The Jersey Herd was created by Tom Ivens for reservoir fishing in the early 1970s . It derived it’s name because the early pattern’s body was made from the gold colour foil on the milk bottles known as gold tops. At that time the Jersey cows were the ones milked to give the best full cream milk, hence the name Jersey Herd.
It is still a useful pattern to have in your box. Materials have changed over the years and the body is now usually made of copper lurex ribbed with copper wire, or goldfingering. I have used a material called new body czech which I prefer. This fly like so many others from that era still catches a lot of fish and is well worth giving a try.
The Dressing
- Hook – L/S 6, 8 or 10
- Thread – Black
- Tail Back & Head – Peacock Herl
- Body – Either Copper Lurex ribbed with copper wire, Goldfingering or New Body Czech.
Dave C and The Team
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Dave,
I’m 79 and have just started tying flies, all based on your lessons. Being a former teacher I can say you do a wonderful job of teaching fly tying. I haven’t been fishing for about 30 years and don’t think I’ll be starting again, but I enjoy tying flies.
Hi jersey dave
thanks for your e-mail , good to have you on board. We will be doing new lessons this year, as I am just about up to speed again.
With tongue in cheek I can say ‘ You are still a boy’ and I wish I was too.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team
I really enjoy your instruction, i,m just getting into tying my own flies, and your photography is excellent. I’ve been fishing ever since i could walk, i’m 69 years old, so it’s never to old to learn..
thank you
david
Dave this jig looks to a good one for Crappie and Bass.
I made some with Red/White yarn and Green/Gold Flash,
Silver/Black..they are fish good for Crappie, some Bluegill
hit the fly and into the frying pan.
Thank you
Sgt John
thank you Dave , v ery much apprecate .keep up the good work . chat to you soon.bye.
Hi ae
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. The Jersey Herd is a lure fished as a wet fly. Can be fished on floating, intermediate or sinking lines. Best on long shank size 8 or 10 hooks.
Happy Fishing
DaveC.and the Team
hi there,Dave how are you ,i would like to thank you so much for the lesson.I just start to get in to fly fishing and love it so much.And thank to you and the team,these program has been so great to me and a lote more people all over the world i hope.Dave could please tell me that jersey herd wet fly or dryfly. thank you so much Dave and the team.
Hi Kent
Thanks for your e-mail. Congrats on the combined effort with your wife to have a daughter. I bet she will wrap you round her little finger!
All I can say to you is ‘DREAM ON’ it sounds better than the real thing.
Must keep it brief we are off on holiday tomorrow and I have not sorted my tackle out yet………I am hoping to get the rod out for a few outings.
Happy Fishing( or dreaming) .
DaveC. and the Team
Hi Bill
Thanks for your comments.
My vice which I have had for about 3yrs now is a Griffin and I am very pleased with it.
Model Patriot Cam vice. It is not cheap but does all that I want.
Rotating jaws. Adjustable jaws and is available with either pedestal or C clamp.
Hope this helps.
Happy fly tying
DaveC.and the Team.
Hello again. How nice to see you “up and about again”. I guess springtime has taken most of your time, either fishing or gardening. However I see that you’ve managed to find time to modify your website with a new “theme”. How nice….. It’s much easier to navigate now (not that it was that difficult before, but nevertheless….).
Being a father for the third time, this January, has taken all my time and energy (it was a girl this time, hehe) so there has been no fishing for me. I miss fishing so much,that I’ve started dreaming about fishing in my sleep. So now my spouce and I have decided that it cannot wait any longer. Still I must say, that those “fishing adventures asleep” actually have been quite pleasant. One night I dreamt of a fine hardfighting 6-pound brownie that I caught on my 4-weight in a stream, and the following day, I was as exited as if it had been for real. I must admit it…. I’m a “fishing addict”. I must learn to deal with the fact, that there’s absolutely no cure at all. But then again, who wants to be cured of this???
I’m looking forward to your next fly.
Best regards from the addicted dane
Thanks David for the wonderful lesson. My question for you is, What Vise do you use for tying? is it a rotary style? Thanks for your consideration.
Regards,
Bill