Overview

The Sexy Walts is a simple, buggy attractor nymph from Umpqua, a hare's ear style fly with a little flash and a tungsten bead. As the name suggests, it is a dressed-up relative of the Walt's Worm, one of the most trusted plain-dubbed nymphs in Euro nymphing.

It does not copy one insect. Depending on size and water it can pass for a crane fly larva, March Brown nymph, caddis, small stonefly or sowbug, which is why it catches fish just about anywhere, all year. The tungsten bead sinks it fast, and the subtle flash gives fish a reason to look without spooking wary trout.

Euro Specs

• Bead: Tungsten.
• Bead size by hook size: #14 with 3.0mm or 3.5mm, #16 with 2.5mm or 3.0mm, #18 with 2.5mm.
• Role: Both; anchor in the heavier beads, dropper in 2.5mm.

How to Fish It

• Euro nymphing: fish a heavier-bead version on the point and a lighter one or another nymph on a tag 18 to 20 inches above.
• Under an indicator: it works as either fly in a two-nymph rig.
• Dry-dropper: hang a small one below a buoyant dry in riffles.
• Year-round: a searching nymph for any season and any trout water, from freestones to tailwaters.

Choosing Color and Size

Hare's Ear is the natural, do-everything color. Olive covers caddis larvae and olive mayfly nymphs and looks natural in weedy water.

Use 14 for crane flies, stones and as an anchor, 16 as your everyday size, and 18 for small mayflies, sowbugs and clear water.