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Egan's Iron Lotus - Umpqua Fly

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SKU: Ump-12404-Olv-Size 16
$3.50

Details

The Iron Lotus concept was born after searching for a great Baetis nymph pattern to fool wily western brown trout during the fall of 2006. I needed a fly that was dark, thin, dense, and had fish-attracting power. After playing with many different dubbings ribbed with wire, I decided that dubbing over the top of the lead wire body created an abdomen that was too pudgy to properly imitate the diminutive baetis. I had to find something sparse. 

After many attempts, I concluded that anything added to the thread would create a similar fat abdomen, and quickly realized that thread alone was the perfect solution. To simplify even more, the final pattern ended up with a contrasting color of thread ribbing instead of the standard wire ribbing found on most nymph imitations. Thread ribbing offered a sleek profile while keeping the segmented look. As fall turned into winter, winter to spring and spring to summer, my killer baetis imitation had lost some of its effectiveness. 


By May 2007, the Trout had switched over to a PMD nymph diet. Although the olive version was taking fish, I knew a rusty/brown version would dominate during the PMD emergence. Thus the brown version was born. Both versions sport the black flashback, simulating a nymph with dark wing pads ready to emerge. Both also have a thread "highlight" behind the bead, yellow on the rusty/brown and red on the olive version.


Anyone who's fished for Trout much knows about a Trout's affection for the colors red and yellow. These work as a hot spot on the flies. Often this hot spot helps trigger a strike. The Iron Lotus is extremely dense. The tungsten bead, lead wire underbody and coated thread abdomen make for one heavy fly while keeping the slim profile. 

This fly is heavy! Dry/dropper and Euro–nymphing junkies will love the fast sink rate and instant contact its density provides. I've had great success with these patterns.

- Lance Egan, Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Tyer

Fly Recipe

HOOK: Tiemco 3769 (#12 - #18)
BEAD: Tungsten Round Bead (Match to Hook Size | Gold)
THREAD: 70 Denier Ultra Thread (Red)
BODY: 140 Denier Ultra Thread (Olive)
RIB: 140 Denier Ultra Thread (White)
WING CASE: Thin Skin (Black)
THORAX: SLF Squirrel Dubbing (Dark Olive)
TAIL: Coq de Leon [aka CDL] (Medium Pardo)
FINISH: Loon UV Clear Fly Finish (Flow)

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