Double Squirrel Nymph

Double Squirrel Nymph

The double squirrel nymph has become a staple in my trout and steelhead boxes over the past few years. This little nymph is simple, and not groundbreaking by any means, but it works and its fun to tie. I started off tying this fly about 5 years ago because I was tired of my hare’s ear nymphs not being as buggy as I wanted them to be. So, I switched over to using SLF Squirrel dubbing instead of the traditional hare’s ear dubbing. After I reached the bugginess I wanted I decided to make it simpler and tie it without a wing case and change the collar color to dark brown to give it some contrast. This tying style is also referred to as “tying in the round”, no wing cases or legs, just a simple nymph profile. The I got a little wild and added two hot spots, yup TWO, and that is ultimately how this bug got its name. Double Hot spots and tied out of squirrel dubbing, the “Double Squirrel”. 

It is a great prospecting nymph if there isn’t much going on, it’s simple design and profile can mimic most mayfly nymphs just by changing the hook size. 

The main sizes that I fish are 14s and 16s, but if the water is higher or off color, I will jump up to a size 12, I hopes that it will show up better and get a trout’s attention. On the other side of that, if the water is low and clear, I will drop down to a size 18 if needed.

Last year I started fishing them for great lakes and south east Alaskan steelhead, they definitely didn’t stick their noses up at them. For steelhead the pink hot spot variation has seemed to get the most interest. I will tie them up to a size 10 for steelhead and typically not go much smaller than a 14. 

It is a great year-round fly and has caught fish from Maine to South America.

Double Squirrel:

Hook: TMC C200BL 12-16

Thread: Veevus 8/0 – Fl. Fire Orange 

Bead: Tungsten – Black Nickle 

Tail: CDL Fibers – Black Speckled Corzuno

Rib: Tinsel sz. Small – Opal 

Body: SLF Squirrel Dubbing – Natural Fox 

Collar: SLF Squirrel Dubbing – Dark Brown 

Hook Variations:

Hook: TMC C450BL 12-16

Hook: Partridge SLJ 12-18

Hook: Ahrex FW551 14-10

Bead: Slotted Tungsten Bead – Black Nickel

 Color Variations:

Thread Color: Fl. Chartreuse, Fl. Orange, Fl. Pink 

Featured Fly - The Double Squirrel

Finally had the chance (and motivation) to edit a short video of the Double Squirrel nymph. This has become a staple in my box as well as many of the other guides in the area. It is a simple and easy fly to tie that will look like many different bugs. I will tie them in black with Chartreuse hot spots, and dark browns with a pink hot spot. These bugs can be tied as small or as large as you would like. My favorite sizes are 16 and 14, however I do tie them up to a size 8 for a heavy anchor fly and down to 18 when the water is low and clear.

Three Favorites - Go to Jig Flies

To continue with the jig theme, here are three of my favorite jigs. The little winter stone is a great anchor fly for smaller streams that you can't fish bigger flies on. However it can be fished just about anywhere. The Sow Bug jig is one of my favorites for all spring creeks, I tie this without a bead and jig hook and it is my go to fly. So having some on a jig is much better for getting down in fast water. The last one is the Double Squirrel, it has a simple but buggy profile. Having 2 small hot spots are great triggers for fish in cloudy water. Check them out and start adding them to your boxes. 

Little Winter Black Stone Jig 

Materials

Hook: Partridge / Orvis Jig Hook 

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Black 

Bead: Slotted Tungsten Bead - Black

Tail/Antenna: Goose Biots - Black 

Body: Ultra Wire - Br. Black 

Legs: Krystal Flash - Black/Pearl 

Thorax: SLF Squirrel - Black 

JIG SOW BUG

Materials:

Hook: Partridge / Orvis Jig Hook

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Tan 

Bead: Slotted Tungsten Bead - Copper 

Underbody: Lead Wire - .025

Body: Sow Scud Dubbing - Sow Bug 

Shellback: Loon UV - Flow

Double Squirrel Jig

Materials:

Hook: Partridge / Orvis Jig Hook 

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Fl. Fire Orange 

Bead: Slotted Tungsten Bead - Black

Tail: CDL Fibers 

Rib: Opal Tinsel - Small

Body: SLF Squirrel - Nat. Fox Squirrel 

Thorax: SLF Squirrel - Drk. Brown 

Hotspots: UNI Thread 6/0 - Fl. Fire Orange