Zirdle Bug
In stock
Sku
PM-1003137
- Can be fished as a stonefly nymph or a small crayfish
- It can be stripped or fished dead drift
- The perfect combination between a Girdle Bug and a Zonker Streamer
The Zirdle Bug Fly
The Zirdle Bug is a multi purpose fly that can represent a number of things but most commonly a stonefly nymph or a small crayfish. Supposedly this fly was developed in southwest Montana but that is up for debate. This fly bridges the gap between a dead-drifted nymph and an active streamer, making it an absolute must-have for any serious river angler’s fly box.
The History & Design
Some people say this pattern should be accredited to Dave McKee out of Bozeman. However, that is debated heavily. Local lore also leads to Missouri River guides claiming the pattern as well. The truth is Dan Byford invented the Zonker streamer, and Frank McGinnis invented the Girdle bug, and Pat Bennet is accredited with Pat's Rubber Legs.
Why we like it
- The Best of Two Worlds: Combining a lifelike, breathing Zonker rabbit strip tail with a heavily ribbed chenille body and lively rubber legs, it creates a profile trout simply cannot ignore.
- Incredible Water Displacement: The combination of materials pushes an immense amount of water, allowing predatory fish to easily track the fly in off-color spring runoff or murky pocket water.
- Rapid-Sink Design: Built to get down into the feeding zone immediately, whether tied in its classic streamer format or updated on a heavy tungsten jig hook to ride hook-point-up along the riverbed.
How to Fish the Zirdle Bug
The true beauty of the Zirdle Bug lies in its versatility. It can be fished successfully using three completely different methods:
- The Modern Nymph Rig (The Dead Drift): Fish it under a high-floating strike indicator as your lead point fly. Let it drift naturally along the bottom of deep pools or shelf lines to imitate a dislodged stonefly nymph or a tumbling crayfish.
- The Active Strip: Cast it tight to structured banks, log jams, or undercut rocks and strip it back with short, erratic twitches like a standard streamer to mimic an escaping crayfish.
- The Swing and Jig: Fish it on a tight line through the riffles. Allow the current to swing the fly across the river, then use subtle rod-tip twitches to give the rabbit tail a pulsing, jigging motion as it hangs in the current.