Oh man, the Maggot Fly – such a killer little pattern, honestly. You wouldn’t think something this simple could work so well, but man, from what I’ve seen, fish just lose their minds over it. It’s basically just a hunk of white chenille or dubbing wrapped around a curved hook, sizes 10 to 14 usually, but man, when it’s in the water? Magic.

So how you tie it – super straightforward. Grab some off-white chenille (personally prefer the off-white, looks more natural to me), wrap it tight so it’s got that plump, wormy shape. Taper the ends a bit, maybe throw in some fine wire ribbing if you’re feeling fancy – gives it that segmented look and, bonus, makes it last longer.

What’s wild is how well it imitates an actual maggot. You know, those little wriggly larvae? Fish go nuts for ‘em. High-protein snack just floating around, and when they’re on the menu, it’s like a buffet down there.

Where to use it? Everywhere, honestly. Rivers, streams, lakes – doesn’t matter. Dead drift it near the bottom, let it tumble along like it’s just drifting free. Weirdly, I’ve had better luck with it on overcast or rainy days, no idea why. Maybe the fish are just more active then? Anyway, killer pattern. Keep a few in your box.