Green Orbit Trout Fishing Lure

This is a favourite lure on many of the central North Island lakes where it is used both for trolling and casting at stream mouths as a smelt imitation. The Green Orbit is generally regarded as a night fly fished in size 2. It is also a successful daylight pattern when fished in smaller sizes 6 and 8.

The name Orbit is a play on the name of its creator Wilfred Beaumont-Orr who operated a tackle store in Taupo during the 1930s.

The Green Orbit can look quite different dependant on the shade of green used to dye the grizzle hackle feathers used to form the wing. Personally, I prefer an olive colour but you also see it tied anywhere from dark to light green. According to Derek Quilliam in The Complete Guide to New Zealand Trout Lures Orbits also come in yellow and red. With the grizzle hackles dyed to match the body colour. The Yellow Orbit is coming very close in appearance to a Yellow Lady which is tied using plain yellow dyed hackles instead of the grizzle. It is reputed to be an excellent trolling pattern. The Red Orbit looks much like a Red Terror; again without the grizzle hackle.

Hook size: 2-8. A good strong hook to use is the Black Magic 2x Long Shank.

Tail: Red whisks. The original tie didn’t have this modern innovation.

Body: Green chenille. Red chenille for a Red Orbit. Yellow chenille for a Yellow Orbit.

Rib: Gold oval tinsel. You can also use silver tinsel but gold is the correct colour to use.

Wing: Four grizzle hackles dyed green for a Green Orbit. Four grizzle hackle dyed yellow for a Yellow Orbit. Four grizzle hackles dyed red for a Red Orbit.

Collar: Grizzle hackle dyed to match the wing and body colour.

Head: Black.