The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
None
Medium - 5-7 Min
Coldwater, Warmwater
** Tip: Remember this fly will be tied with the hook point down, but will fish hook point up, remember that so you don’t tie the fly upside down **
For smaller patterns you can tie in pine squirrel zonker strips which are much smaller (#12 – #16)
You can sub in and make wraps with the zonker strips to form the head instead of grizzly hackle.
You can adjust colors and sizes all day on this pattern as different material colors are readily available. Be sure to try adding some more rubberlegs to the pattern for crayfish imitations. 5-7 rubberleg strands per side is what I like to use to create more of a “claw” look and feel to the pattern.
Rusty brown and black are my favorite colors, but olive, purple, brown, white and yellow/brown are great colors too.
The movement this fly creates due to the jig-style and zonker strip body makes this irresistible to trout, carp and and bass. It’s a highly versatile pattern that has been tested in dozens of countries over a long period of time. If you’re looking for a streamer you can tie and fish with confidence, this is the streamer pattern for you. It’s easy to change colors and tie in different sizes making it versatile for all kinds of situations. It imitates baitfish, leeches and crayfish depending on size and color. Fished slow bounced along the bottom or fast across the water, it’s a fish catching machine.
There are two presentation tips for this fly that I commonly use. First, fish this pattern slow with short strips. With it hook point up due to the jig-style hook, it won’t snag on the bottom easily and you can really have it hop along. In both lakes and streams, this is a great technique for fish cruising and looking for an easy meal.
If the slower presentation isn’t producing fish, do a standard streamer technique casting it downstream and letting the current bring it across the river with erratic strips along the way. This often gets fish on the feed if they wanted some movement. Change up your technique until you start finding fish. It’s likely the presentation, not the pattern that is keeping you from fish on this fly.
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Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.