The Christmas Fly: A Yuletide Pattern that Fishes Year-Round

Born from a tattered Rapunzel fly and a holiday jest, Jim Hagy’s Christmas Fly has become a legacy pattern that hooks into fish and nostalgia in equal measure.

By Ryan May & Jim Hagy

Bright, high-contrast materials give the Christmas Fly pattern its name—and help it stand out as an effective stillwater fly, even in low-light conditions. | Ryan May

Every fly has a story. Tied among its dubbing and feathers, you’ll find the nonmaterial elements that connect us across boundaries, beliefs and generations:

The quiet meditation of a tying bench...

The sudden thrill of a strike...

The tall tales and laughter that echo across glassy water.

Few patterns capture this spirit quite like the Xmas Fly. Festive and reliable, it’s now approaching its second decade of bringing fish to the net. In that time, it has also become a touchstone for nostalgia—a reminder of good company, lessons learned, and the camaraderie you can only find in fly fishing.

Laid flat, the Christmas Fly pattern reveals the careful balance of materials that makes it complex to tie—but reliable on the water. | Jim Hagy

This custom fly pattern was created by Jim Hagy, a longtime member of Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds (OFF). Its story begins shortly after Jim completed an OFF Beginning Fly Tying class taught by Keith Stamm and Eric Sauer. Inspired by the Wilcox Rapunzel—a fly that had served him well at Corbett Lake in British Columbia in 2010—Jim decided to replicate it. Using a secondhand vise purchased at a club auction, he dove into the process.

“I did not have anything but one well-chewed Rapunzel Fly,” Jim recalls. “So, I took it to a fly shop and bought as many feathers and other materials that I thought might work. At that time, there were no slick YouTube videos.” 

Small variations in tail length and leg placement give each Christmas Fly pattern its own character, while the core design remains consistently effective. | Jim Hagy

The fly earned its festive name thanks to OFF member Mike Truax. “Mike scoffed at the first one and said something like, ‘That thing looks like a Christmas tree,’” Jim remembers. Mike soon became a fan though. “It was only a couple of fishing trips together until his remarks turned to wanting some to use,” Jim says. 

“Jim showed his new creation to me on a visit to his home,” Mike recalls. “The fly was tied using a bright red glass bead-head and red tinsel along the upper portion of the body. Jim had added bright green eyes, thin rubber legs and an olive lower body. The coloring combination was sure to attract trout. The brightness of the contrasting colors struck me as something you would see at Christmas time. Hence, the suggestion it be called the Christmas Fly.”

The name stuck, and the fly became part of OFF history. Jim has taught several tying classes featuring the Xmas Fly, though he cautions it’s too complex for beginners. The reason for this, he says, is the number of materials involved.

Despite or perhaps because of this complexity, it fishes really well. Over the years, it has proven to be an effective, versatile pattern on a variety of water and for a diverse mix of fish.

How to Fish It

The fly’s unweighted design allows the line to control its depth, minimizing weed hook-ups. Jim emphasizes that while the Xmas Fly looks unique and works well, its success depends as much on technique as design.

“It’s still a replica of a ‘BUG’, and only one stage of fish food. So, it would be best thought of and presented as a damsel nymph,” Jim explains. “I often teach that what you’ve got tied onto the end of your line is only 49 percent of the fly fishing process. What you do with it is 51 percent.”

The Xmas Fly is especially useful as a searching pattern, designed to explore new waters. Jim often casts and strips it along shorelines, using a Type I intermediate line or a Type VI full sink, depending on where the fish are located.

“It even worked with floating line during a damsel hatch at Chopaka,” he notes.

At Corbett Lake in British Columbia, the Christmas Fly pattern has produced multiple large Kamloops rainbow trout, including fish exceeding 26 inches. | Jim Hagy

Jim fishes it in lakes ranging from local spots to the Okanogan County lakes frequently visited by OFF members. His son has also used it successfully in high mountain lakes and streams, even reporting its effectiveness on trucha in the Andes. But its proven success doesn’t stop Jim from joking about its limitations: “In Russia, my interpreter told me, ‘Russian fish not that dumb.’”

“Jim and I tend to fish this fly differently,” Mike says. “My pram moves around a lot in the wind, requiring me to keep both hands on the oars. Consequently, I tend to troll the fly, usually in 8 to 10 feet of water. Jim fishes from his pontoon boat and frequently anchors in deep water. He lets the fly sink to the lake bottom (20+ feet) and then retrieves it in quick short strips. His fishing strategy usually out-fishes mine and he catches large fish.”

The Xmas Fly has not been tested in saltwater. However, it has delivered exceptional results in freshwater, including many 20+ fish days on Blue Lake during spring and fall trips. Jim also recalls memorable catches of 26-inch, 28-inch, and 30-inch Kamloops trout at Corbett Lake during his last trip there in 2019.

“The Christmas Fly is an excellent pattern, especially in the spring,” Mike says. “When it isn't working, I may substitute another damsel pattern such as an Olive Damsel Nymph or the Olive Willey. As we all know, trout can be fickle.”

A Piece of Olympic Fly Fishers' History

For Jim, the Xmas Fly represents more than just a tool for catching fish. It reflects his journey as a fly tier and the friendships he has built within OFF. He fondly recalls sharing the fly with others, including introducing Randy White to it during Randy’s first club outing at Lower Green Lake.

