Fishing fly with black, yellow, and green feathers on a white background
Fishing fly with black, yellow, and green feathers on a white background

Atlantic Salmon Fly, Hairwing, Green Highlander

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Description

The Green Highlander Black Wing is a classic Atlantic salmon wet fly featuring a vibrant green body, silver accents and contrasting black wing. A distinctive variation of the traditional Green Highlander, this pattern combines classic salmon fly styling with a practical fishing profile.

Its bold colour contrast makes it a useful choice for Atlantic salmon fishing, particularly when swinging flies through traditional salmon runs and pools.

Why Fish the Green Highlander Black Wing?

  • Classic salmon fly design with striking green, silver and black contrasts.

  • Distinctive profile that offers visibility and movement in the current.

  • Traditional wet fly presentation suited to swinging through salmon holding water.

  • Quality construction using carefully selected fly-tying materials.

A worthwhile addition to any Atlantic salmon fly collection, the Green Highlander Black Wing brings a distinctive variation of a celebrated salmon pattern to the river.

Tied by DcTackle in Canada.

Pattern History

The Green Highlander is a classic Atlantic salmon fly from the nineteenth-century British featherwing tradition, recognized for its distinctive green and yellow body and colourful dressing. Like many traditional salmon patterns, it has been adapted over time into simpler, more practical fishing versions.

The DcTackle Green Highlander – Dark Wing retains the recognizable two-tone yellow and green body, golden pheasant crest tail and silver ribbing of the traditional pattern while replacing the elaborate featherwing with Black Opossum Hair. This creates a streamlined hairwing variation with a stronger dark silhouette while preserving the character of the original Green Highlander.

Fishing Notes

The Green Highlander – Dark Wing combines a bright yellow-and-green body with a contrasting black hairwing and layered green-over-yellow throat hackle. The silver ribbing adds subtle reflection, while the dark wing creates a defined silhouette against the brighter body.

This variation is a useful choice for searching Atlantic salmon pools and runs, particularly in moderate flows, overcast conditions or slightly coloured water. Fish it using a traditional across-and-downstream wet-fly swing, adjusting the casting angle and presentation depth to maintain a controlled swing through likely holding water.

The contrasting colours make this an interesting alternative to the traditional Green Highlander when a darker wing profile is preferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Atlantic salmon fly should I choose?
Fly size depends on factors such as water level, water temperature, clarity, season and fishing conditions. Larger flies are often selected for higher or colder water, while smaller flies are commonly used as water levels fall and temperatures rise. Local preferences and river conditions can also influence fly selection.
Are these flies suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. These patterns are suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, although individual patterns, sizes and presentations may be better suited to particular rivers or conditions. Where useful, additional information is provided in the Pattern History and Fishing Notes for the individual fly.
Are these Atlantic salmon flies tied in Canada?
Yes. DcTackle Atlantic salmon flies are tied in Canada by DcTackle using carefully selected fly-tying materials.
What materials are used in these Atlantic salmon flies?
The materials vary by pattern. The Pattern Recipe on each product page identifies the dressing used for that particular fly. Where appropriate, the Material Alternatives section also identifies other materials that can be used in place of traditional or specified materials.
Can I substitute different materials when tying this pattern?
Yes. Many traditional Atlantic salmon patterns have been dressed with different materials over time, often because of availability, regional preference or changes in fly-tying materials. Where suitable alternatives exist, they are identified in the Material Alternatives section of the product page.
Can I purchase the materials used to tie this pattern?
Where materials are available from DcTackle, they are shown in the Shop the Pattern section of the product page. Availability varies by pattern and material.

Shop the Pattern

Everything you need to tie this pattern, matched to the exact materials used.

Pattern Recipe

SW-012 · Green Highlander

Hook
Maruto M30 Black Salmon
Thread
Semperfli 8/0 CWT Thread
Tip
Oval Silver Tinsel
Tag
Bright Yellow Uni-Floss
Tail
Golden Pheasant Crest Feather
Butt
Black Ostirch Herl
Body
Rear Half - Lemon Yellow Floss, Front Half - Uni-Yarn - Green highlander
Rib
Oval Silver Tinsel
Throat / Collar Hackle
Schlappen or Soft Hackle. Green over yellow
Wing — Layer 1
Black Opossum Hair
Head Finish
Black Thread and UV Black resin - Ultra Thin

Tying Video

Tying video coming soon.

This recipe represents the DcTackle dressing. Traditional Atlantic salmon flies often have multiple accepted variations, and materials may differ between historical, regional and contemporary dressings.

Image Note: Some product graphics use AI-assisted presentation. Fly imagery is based on actual DcTackle-tied flies; AI may be used for backgrounds, supporting imagery and visual presentation.

Pattern Notes

1. Adjust the size of the flat tinsel to match the hook size. Same for the oval tinsel

2. I use a single strand of uni-yarn for the body wrapped up and back. Likewise for the uni-floss. No underbody is reuired although on larger sizes of 4 and larger an underbody of white uni-stretch or uni-body may be preferred to give a "full" body effect

3. Wax your thread before securing the black opossum hair as it can be slippery

4. Schlappen is used as a simpler throat than wraped soft hackle. Tyers preference. I prefer the schlappen or soft hackle fibers as a throat for commercial tying rather than a wrapped method

Free Atlantic Salmon Fly Anatomy & Proportions Guide

Explore the nine key components of a traditional Atlantic salmon wet fly, with practical guidance on proportions, materials and construction details.

This illustrated reference from the DcTackle tying bench is available as a free downloadable PDF.

Download Free Guide