The Old School Fly That Still Catches Fish
Soft hackle wet flies were a mainstay long before dry flies took over the sport’s attention. Trout spend most of their feeding time below the surface, some studies suggest as much as 90 percent, which is most of why this style stuck around for so long.
The long, webby hackle collar on this fly collapses when pulled against the current and opens back up when you pause. That pulsing motion reads as a struggling insect trying to break through the surface film, which is usually an easy target for trout.
Two Colorways in One Pack
This assortment covers two common situations.
- Green Wire Rib: Reads as a caddis pupa or emerger. Good for spring and early summer evenings.
- Yellow Wire Rib: Passes for a Pale Morning Dun, or just works as a brighter, higher-contrast option in stained water.
Fishing the Down-and-Across Swing
This isn’t a complicated cast. Cast at roughly 45 degrees downstream, let the line tighten, and let the current swing the fly across the river. Hold on through the swing. Takes on a swung wet fly can be sudden, since the fish is chasing something that’s actively moving instead of drifting past passively.
The heavy wire wet fly hook is built to handle that kind of strike without bending or pulling free.
Common Questions
Do I use floatant on this? No. This is a wet fly meant to sink slightly, usually fished a few inches below the surface.
What does the wire rib actually do? Two things. It helps the body hold together after fish, and it adds a small amount of weight that helps the fly break the surface tension and get under the film.
Is this a nymph or a dry fly? Neither. It’s a wet fly, sometimes called a soft hackle or emerger pattern. It fishes in between, in the zone between the bottom and the surface where trout often feel safest feeding.
Can I fish this on a dead drift instead of swinging it? Yes. A dead drift with a slight twitch can also work well, especially if a straight swing isn’t getting attention. Try it as a dropper behind a Elk Hair Caddis in a dry-dropper rig too.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pattern Style | Soft Hackle Spider / Wet Fly |
| Hook Size | #12, shank 12.2mm, gape 4mm, heavy wire wet fly hook |
| Hackle Material | Natural speckled hen or partridge |
| Ribbing | Non-tarnish copper wire (Green and Yellow) |
| Body | Dark peacock-style dubbing |
| Hook | Barbed |
| Target Species | Trout, Panfish, Grayling |
Man these soft hackles just flat out work. Been swinging them on my local tailwater all fall and the trout absolutely smash them. The wire ribbing gives them a nice segmented look and they hold up way better than the ones I used to tie myself. Hooks are sticky sharp. Grabbed two packs and already thinking about ordering more before winter.