NymphHigas SOS
The Higas SOS is a go-to nymph pattern that imitates a broad range of aquatic insects and is especially effective during heavy nymph hatches. It was designed by Spencer Higa to catch selective tailwater trout.
Year Round
Intermediate
Trout
Apr 2025
Overview
A hybrid nymph pattern with a black thread body, white wing buds, red thread hotspot, and fine wire ribbing. The SOS is an excellent attractor in Euro or indicator rigs, offering both visibility and subtle realism. Versatile and effective in a range of flows.
Materials
Hook: TMC 2487 Emerger Hook, sizes #16-#20
Bead: Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads - Silver - 2.4mm
Bead (Alternate 1): Firehole Stones Tungsten Beads - Sterling Silver - 2.5mm (3/32")
Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Black
Tail: Ringneck Pheasant Tail - Black
Tail (Alternate): Spanish Coq De Leon - Pardo
Rib: Semperfli Tying Wire - 0.2 - Bright Silver
Thorax: Hareline Squirrel Hair Dubbing - Black
Wing Case: Danville's Rayon 4 Strand Floss - Red
Wing Case: 54 Dean Street - Ovale Pure Silk Floss - Red
Legs: Krystal Flash - Black
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Scuds swim in short, jerky pulses through vegetation and along bottom structure, then curl into defensive postures when threatened. Their abundance in weed beds and high protein content make them year-round forage.
Where Trout Eat It: Bottom to mid-column near vegetation and structure in lakes and spring creeks where scuds thrive.
How to Fish It: Use short, erratic strips with pauses to mimic swimming and curling scud behavior patterns.
Best Water: Weed edges, grass beds, drop-offs, structure, and flats where aquatic vegetation holds scud populations.
Strike Type: Sharp taps or solid grabs as fish intercept scuds during swimming movements.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use as lead fly in two-fly nymphing rigs paired with smaller patterns. 4X or 5X tippet recommended. Add split shot if needed for faster currents. 9-10 foot leaders.
Seasonal Timing: Effective year-round with peak productivity during (April-June) and (September-November) when nymph activity is highest. Especially productive during runoff periods and in tailwaters with consistent flows.
Pro Tips: The shiny tinsel wing case and tinsel ribbing create high underwater visibility and light reflection that attracts attention. The hot spot collar acts as a trigger point. Effective across multiple depth zones.
Entomology
Juvenile stoneflies cling to the underside of rocks in oxygenated riffles, but spring runoff and high flows regularly tear them free into turbulent drift lanes. The SOS pattern's buoyant materials allow it to bounce along the bottom like a tumbling nymph fighting the current. Fish holding in pocket water and behind structure key on these displaced nymphs as easy, calorie-dense meals.
- Order
- Plecoptera
- Common Name
- Stonefly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general