The name of this fly might make fly anglers weary of carrying a few of these critters in their fly boxes, but don’t be misguided just because they are ugly. Ugly flies catch fish. The ugly description for this fly probably is due to its simple look and abundance of gangly legs. In all honesty the combination of fuzzy chenille and sultry moveable legs is a fish attracting magnetic. Big trout, bass and panfish can’t resist these materials in the water, especially if you put a few strips of line into your retrieval to get those legs dancing.

To fish this fly all you really need to do is get the fly down deep, and working it slowly along the bottom. The normal up and across technique is used with this type of fly to get the flies where you want them, while appropriate line mending will keep the fly drifting downstream as naturally as possible. Strikes from fish will be ferocious.

If you do not receive any action while dead drifting this fly try switching to a streamer type retrieve. For this second type of retrieve cast the fly to a position above the target and allow the fly to sink to the required depth before reaching the fish. On the first pass allow the ugly bug to drift downstream naturally and swing at the end of the drift to a position directly below the angler. This dead drifting tumbling motion resembles a dead or wounded minnow being swept downstream with the current while the swing motion at the end of the cast simulates the wounded minnow trying to flee danger. On the second pass actively strip the fly against the current to try and get lackadaisical fish to react.

Tie this fly in sizes 8-12.