Pat's Rubber Legs

Also called Girdle Bug. Popular Western stonefly imitation.

Printed on the 10 of diamonds

Stonefly nymphs live in freestone rivers for up to three years before emerging, which means there is a substantial population of large, meaty nymphs available to trout every single day of the year. That is an unusual thing in fly fishing: a big food item that is never out of season.

Pat's Rubber Legs is the simplest credible imitation of one. A chenille body, a set of rubber legs at each end and a bead or lead underbody to sink it. In the hand it looks crude. In the water the rubber legs undulate constantly with the current, and that movement is the whole fly — it is the difference between a piece of chenille and something a trout believes is alive.

It is most valuable as the heavy fly in a two-nymph rig on a big freestone river. Fish it deep and slow through the runs and along the drop-offs. In spring high water, when everything is brown and pushing, this is frequently the fly that keeps working when nothing subtle will.

What does a Pat's Rubber Legs imitate?

Stonefly nymphs.

How do you fish a Pat's Rubber Legs?

Deep and slow. Fish it as the anchor fly under an indicator with a smaller nymph trailing behind, and get it genuinely on the bottom. Do not strip it — dead drift is what stoneflies do.

When should you fish a Pat's Rubber Legs?

All year on freestone rivers, and outstanding in spring high water and during the pre-emergence period before a stonefly hatch.

What are the quick tips for fishing it?

• Coffee/black and brown/tan are the two colors worth carrying.
• If you are not losing the occasional fly to the bottom, you are fishing too shallow.
• The bigger sizes are not a gimmick — #6 and #8 catch large fish.

How is a Pat's Rubber Legs tied?

• Hook: 3XL nymph, #4-#12
• Weight: lead wire underbody or tungsten bead
• Body: variegated chenille
• Legs: round rubber legs at tail, thorax and head

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