Euro NymphsJigged Garbage Sow Bug
The Jigged Garbage Sow Bug is the same fly as the normal Garbage Sowbug, but tied on a jig hook with the shellback in the proper orientation. While sowbugs tumble naturally in the water, having the shellback in the proper place never hurts. Created by Cheech at Fly Fish Food, this pattern includes tips for making the shellback easier to tie and creating custom dubbing blends.
Year Round
Intermediate
Trout
Overview
The Jigged Garbage Sow Bug creates a realistic crustacean imitation through a simple but effective custom dubbing blend. The combination of natural hare's ear style dubbing with trilobal flash dubbing creates both a buggy texture and subtle sparkle that mimics the translucent appearance of natural sowbugs. The jig hook ensures proper hook orientation for better hookups and fewer snags when bouncing along the bottom.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless, size #18 (or Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook)
Thread: Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread 12/0, claret (or red)
Bead: Hareline Slotted Tungsten, blood red, 2.3mm (3/32") (or metallic red)
Rib: Semperfli Nano Silk Ultra Fine 30D 18/0, olive
Body/Dubbing: Custom blend of Hareline Dubbin (Adam's gray) mixed with STS Trilobal Dubbing (tan, red, burnt orange)
Fishing Tips
Season
Effective year-round, particularly productive during winter months when sowbugs remain active while aquatic insects are dormant.
Presentation
Dead drift along the bottom near weed beds, rocks, and other structure where sowbugs congregate. The jig hook helps the fly ride point-up, reducing snags in rocky terrain.
When to Use
Deploy on tailwaters and spring creeks with established sowbug populations. Excellent when trout are feeding selectively on crustaceans or when standard mayfly imitations aren't producing.
Water Type
Best in tailwaters and spring creeks with consistent flows and abundant aquatic vegetation. Sowbugs thrive in these environments and can make up a significant portion of trout diets.
Rigging Suggestions
Fish on 5X-6X fluorocarbon as part of a two-fly nymphing rig or solo on a euro setup. Add weight as needed to maintain bottom contact where sowbugs live.
Visibility & Floatation
The tungsten bead provides quick sink to reach the bottom zone. The blood red bead adds a subtle hotspot while the natural dubbing blend creates realistic translucency.
