Dry FliesBloody Snail
Hans Weilenmann twists black-dyed marabou barbs with a strip of red plastic salvaged from a tomato produce bag into a segmented cord body, finished with a natural black hen saddle hackle. The narrow red stripe running through the dark body mimics the exposed foot of a snail that has lost its grip and drifted onto the surface.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Beginner
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
The body cord is formed by twisting black-dyed marabou barbs together with a thin strip of red plastic ribbon, producing an unusual segmented look on a Mustad C49S hook dressed with black Benecchi thread. A natural black hen saddle hackle supports the fly in the surface film without adding bulk or a heavy footprint. That combination targets freshwater snails, which periodically lose their grip on submerged vegetation and float helplessly until they can surface to breathe. It's a stillwater and moving-water pattern for beginners, best fished dead drift where snails concentrate along weed beds.
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Materials
- Hook:
- Mustad C49S #12
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, black
- Hackle:
- Hen saddle, natural black
- Body:
- Narrow red plastic ribbon taken from a tomato produce bag; marabou barbs, dyed black - twisted into cord
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Freshwater snails lose their grip on vegetation and float upside-down suspended by mucus trails, or surface to replenish air stores. These exposed moments create vulnerability as protein-rich targets for cruising trout.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish cruise near surface in lakes and ponds during snail migrations, often along weed edges and drop-offs.
How to Fish It: Fish static in the film or with extremely slow retrieves, allowing long pauses mimicking floating snails.
Best Water: Work weed edges where snails detach, drop-offs along vegetation, and shoals with aquatic plant growth.
Strike Type: Watch for subtle rises, swirls, or gentle takes as fish intercept floating snails.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use 12-15 foot leaders with 4X-5X tippet for lakes presentations. Apply floatant to keep pattern riding in or just below the surface film.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective April through October when snails are actively feeding on algae. Peak activity occurs May-September during warm water periods when snails migrate to surface in lake.
Pro Tips: Snail migrations often go unnoticed by anglers but can provide exceptional fishing. Watch for subtle rises and swirls rather than splashy takes.
Entomology
Freshwater gastropods cling to aquatic vegetation near the surface film, occasionally losing their grip and floating helplessly upside-down while suspended by their foot's mucus trail. These air-breathing snails must periodically surface to replenish oxygen stores, making them vulnerable during these exposed moments. Trout intercept floating snails because they concentrate protein and calcium in compact packages, though fish typically target smaller specimens that are easier to crush and swallow.
- Organism Type
- mollusk
- Life Stage
- adult
