Dry FliesBuzz
The Buzz is a dry fly pattern designed by Scotty Howell. This effective pattern combines traditional materials with proven techniques for consistent results in a variety of water conditions.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Advanced
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
Designed by Scotty Howell, the Buzz combines a dubbed body with hackle wound through it to create a buggy, high-floating silhouette. The pattern's key feature is its excellent visibility in varied light conditions while maintaining a natural profile on the water. The hackle provides both flotation and lifelike movement, making it effective for prospecting runs and riffles when natural insects are active.
Materials
Hook: Partridge K14ST #18
Thread: Uni-thread 8/0, light cahill
Breathers: Acrylic yarn, white
Abdomen: Narrow red plastic ribbon from produce bag
Rib: Narrow red plastic ribbon from produce bag, corded
Wing buds: Whiting Popper Pack barbs, red center
Thorax cover: Narrow black plastic ribbon from produce bag
Thorax: Argentinean hare, dyed dark grey
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Caddis flutter and skitter across the surface with rapid wing movements during egg-laying, creating buzzing disturbances that trigger aggressive responses.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish attack skittering caddis in riffles, over runs, and along seams where egg-laying activity concentrates during warm afternoons.
How to Fish It: Dead drift or add skating twitches to mimic buzzing egg-laying behavior. Target visible surface activity during caddis flights.
Best Water: Work riffle edges with active caddis, seams collecting egg-layers, runs with moderate flow, and current breaks.
Strike Type: Expect aggressive strikes or splashy takes as fish react to the erratic surface movement.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use a 9-12 foot leader tapering to 5X tippet for delicate presentations. Apply floatant to the body and hackle.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during peak feeding periods at dawn and dusk. Water temperatures between 45-65°F typically produce best results.
Pro Tips: The dubbed body and quality hackle provide excellent flotation in faster water where other patterns drown. Size down during selective feeding periods for better hookups.
Entomology
Adult caddisflies flutter and skitter across the water surface with rapid wing movements during egg-laying runs, creating a buzzing disturbance that triggers aggressive surface strikes. Fish key on the erratic motion and vulnerability of these insects when they repeatedly touch down to deposit eggs.
- Order
- Trichoptera
- Common Name
- Caddisfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- adult