Views from the Vice – Pat’s Rubber Legs

One of the hottest flies in the country right now might be so popular because while incredibly effective on trout – it’s also a very easy fly to tie.

A couple of quick notes on this one… The bigger the better. I had success last year all across the rivers of the Adirondacks and at PBO with a size 4 fly. 12″ trout took it as quickly as 22″ trout inhaled it. The thing just works – particularly after a dead drift if you strip the fly in toward the bank imitating a stonefly’s natural tendency to seek the bank after releasing from the stream bed. Any color of chenille will work to imitate the targeted species of stonefly in the water you are fishing – brown, black, golden, etc. The pattern shown is and olive/black variegated chenille that works quite well.

The lifelike action of the legs of course is what drives fish nuts about the pattern, and the simplicity of the recipe lets them stand out and work their magic. Don’t be fooled by how minimal this fly looks, the thing is a trout magnet.

If you’re going to book a trip at PBO this spring summer or fall, make sure you have plenty of heavily weighted Pat’s Rubber legs in your box.

Tight lines!