General Practitioner

Written by DCarp

General Practitioner

RWFF General Practitioner

• Hook: Steelhead/Salmon 2-8
• Thread: Orange, 6/0
• Tail: Orange Calf Tail
• Body: Orange Dubbing
• Rib: Oval Gold Tinsel
• Wing: Golden Pheasant Breast (3-4)
• Hackle: Orange Hackle Palmered

HISTORY

The General Practitioner was developed in the early 1950's by Lt Colonel Esmond Drury as an imitation of a shrimp to be used on the River Test. Anglers on that salmon fishing 'beat' used to use live shrimp on a hook to fish for salmon. The land owners banned this practice so Drury developed this fly to imitate the native Northern Shrimp. He tied the fly on size 2 hooks but found that the smaller hooks caught more fish especially in the more shallow water areas. The original consisted of golden-pheasant body feathers and orange fur. He called this fly G.P. at first because of the golden pheasant feathers that went to make up the large part of this pattern. It has proved very effective on a wide range of waters from America, Canada, Scandinavia, Britain and Iceland. The name changed to General Practitioner because of its effectiveness. It is a very popular and effective fly in brownish and murky rivers.