nymph
Mop Fly
- Sizes
- #10–#14
- Imitates
- caddis larvae · crane fly larvae · aquatic worms
- Origin
- Jake Villwock (popularized); Devin Olsen variant
The Mop Fly — made from a strip of chenille mop material on a jig hook — is the most controversial and undeniably effective nymph of the 21st century. It imitates caddis larvae, aquatic worms, and crane fly larvae with a soft, translucent body that trout devour without hesitation.
Recipe
This is one dressing. Tie it in other colors to match the hatch in front of you.
Workbench
Variants
Swipe to see In box and Add
| Size | Bead | Body | In box | Add to box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #10 | 3.3–3.5mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Cream | — | — |
| #12 | 3.3–3.5mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Cream | — | — |
| #14 | 3.3–3.5mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Cream | — | — |
At the vise
Tying notes are not on file for this pattern.
Tying video
Fishing now on
Rivers whose hatch chart names this pattern this month. Names and sizes only.
Not named on this month's hatch charts.
On the water
Dead drift it through runs and slots. The soft body has a natural, translucent look underwater that drives trout crazy. Love it or hate it, this fly catches fish.
History
Like the Blowtorch, Devin Olsen first fished The Mop at the 2014 World Fly Fishing Championships in the Czech Republic. A year or two earlier, the pattern began making waves among eastern US competition anglers. Like most anglers, Devin took one look and was skeptical. His teammate Pat Weiss disabused him of that skepticism during practice. Now The Mop is one of those flies he *has* to try on every new river. Sometimes it's a dud. Other times it's THE pattern — not only convincing tough trout to eat, but convincing big trout that they're missing a meal if it drifts by.