extremely helpful.

What kind of thread do you recommend, and what is a good supplier in the US for flytying supplies?

Thanks so much,

Greg Shapley

DaveC February 5, 2011 at 1:08 pm

Hi Greg,
Thanks for your e-mail. I am not familiar with fly tying material suppliers in the US…….living in the UK. I tend to use mainly Uni – Threads in 6/0 and 8/0 . Cheaper to buy the 200yd bobbins and the colour selection is good.
Hope this helps
Happy Fishing
DaveC.and the Team

Calum February 5, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Greg, UTC threads are good american threads.

Paul Bennett April 8, 2011 at 10:03 pm

Hello Dave, I have just started to tie my own flies and found your videos rather good. I have always bought my flies and from now on will be tying my own. I fish the river Tweed on the Peebleshire beat and was wondering if you could recomend any flies for fishing the Tweed that as a beginner I could tie . Thanks, Paul.

Bob Jackson May 31, 2011 at 10:34 pm

An excellent series of tutorials by an extremely knowledgeable and skilled craftsman. Thank you very much for sharing it with us David.

Much appreciated, kind regards, Bob.

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