nymph
Walt's Worm
- Sizes
- #12–#16
- Imitates
- caddis larvae · crane fly larvae · scuds
- Origin
- Walt Young (original); Devin Olsen variant
Walt Young's deceptively simple nymph uses hare's ear dubbing on a curved hook to imitate caddis larvae, crane fly larvae, and scuds simultaneously. Its simplicity and versatility have made it a go-to pattern for competition anglers and guides worldwide.
Recipe
Workbench
Variants
Swipe to see In box and Add
| Size | Bead | Body | In box | Add to box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #12 | 3–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Tan | — | — |
| #14 | 3–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Tan | — | — |
| #16 | 3–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Tan | — | — |
At the vise
Tying notes are not on file for this pattern.
Tying video
No tying video on file.
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
Fishing notes are not on file for this pattern.
History
The Walt's Worm has been a staple in the Northeast for decades — a simple hare's-ear body on a straight-shank hook that doubles as a sow-bug imitation in spring creeks and tailwaters that hold the leggy isopod. It also happens to be a great all-around buggy pattern that looks like nothing and everything at the same time. Trout tend to put it in their mouth to see what it tastes like. Devin Olsen fishes it in sizes from 10 all the way to 20 — a range few nymphs cover that well.