nymph
Egan's Tungsten Surveyor
A dense, fast-sinking hybrid: the classic Hare's Ear silhouette built with the Rainbow Warrior's translucent sow-scud thorax and pearl wingcase. Silver ribbing and a red-thread collar tie the look together.
Originated by Lance Egan
Recipe
- HookTMC 2499SP-BL — size 16 · Tiemco
- BeadTungsten Bead — Silver 2.3mm
- ThreadUTC Ultrathread 70D — Red · Danville
- TailNatural Ringneck Pheasant Tail fibers
- RibUTC Ultra Wire Silver — Small
- BodyWapsi Sow Scud Dubbing — Rainbow (body + thorax) · Wapsi
- ShellbackPearl Flashback Tinsel — Large
History
The Surveyor is one of Lance Egan's lesser-known patterns — and, in his own words, one of his most productive. The design came from a simple experiment: take a bead-head Hare's Ear, swap the hare's mask for Wapsi rainbow sow-scud dubbing, and borrow red thread, pheasant tail, and a pearl flashback from the Rainbow Warrior. The result is a fly that carries the Hare's Ear's time-tested silhouette but catches light the way the Warrior does. If you fish Hare's Ears with confidence, the Surveyor will do the same work with a little more attraction.
Fishing tips
A classic point-fly for tailwater euro rigs. Silver bead tends to out-fish gold in clear water; natural silhouette makes it credible to picky fish.