In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Tiesflies shows us how to tie a versatile grub/larvae pattern that will become your go to in no time, the Simple Grub.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
The Simple Grub is one of those patterns that quietly earns a permanent place in your fly box. It’s realistic, super buggy, and intentionally minimal, designed to imitate the countless small aquatic larvae trout feed on throughout the year. Confidence is the feeling you should have when this fly is plucked from your selection of nymphs. When fish are feeding subsurface without giving much away, this pattern is often exactly what they want.
Like other flies in its productivity class, it is built around simplicity and function. With very few materials, it creates the impression of life drifting aimlessly in the water. The key to tying this pattern is restraint, as too much material will take away from the fly’s natural look. Add ribbing if desired for durability and subtle segmentation, then finish with a small, clean head behind the bead or hook eye. The Simple Grub will fill up your nymph box in no time and allow you to fish in debris filled water without losing sleep over lost flies
Fish this fly anywhere trout feed below the surface(everywhere). In all seriousness, it works remarkably well as a dropper behind a heavier nymph or as part of a Euro-style rig. Its natural profile makes it effective in riffles, seams, and slower tailouts alike, giving you a weapon in any fishy nook regardless of destination. When trout are keyed in on small, unassuming bugs, the Simple Grub will consistently get eaten.
Ingredients:
Hook: FW555 Freshwater CZ Mini Barbless Jig Fly Hook | AHREX
Thread: TheFlySmith 20D GSP
Underbody: TheFlySmith Worm Thread
Body: Bulk Latex
Second Thread: TheFlySmith 52D GSP
Collar: SLF Prism
Now you know how to tie the Simple Grub!
Video courtesy of Tiesflies.
