In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Charlie Craven ties a simple yet deadly mayfly imitation every angler should have in their dry box this summer, the Mole Fly.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
Summertime is in full swing, and opportunities on the water couldn’t be better. Whether you target warm-water or cold-water species, the beginning of summer offers fantastic conditions for both. If your go-to species is trout, you’re likely a happy angler right now and have already switched over from your nymph box to full time dries. Take advantage of this time of year and the hatches that frequent because they won’t last forever. Mayflies are just one example of a common hatch many trout anglers will experience this time of year, and the Mole Fly is the perfect pattern for success, especially for tricking finicky tailwater fish.
Not only can tyers of any skill level master this fly, but they can do it anywhere. Whether you are in the comfort of your own home or in the middle of a fishing trip and are using your center console as a tying station, you won’t find many problems. Such few materials allow for ease of tying and transportation, making this a great road fly in case you run out of options or want to add variation during lunch. Dries don’t get much easier than this, so be sure to tie up a healthy batch of the Mole Fly with varying sizes and colors.
When fishing this pattern, you’ll likely need to drop down in tippet sizes to 5-6x, depending on hook size you decide to use. Adding this to a larger dry fly in tandem is a simple decision that gives trout looking up multiple options, while also providing you with a makeshift indicator. Natural materials and profile will drop the guard of trout who have seen several dry flies that day and give you a chance at getting them to rise. The Mole Fly is a must on the water this summer and should be in every angler’s dry box from here on out.
Ingredients:
- Hook: #16-24 TMC 2487
- Thread: Gray 8/0 Uni-Thread
- Wing: 3 Strands White Fluoro Fibre and 2 natural Dun CDC feathers
- Body: Brown Beaver dubbing
Now you know how to tie the Mole Fly!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Charlie Craven.
