The Dirty Bird wet fly/nymph pattern is a versatile trout fly that can be swung down and across or fished dead drift. Tie it in a variety of sizes and colors to match your local caddis emergences.
Dirty Bird
Thread: Veevus 10/0 Black
Hook: TMC 3761#8-14
Bead: Black Metallic Cyclops Bead appropriate for hook size
Tail: Partridge fibers
Rib: UTC Copper Brassie
Body: Rust Hareline Dubbin
Collar: Pearl Krystal Flash
Hackle: Partridge
Throat: Black Haretron Dubbing
I’ve had great success swinging the Dirty Bird during late spring caddis emergences, but I haven’t tried tying them with the Pearl Krystal Flash collar yet. That little bit of flash combined with the soft partridge hackle must give it some killer movement in the water. I’ll definitely be adding some rust Hareline dubbing to my next material order to twist a few of these up on the TMC 3761.