Frenchie Tungsten Jig

Tailwater trout are notorious for being picky. They’ll turn their nose up at a pattern that’s a size or color shade different from the naturals floating by. Few attractor patterns fool these wily critters, but that doesn’t hold true for the Frenchie! It’s the perfect combination of thick, scruffy body and subdued profile to limit the disturbance it makes in the water. A favorite way to fish it is at the point of a three-fly nymph rig. Have it lead the way, with 12-18 inches of tippet tied off the eye and a smaller pattern behind it. It works wonderfully in tandem with a small midge or mayfly since it will not only catch fish, but help sink the entire rig and the smaller lightweight flies that are behind it.

It’s a slender pattern that’s built for sinking quick and this pattern is a staple among backcountry fishers from both the East and the West. On freestone streams with quick drifts and narrow windows, this is a fly to have.