Falling Ophelia

Created by Jeff Morgan

HOOK: Dai Riki 320, size 10-14 THREAD: 6/0 chartreuse, olive, or tan to approximately match body BODY: Olive, yellow, gree, or chartreuse deer hair

Uses

Imitates inchworms. Inch worms are not aquatic insects, however they often fall off overhanging vegetation and drop into the water. Trout can feed eagerly on them where they are plentiful. Studies show that in some areas they are the second most common terrestrial eaten by trout; only ants occured more frequently in stomach samples.

 
For more, see the article The Forgotten Terrestrials

Variations

Chartruese, olive, and tan are common colors.

How to Fish

Dress the fly with floatant and use standard dry fly presentations near overhanging vegetation. Early summer is often a good time for this pattern.

Tying Instructions

1. Debarb hook, place in vise, start thread

 
2. Build thread base to prevent deer hair from spinning around the hook shank.

 
3. Tie in deer hair at back of hook, pointed forward. Make 2-3 hard wraps to secure hair.

 
4. Wrap down deer hair with spiraling wraps of thread.

 
5. Tie down at head with 2-3 hard wraps.

 
6. Whipfinish and trim head and tail short.