You know, I gotta tell you about this Bumblebee fly I've been absolutely killing it with lately. Now, I know what you're thinking - fish don't eat bees, right? Well, here's the thing - they don't, not really. But man, something about that bold black and yellow pattern just drives trout crazy. I think it's that high-contrast thing - really stands out in the water, you know?

The way I tie mine is with alternating bands of black and yellow dubbing - though some guys use foam, which works too if you want more float. What's interesting is I find the dubbing gives it just enough movement in the water. Then I'll put on these white synthetic wings - poly yarn works great - tied back over the body so they sort of flutter when you twitch it. Gives it that struggling insect look that fish just can't resist.

Now here's the funny part - I've had days where actual bees were buzzing around me on the stream, and the fish were still hammering my fake one more than the real ones! Makes no sense, but I think it's that predatory instinct kicking in. The movement plus those bright colors just triggers something in their little fish brains. One time on Willow Creek, I must've caught a dozen rainbows before lunch just working this thing along the undercut banks.

Best time to use it? Definitely summer months when all the terrestrials are out. Small streams with some overhanging brush are money - fish get conditioned to seeing bugs fall in there. I'll often skip the deep pools and focus on those shady spots near the banks where a "bee" might naturally take a tumble. Just give it little twitches now and then to make those wings dance... man, the strikes can be vicious!