Overview

Designed by Umpqua signature tyer Kevan Lee Davidson, the Sow Chow is a sowbug imitation he developed over several years with help from his two young sons, who collected and studied the real bugs with him.

Sowbugs are common in many streams and lakes, and anglers overlook them more often than trout do. They are weak swimmers with flat bodies and long legs for clinging to weeds and rocks. When the current sweeps them away, they arch their backs and thrash their legs, and the Sow Chow is built to copy that posture. A translucent, segmented look with a dark gut line gives it the glow and contrast that pull fish out of their lanes, and rubber legs keep it moving. It sinks quickly.

How to Fish It

• Under an indicator: fish it as the trailing fly behind a heavier nymph or worm, near the bottom.
• Tailwaters and spring creeks: work weedy runs and flats where sowbugs live.
• After flow changes: rising water knocks sowbugs loose, so fish it hard right after releases go up.
• Tippet: 5X or 6X fluorocarbon.

Choosing Color and Size

Gray and Tan are the natural sowbug shades, so match what you find in the weeds. Pink is a proven tailwater attractor color.

Sizes 16 and 18 match most natural sowbugs. Size 14 is the bigger, more visible option for off-color water or a lead fly.