Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 13

Here are a few of my favorite fall egg patterns as well as
some tying tips. In all cases, lay down a good thread base
on each hook before tying in material. This will prevent
the finished product from spinning on the shank. Also,
I commonly tie these patterns with a bead head for eye
appeal, and the extra weight helps get the fly down quicker
in fast water.
Glo Bug and Clown Egg
Glo Bug is just a fancy term for an imitation salmon egg.
Of all the materials I have used to tie this fly, McFly Foam is
perhaps the easiest to work with when tying, and it produces
a lifelike appearance in the water. Glo Bug Yarn works well,
too, but the material is a little more difficult to cut and will
dull your scissors more quickly over time.
Simply take a 1/2-inch strand of material, and tie it
onto the shank near the hook eye. Then, tie off and cut
the thread. Trim the length of the material, so each side
is approximately one hook gap long. Use your fingers
to shape the material into an egg. It does not have to be
perfectly round. If needed, trim a few extra strands to give
it a more uniform shape or to make it a little smaller.
Clown Eggs are tied the same way except that instead of a
single color of yarn, use multiple smaller strands of various
colors. This fly shines when fish do not seem to be keying in
on any particular color.
Nuke Egg
The Nuke Egg is a Glo Bug with a milky white veil
wrapped around it. This veil, when wet, gives the egg a
translucent appearance that is similar to how real eggs look
in the water. For this pattern, tie a Glo Bug and then add a
thin layer of veil near the eye of the hook. Drape the veil over
the Glo Bug and then cut the ends of the veil, so the ends are
slightly longer than the egg.
Sucker Spawn and Crystal Meth
Sucker Spawn is tied with two or three strands of regular
knitting yarn. Tie in at the bend of the hook and create a
series of small bumps with the material on top of the hook
shank. Basically, the finished fly will look like a cluster of
tiny eggs.
Crystal Meth flies are tied the same way except with Dyed
Pearl Diamond Braid. The braid is stiffer than the yarn, but
it has excellent sparkle in the water, which makes this one of
my favorite steelhead patterns.
Estaz Egg
Estaz Eggs are perhaps the easiest egg pattern to tie. For
size 12 and 14 hooks, tie in a length of petite Estaz (for size
8 and 10 use standard Estaz) near the bend of the hook and
make four or five turns of material until you reach the eye.
Then, tie off. This fly is dynamic in the water and catches
fish when nothing else will. Like all of the other egg patterns
mentioned here, I tie Estaz Eggs in a variety of colors and
sizes. These eggs are killer for both trout and steelhead.
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Egg patterns can be tied in a variety of colors.
To tie a Glo Bug, attach a piece of McFly Foam to the hook
shank, and cut it about one hook gap in length.
A Nuke Egg is created by adding a thin layer of Egg Veil over top
of the Glo Bug.
Crystal Meth flies represent tiny egg clusters and are a favorite
steelhead pattern.
Estaz Eggs are often an overlooked pattern that performs when
nothing else works. Estaz Eggs are also the easiest egg patterns to tie.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
13
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021

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