Editor’s note: Outdoors writer Bruce Schneck, a longtime member of the Schuylkill County Chapter of Trout Unlimited, is presenting a new series entitled “Fly of the Month” that will focus on favorites of club members and include the fly’s attributes along with tying instructions.
Although its name suggests a tropical setting, the San Juan Worm is a fly that produces for anglers throughout the year, but really comes into its own in winter and early spring.
This simple fly, best presented with an equally simple drift, can be most productive on many finger-freezing days. Simply rolling the fly along the bottom using enough weight on the leader to maintain contact while not getting hung up too often seems to get the job done.
As easy as it is to fish the San Juan Worm, it is even easier to tie on either a regular dry fly hook for the standard version or a much better version can be tied on a Mustad 37160. While more productive on 37160, it brings one major problem in that the hook becomes super attractive to trout and the fly is often taken very deep.
There are no barbless versions of this model hook, so a pair of needle-nose pliers is required to pinch down and remove barbs. With the barb removed and by using a hook disgorger, damage to the fish can almost be completely avoided. Other hooks recommended for tying the San Juan Worm are Daiiichi 1130, 1770 or 1150.
For the body, use regular size vernille for hook sizes 12 and 14 and micro or extra fine for the smallest sizes 16 and 18. Begin construction of the fly by wrapping tying thread from above the hook barb to right behind the eye. A very even wrap using thread of the same color as the vernille produces an attractive fly.
Next cut a piece of vernille four times the length of the hook shank, then hold the vernille over the hook shank with equal amounts extending in front of and behind the wrapped section. Wrap thread neatly through the vernille the full length of the wrapped hook shank, tie off at the head and then use a lighter or burner to singe both ends of the vernille to achieve a pointed finished look to the fly.
Vernille is available in a large array of colors, including the fly’s original red, but all can be used to tie the San Juan Worm. Some other colors that consistently produced well are black, fluorescent pink, fluorescent yellow, orange, pink, purple, brown, insect green, yellow and tan.
Although most anglers generally match thread color to the fly, at times after the fly is finished using brown vernille and thread, tying a wrap of pink thread tightly around the body gives the appearance of a sex band.
This extra step may not make any difference to the fish, but it sure makes for an attractive addition to a fly box, and there are times when using a different color thread from the vernille makes a good looking fly. Often when fishing an area holding numbers of fish, several fish can be taken on the first color presented. Then fishing one or two color changes will bring a few more fish.
Another variation that produces at times is to slide a brass or glass bead head over the vernille and position it in the center of the fly. In addition to helping the fly sink, the bead provides a bit of added flash.
Yet another way to add flash is to wrap the shank area with crystal flash or flashabou. Just a bit wrapped over the body seems to make a difference at times.
Another trick that really makes a difference at times is to allow the vernille to protrude in the rear, but be tied off at the head. Use a metal bead right on the head at the eye and then soak the vernille tail section in Hydrostop by Loon Outdoors or Orvis NuFly Kote.
This will cause the fly to drift head down with the tail waving above. It gets the attention of the fish, and the coating of floatant lasts a surprisingly long time.
As a final reminder, when fishing in freezing temperatures remember a bit of Vaseline, Chap Stick or Pam on the guides will help fight ice buildup.
For more information on the Schuylkill County Chapter of Trout Unlimited visit its page on Facebook.