How to Tie: Walt’s Worm

In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Tim Cammisa ties a highly productive nymph that any level fly tyer can tie with ease, Walt’s Worm.

Difficulty: Easy

The Walt’s Worm is one of the most versatile nymphs on the market today. It’s simplicity allows it to imitate a wide variety of bugs, while being very efficient to tie. This is a perfect pattern for beginners on the vise and those that may not want to spend countless hours tying flies. From crane flies, caddis nymphs, and scuds, this fly will be a strong imitation on nearly any trout stream.

Adding a hot spot bead or thread to this very simple fly is a way to turn this into an attractor pattern that stands out for fish. On some of the slowest days of fishing, adding a hot spot fly to your rig may just turn on the bite. You have the ability to change the color and size of the hot spot easily, which makes for short sessions on the vise with high productivity. The Walt’s Worm is one of those flies much like the Woolly Bugger, where the imitation is a wide variety, but the end result is production.

Picking out the body with a piece of Velcro is one way to give this simple fly a bit more life. This may imitate legs or other aspects of nymphs, and can only add to your chance of a hookup. Personally, the Walt’s Worm is one of my top selections when there is no visible hatch. Matched with a hotspot, this fly is as deadly as they come and hungry trout will not be able to pass up this meal ticket.

Ingredients:

• Hook: Size 10 Standard Nymph
• Wire: Lead – 0.15 mm
• Thread: Tan
• Bead: Rip Lips Tungsten – Chartreuse 2.5mm
• Body: Hare’s Ear Plus Dubbin – Natural Hare’s Ear

Now you know how to tie Walt’s Worm!

Video and ingredients courtesy of Tim Cammisa.