Hamill's Killer, Mrs Simpson, Kilwell No.1 and No.2, Mallard and Lord's Killer - New Zealand Trout Fly Fishing

I have grouped these New Zealand killer patterns together for several reasons: they are all tied in a similar manner; they originate from the central North Island trout fisheries around Taupo and Rotorua, and are uniquely New Zealand trout flies.

I'll always remember fishing a broad run on the Clyde River above Lake Dunstan with renown writer and fishing guide Dick Marquand. My size four Mrs Simpson was snatched by the biggest, fattest rainbow trout I have ever seen in my life. To begin with I thought I had snagged a sunken tree branch. Then it started moving, and my heart was racing. Then suddenly it shot straight up out of the crystal clear bubbling water to scare the living daylights out of me. Its next trick was to come speeding straight at me. Before I could strip sufficient line to tighten up on the dam thing it tossed my Mrs Simpson out of its mouth and took off laughing, back to where it came from. That's the closest I've come so far to a double figure rainbow trout!

Hammil's Killer - mallard dyed green

Hammil's Killer - Partridge dyed green

Hammill's Killer Tail: Black squirrel, overlaid with a small bunch of golden pheasant tippets. Body: red or yellow chenille. Side feathers: Partridge dyed green. Mallard dyed green is often used as a substitute. The dyed partridge, which has irregular dark blotches, is far superior to the more uniform dyed mallard. Quite a few years ago the plumage of the Kea, which is a New Zealand native parrot, was highly sort after for making up Hammill's Killer's. The Kea is now a protected species. It is illegal to be in the possession of Kea feathers even if you find one dead on the road! I note also that this pattern is often sold in tackle stores without the golden pheasant tippets.

Mrs Simpson (brown)

Mrs Simpson (green) Tail: Black squirrel Body: Red, yellow or green. Side feathers: Brownish green male pheasant rump feathers I prefer the chocolate brown feathers for this pattern, though it can sometimes be almost green.

These flies, or more correctly lures, because they are designed to imitate small bait fish, particularly bullies, are all tied in a similar fashion.

Each is first tied by starting with a tail of, usually, black squirrel tail. The under bodies are then formed by wraps of chenille, though you could use wool if you prefer it, and then feathers are tied to the side of the hook to form a plumpish bully like profile. I like to purchase a whole male pheasant cape for the Mrs Simpson pattern because you seem to end up with far more usable feathers than when buying them loose in bags I use both the brown "church-window" feathers as well as the greenish back feathers. Each seems to work just as well.

The Killer pattern series are reasonably easy to tie. Though they can be a bit fiddly in the smaller sizes. Perhaps one drawback is the number of feathers required to finish a Killer lure, particularly in the larger sizes. The important thing when creating killer patterns is best summed up in the word balance. Try to keep each side of the lure balanced with the same number and size of feathers.

Many anglers will tell you that the colour of the under body makes a difference to the pattern's effectiveness. One story I have often heard is that red bodies will attract eels. As far as I can tell you can't actually see the chenille body on the finished lure anyway! All are tied on short shank lure hooks, size 2-8.

The Killer patterns are widely used in New Zealand. The most popular are the Hammill's Killer and Mrs Simpson.

The Killers are typically fished to smelting trout at stream and river mouths. They are also highly regarded when fished around the shorelines of New Zealand's many lakes both for "blind prospecting" and casting in front of patrolling browns.

Feathered Lures

Trout Fishing in New Zealand