The Golden Olive is a very favourite fly in Ireland, and is used extensively on river and lake for both trout and salmon. In his excellent and comprehensive book Irish Trout & Salmon Flies, Ted Malone lists an amazing eight dressings for this beautiful classic, with each variation a triumph in itself. The pattern presented in the above photo is fly number (5) in the list. Malone goes on to relate that this pattern is an old Cork dressing which was formerly known as the Butterman. In general with these olives, there is no topping over the wing except in pattern number 8, which is adorned with a crown of two toppings. Golden Olive number (4) calls for a body colouring graduating to a Brown-Olive body mix at the shoulder, and this is achieved by the careful admixture of brown seal's fur to the golden olive fur until the final turn is a wholly Brown Olive. Obviously these different variations arose due to the different requirements of the fishermen visiting various waters.

Anyone who is interested in all Irish Salmon flies, would do well to purchase a copy of Ted Malone's superb book, "Irish Trout & Salmon Flies."
Edition 1993-- The Flyfisher's Classic Library.


The Dressing (5): (Malone)

Tag: Silver twist and Claret floss.
Tail: A Topping and Indian crow.
Butt: none.
Body: Rich Golden Olive seal's fur.
Ribs: Gold twist or flat gold tinsel.
Body Hackle: Rich Golden Olive cock.
Shoulder Hackle: Claret cock.
Wings: Mixed - Golden Peasant tippets, Bustard, Wood Duck, blue and yellow dyed Swan, bronze Mallard over.
Head: Black.



The Dressing (4): (Malone)

Tag: Silver wire and Orange floss.
Tail: A Golden Pheasant Topping.
Butt: none.
Body: Seal's fur graduating from Golden Olive at the tail to a Brown Olive at the shoulder.
Ribs: none.
Body Hackle: Golden Olive cock.
Throat: Blue Jay.
Wings: Mixed - Golden Peasant tippets, blue Peacock, red and yellow dyed Swan, Guinea fowl, and bronze Mallard over.
Head: Black.


(The golden olive fur is darkened by the admixture of brown olive until the final turn is wholly Brown Olive.)

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