nymph
Mop Fly
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.
Originated by Jake Villwock (popularized); Devin Olsen variant
Recipe
- HookDohiku HDJ — size 10 or 12 · Dohiku
- BeadCopper or Black Nickel Slotted Tungsten
- ThreadUni 8/0 — Tan · UNI Products
- BodyMicrofiber Mop body bound with thread
- CollarDark Hare's Ear / Squirrel dubbing or Ice Dub
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.
Fishing tips
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.