FLY OF THE MONTH

The Glo Bug
By Jeff Pierce

OK, I know. . . it's just a Glo Bug and yes, it's a simple fly. It is a simple AND very effective little fly. I get numerous requests at the fly-fishing shows as well as by phone and via email about the almighty Glo Bug. "How do you get that thing so tight and perfectly round," they ask. Well, it VERY simple indeed. I will give you my method and keep in mind that there are several different ways to tie these flies. Once you get the hang of it, your local fish are in grave danger.

Tying instructions:

Sorry about the rough hands in the photos, but I did this during prime Salmon & Steelhead season so my hands were pretty beat up after having my way with the local fish. Sometimes you just have to take one for the teaml

Step 2:

Cut three pieces of Glo Bug yarn into 1.5" lengths. You can use all one color or use two of one color and place a different accent color on top. Set the three pieces on the top of the hook and make three VERY TIGHT WRAPS (center of yarn/center of hook). Be sure to keep tension on the thread at all times.

Step 4:

Make a few tight wraps just behind the eye, whip finish and cut the thread.

FISHING SUGGESTIONS

The Glo Bug is just about as simple as a fly can possibly get. I just love quick andeasy flies. Obviously, the best time to fish Glo Bugs is when there are loose eggs flowing downriver. Steelhead and Brown Trout often key in on the eggs of spawning Salmon. These fish will enter the rivers weeks and even months before they are ready to spawn just to take advantage of all the eggs in the river. Glo Bugs are equally effective in streams and rivers with resident trout populations.

The absolute best time to fish a Glo Bug is when you have spawning Salmon (or Trout) in a given area. If eggs are being deposited onto a redd, you can be sure that stray eggs are drifting down current. When you have eggs drifting downstream you can sure bet that there are fish feeding on them. In clear water conditions here on the Great Lakes it's common to see one or more Steelhead and/or Brown Trout positioned just down stream from Salmon that are laying eggs.

Some fly anglers shun the use of Glo Bugs and other egg patterns. I don't quite understand their reasoning since the anglers are simply "matching the hatch" if you will.

Glo Bug colors vary a great deal. There are two ways to go. Match the fly color as closely as possible to the natural or tie bright colors that will stand out from the naturals. My boxes are loaded with a wide variety of colors but there are a few staple colors that seem to produce more than others. A chartreuse Glo Bug with a flame orange dot is an old stand by that often produces. Steelhead orange with a flame dot, solid Steelhead orange and solid Oregon cheese are also some of my favorites. Cerise with a purple dot can also be a great color.

Here's one thing to keep in mind, especially in areas that get a lot of pressure or have very clear water. When eggs are first dropped by the fish they are a brighter orange. The color varies from species to species and somewhat from fish to fish. As the season goes on and the spawning is ending or is over there are still eggs drifting in the current. These "older" eggs begin to milk out and get lighter and lighter until they are almost white. So, as the season goes on I find it a good idea to fish lighter and lighter orange Glo Bugs. If the water comes up and gets a little off color I will often go to brighter colors that stand out and in larger sizes. In lower water conditions or in high angling pressure areas I often fish size 14 Glo Bugs with excellent success.

So, tie up some Glo Bugs, fish them on a dead drift and hold on. . .

About Jeff Pierce
Jeff Pierce, AKA "Dr. Fish" is the Sales Manager of Fly-Fishing Products for O. Mustad & Son and Partridge of Redditch. When not in the office, he can be found chasing fish wherever possible. Whether it's Sailfish off Borneo, Payara in Brazil or Brook Trout in the Adirondack Mountains, you can bet that Jeff is no doubt casting flies to something that will bend a rod. .