“When I was starting out in the club about 10 years ago, I went on my first Omak Outing,” Randy recalls. “Spent a couple of days just floating around, trying to figure things out and catch a fish. I was on Little Green, when I observed a club member consistently reeling in fish. He caught me spying and waved me over. That man was the Great Jim Hagy.

“After a brief conversation, he told me to row over and tie up to his pontoon. I felt a little self-conscious about it but knew that I needed help,” Randy continues. “Within a couple of hours, Jim had taught me more about stillwater fishing than I thought possible! I was soon catching fish too!

“That began a great friendship with Jim,” Randy says. “Over the years, he has continued teaching me. And many years ago, let me in on the mystery of the Christmas Fly. With his help, I was soon tying my own Christmas Flies. To date, it is one of my favorite flies to use.”

Jim has taught the Xmas Fly publicly on several occasions. Its combination of practical effectiveness, light-hearted origins, and results continue to make it a favorite within the club and throughout the local area.

Jim Hagy with a lake-run rainbow trout—one of countless fish taken over the years on the Christmas Fly pattern. | Jim Hagy

“I can’t say enough good things about Jim Hagy,” Randy says. “Incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable. Yet he maintains an almost undercover persona, quiet, calm, but always watching and observing. He reminds me so much of my father. And I value his friendship so much! I only wish that I will become half the fisherman and mentor as him!

“Do yourself a favor, get a copy of Jim’s instructions for tying the Christmas Fly,” Randy says. “I won’t pretend it’s an easy fly to tie, but it’s worth it! Better yet, get Jim to give the club another demonstration.”

What began as a holiday joke at the tying bench has become a proven fly, fished successfully for trout across lakes in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. | Ryan May

“Each year, Jim sends me a Christmas card in which a Christmas fly attached to a leader is enclosed,” Mike says. “His fly is so effective that last season, as I was putting away my card from Jim, the fly embedded itself in my finger (Ouch!). Luckily for me all of Jim's flies are tied barbless.”

After more than a decade of tying and fishing it, the Xmas Fly has become synonymous with Jim as well as Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds. Beyond its effectiveness as a fishing tool, the fly embodies the camaraderie and shared knowledge that define our club. To reinforce that point, Jim offers his assistance to any club member who has questions about his Xmas Fly.

“After my 90th birthday last year, my fish catches may have enlarged, but my arm does not activate the Xmas Fly leg movement as it should,” Jim jokes. “I still love fishing it, and it’s been a joy to see it work for so many others over the years. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to remember the various stages of developing the fly and some trips with longtime OFF cronies.”

Jim’s dedication to teaching and mentoring others ensures that the Xmas Fly, along with its creator’s legacy, will remain a notable part of OFF history.

From the side, the Christmas Fly pattern shows its damsel-nymph profile, with rubber legs and subtle flash that come alive on the retrieve. | Ryan May

Xmas Fly

By Jim Hagy

Materials

Hook: Size 12 Dai-Riki 710

Bead: Toho 11/0 Silver Lined Siam Ruby (Ben Franklin)

Eyes: Homemade Mono – Painted Green (Testers Gl. green) B. Franklin

Thread: 8/0 Uni Thread – Lt Olive

Gold Wire: Extra Small Ultra Wire

Tail: (Both Layers) Grizzly Marabou Olive (Hareline GS263)

Abdomen: Olive/Olive Ostrich hurl

Legs: Montana Centipede Legs – Speckled Tan - Small

Thorax: Arizona Semi Seal – Dark Olive

Back: 3 Strands of Red Tinsel Flashabou (Holographic)

Tying: Eye Pre-Assembly

1. Debarb hook.

2. Put on bead.

3. Wrap Thread – Eye to midpoint with several layers at eye location.

4. Tie on eyes just behind bead. Wind thread crisscross over eye mono and bottom with Super Glue or Sally Hansen Hard as Nails to keep eye from turning.

5. Touch up eye paint after coating is dry.

Tying: Balance of Feathers, etc.

1. Tie 1st layer of tail at hook bend and wrap upper marabou to build body.

2. Tie on gold wire at rear of tail thread.

3. Tie on ostrich hurl – base end at gold wire location.

4. Wrap ostrich hurl toward eye and tie off about midpoint between eye and hook point.

5. Wrap gold wire around hurl and tie off.

6. Tie on 2nd layer of marabou just ahead of hurl/wire and wrap upper marabou (as necessary) to build body.

7. Tie on legs at the midpoint tie (leave space between front and rear leg for wrap of dubbing for start of thorax. Hold real legs forward and wrap just behind to make legs stand straight out.

8. Tie on flashabou on top long end toward hook bend and trim end toward eye.

9. Tie on dubbing at midpoint and wrap toward eye to build thorax. 

10. Fold over flashabou and tie off just behind eye, then trim.

11. Crisscross thin dubbing layer over and around eye mono.

12. Wrap thread to front of eye. Coat thread with head cement and tie off with 6+ half hitches.

13. Trim legs.

[2/12/2023]

“What you’ve got tied onto the end of your line is only 49% of the fly fishing process.

What you do with it is 51%.”

- Jim Hagy, December 2024 

This article and the accompanying fly tying recipe were first shared with Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds members in December 2024. The article has since been lightly expanded and, with Jim Hagy’s kind permission, both are republished here.