Dry FliesChubby Chernobyl

The Chubby Chernobyl is a large, high-floating dry fly that is easy to see and is capable of holding up even the heaviest of droppers. It's a versatile attractor pattern and has a foam body which makes it nearly unsinkable.

Season
Summer
Difficulty
Intermediate
Target Species
Trout
Chubby Chernobyl - Image source: Orvis
Image source: Orvis

Overview

A buoyant, high-floating terrestrial dry fly, the Chubby Chernobyl features a foam body, rubber legs, and a flashy wing made of synthetic fibers like Widow's Web or McFlylon. It's easy to see, floats all day, and works great as a hopper or stonefly imitation—often used as the lead fly in a dry-dropper setup.

Pattern Characteristics

Intermediate Difficulty
Trout
Stillwater
Moving Water
Summer
Imitates: Grasshoppers

Materials

Hook: #06-14 Tiemco 5262
Thread: Cream UTC 70 or 140
Tail: Pearl Krystal Flash
Body: UV Tan Ice Dubbing
Body2: Tan 2MM Foam
Wing: White McFlyfoam
Legs: Ginger Lifeflex or Spanflex

Fishing Tips

Season

Use this fly in the summer months, when grasshoppers are prevalent.

Presentation

The Chubby Chernobyl can be presented with a standard dry fly presentation, dead drift is generally the most effective.

When to Use

This fly is best used during hopper season, but can be effective any time large terrestrial insects are present.

Water Type

This pattern is effective in both still and moving water.

Rigging Suggestions

This fly is often used as an indicator fly in a hopper-dropper rig due to its high visibility and buoyancy.

Visibility & Floatation

The Chubby Chernobyl is highly visible due to its large size and foam body, it floats high and is nearly unsinkable due to its foam body.

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