Fly of the Week: Pink Sparkle Worm

Pink Sparkle Worm

The Pink Sparkle Worm is what I like to call my "sunny day" fly.  This fly works well for trout and salmon in almost every season.  I've even caught a couple of fish on it in December.  It's a pattern that I'll tie on first on a dropper rig.  Sunny days and receding waters are the best times to fish this pattern.  I've had particularly good luck with this fly in months like August when trout fishing can be slow in the midday, especially when we've had little rain and low water conditions are prominent.  

This fly ties very easily.  Whipping out a dozen of these in under an hour is not hard, even for the beginning fly tyer. You just start with a gold bead head (I use a ⅛" bead on a size 12 emerger hook) and tie your pink braid onto the back of the fly.  The key is to tie the bead into the middle of the hook shank and then wrap the pink braid over the top.  It's really no different than tying a San Juan Worm, you're just adding a bead in the middle.  I like to also tie this pattern with the traditional red chenille and tan chenille.  

Materials
Hook: Emerger hook down eye size 12 or 14
Thread: Fluorescent Pink UTC 70
Bead: ⅛" Gold Bead
Body: Micro Pearl Core Braid Pink (from Hareline Dubbin, Inc.)