Dick’s Haemorrhoid

Dicks Haemorrhoid makes an excellent trout trolling and harling fly

I was given this fly by Dick Marquand of Cromwell some 15 years ago, and have since tied many more. Dicks Haemorrhoid was, according to Derek Quilliam, in his excellent book The Complete Guide to New Zealand Trout Lures, originally tied by Greg Walls also of Cromwell. Dick Marquand had a great deal of success with this oddball of a pattern while harling on Lake Dunstan.

In a sort of reverse construction, Dicks Haemorrhoid looks quite a bit like the hugely successful Tillins Cobra Traffic Light. This hard-bodied aqua foil trolling and spinning lure had proven to be a tremendous taker of rainbow trout on what was, at that time, the newly formed 26 square kilometres Lake Dunstan that filled up behind the new Clyde dam. It was, I believe, originally tied as a harling lure but has been fished with some success in rivers when tied in smaller sizes.

This sure is a gordy looking lure that might seem an unlikely success story. The body is of yellow chenille while the dominate colour comes from the mid brown coloured marabou which is generously tied in along the top. Start by sliding a tungsten gold bead up the hook to the eye. Then tie in a tail of brown marabou followed by the chenille.

The next part involves winding the chenille a third of the way down the hook shank before tying in a bunch of brown marabou. Then work the chenille past the marabou before repeating the chenille and marabou for the second time. Add a bunch of red marabou just before finishing the head at the bead. Tie off and cement.

Once wet the fluffy marabou sits down on the hook and pulses as the lure moves through the water.