Overview

The Squirmy Wormie is Umpqua's take on the squirmy worm, a soft, stretchy worm fly that moves with every bit of current. When the classic dry flies are not bringing anything to the net, this fly offers trout something familiar and high in protein.

Aquatic worms live in the gravel and silt of nearly every trout stream, and rising water washes them loose and into the feeding lanes. Trout know it and look for them. The squirmy material wiggles and stretches on the drift, so even a dead-drifted fly looks alive. It is especially effective when the water is high or off-color, after a rain or during a release on a tailwater.

How to Fish It

• Under an indicator: dead drift it as the lead fly with split shot above it, and trail a smaller nymph 14 to 18 inches behind.
• High water: fish the soft edges, eddies and inside bends where trout slide out of heavy current to feed.
• Tailwaters: keep it handy after flow changes, when worms get dislodged and trout start feeding.
• Tippet: 4X or 5X is plenty in off-color water and helps you land fish quickly.

Choosing Color and Size

Bloodred is the deeper, darker shade and matches the color of many natural aquatic worms. Red is brighter and a bit more visible, which helps in stained water.

Size 10 gives a longer, more visible worm for high, dirty water. Size 12 is a smaller, more subtle profile for clearer water and pressured fish.