Chubby Chernobyl

Foam attractor; imitates hoppers/stoneflies. High-floating, great for dropper rigs.

Printed on the 7 of hearts

The Chubby Chernobyl took the original Chernobyl Ant and added two tufts of white or amber poly wing, and in doing so created what may be the most-fished dry fly on western rivers today. The wings do two jobs at once: they make the fly visible at distance in glare and shadow, and they add just enough surface area that it will not sink under any dropper you reasonably attach.

It reads convincingly as a salmonfly, a golden stone, a hopper or a large caddis depending on color and size. Through the summer on a big freestone river, a tan Chubby in #10 covers a remarkable share of what a trout is likely to see falling in.

There is a fair argument that it is overused, and on heavily pressured water fish do learn it. But its combination of visibility, flotation and general edibility means it will keep earning a slot in the box, particularly for anyone fishing unfamiliar water from a boat.

What does a Chubby Chernobyl imitate?

Large stoneflies, hoppers and big terrestrials.

How do you fish a Chubby Chernobyl?

Bank-focused. Cast tight to structure, let it land with weight, and dead drift with occasional twitches. As a dropper anchor, run twelve to thirty inches of tippet from the bend to a beadhead.

When should you fish a Chubby Chernobyl?

Summer, particularly during stonefly emergences and the terrestrial season from July into September.

What are the quick tips for fishing it?

• Tan, purple and gold cover most water.
• The most reliable dry-dropper anchor in production.
• On pressured rivers, drop a size and go to a more subdued color.

How is a Chubby Chernobyl tied?

• Hook: 2XL dry fly, #8-#14
• Thread: tan 6/0
• Body: layered foam
• Wings: white or amber poly yarn, two tufts
• Legs: rubber or Sili Legs

Dressings vary by tier and region. Treat this as the common recipe, not the only one.