NymphGartside's Sparrow
Gartside's Sparrow is Jack Gartside's best-known pattern from the early 1970s, originally designed as a soft hackle muddler minnow. Over the years, this versatile fly has proven itself as an excellent all-round subsurface pattern that can imitate various food sources. The combination of rabbit and squirrel dubbing with pheasant marabou tail and spey hackle creates a buggy, lifelike profile that attracts fish in diverse conditions.
Year Round
Intermediate
Trout, Bass
Overview
Designed by legendary fly tyer Jack Gartside, this pattern exemplifies his philosophy of creating simple, effective flies with natural movement. The blended dubbing of rabbit, squirrel, and Antron creates a buggy body with excellent water absorption and natural color variation. The pheasant components provide lifelike movement and subtle barring that imitates segmentation. While originally conceived as a streamer pattern, the Sparrow functions equally well as a large nymph or searching pattern.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Mustad R73 Streamer, #4–#14
Thread: Sheer 14/0, grey
Tail: Pheasant marabou feather
Body: Rabbit and squirrel blended with Antron
Hackle: Pheasant spey hackle
Collar: Pheasant after-shaft feather
Fishing Tips
Season
Year Round. This versatile pattern works throughout all seasons, particularly effective during spring and fall when larger food sources are active. Productive in both warm and cold water temperatures.
Presentation
Fish with a slow, twitching retrieve to imitate swimming baitfish or crawling nymphs. Can be dead drifted along the bottom like a large nymph or stripped actively like a streamer. Vary retrieve speed based on water temperature and fish activity. In stillwater, use a hand-twist or figure-eight retrieve with occasional pauses.
When to Use
Excellent searching pattern when you're unsure what fish are feeding on. Most effective in low-light conditions (dawn, dusk, overcast days) or slightly off-color water. Works well when fish are looking for larger meals rather than matching specific hatches. Particularly productive after high water events when baitfish and crayfish are displaced.
Water Type
Highly effective in both moving water and stillwater. In rivers and streams, fish in deeper runs, pools, and undercut banks where larger trout and bass hold. In lakes and ponds, work along weed edges, drop-offs, and rocky structure. Particularly productive in water 2-8 feet deep.
Rigging Suggestions
Use 7.5-9 foot leaders with 2X-4X tippet depending on hook size. Can be fished alone or as the lead fly in a two-fly nymph rig. Add split shot 12-18 inches above the fly to reach depth quickly in faster current. In stillwater, fish on floating or intermediate line with long leader. Works well swung on a downstream presentation.
Visibility & Floatation
Sinks at moderate rate due to water-absorbent dubbing materials. The natural earth tones blend well in most water conditions while the marabou tail provides fish-attracting movement. The spey hackle creates a breathing, pulsing action that triggers strikes. Silhouette is visible to fish without being overly flashy or spooking wary trout.
