Dry FliesLava
Lava keeps the recipe simple: a black seal's fur body ribbed in fine red flash under a hackle of red-centered Whiting Popper Pack barbs. The thin red rib and hot hackle center give an otherwise all-black fly a single spark of color visible from below. Hans Weilenmann's pattern works as a compact searching dry for mixed mayfly and caddis water.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
A dubbed black seal's fur body carries a fine red flash rib down its length, adding segmentation and a glint of color to an otherwise dark silhouette. The hackle is picked from a Whiting Popper Pack with a red center, so the fibers show a thin core of color against the black body when viewed from beneath the surface. Tied sparse on a size 14 hook, the fly presents a slim, buggy profile suited to prospecting for trout keying on small dark insects. Hans Weilenmann's design trades material variety for a tight color contrast that stands out in the film.
Where to Buy This Fly
We only link to fly shops we trust. Some links are referral links, which may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Materials
- Hook:
- Grip 14723BL #14
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, black
- Hackle:
- Whiting Popper Pack barbs, red center
- Rib:
- Flash, fine, red
- Body:
- Seal's fur, black
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Attractor patterns suggest large terrestrials or adult aquatic insects without specific imitation. Bold profiles trigger opportunistic feeding responses in fast water where trout feed aggressively on varied surface foods.
Where Trout Eat It: Trout target this pattern in the surface film of Northeast freestone rivers, focusing on seams and foam lines where drifting adults collect. The red flash body triggers strikes from fish keyed on both mayflies and caddis during overlapping hatches.
How to Fish It: Dead drift through feeding lanes with 4X-5X tippet, focusing on drag-free presentation in complex currents. The durable hackle maintains flotation through multiple fish, making it effective as a standalone dry or indicator fly in dry-dropper rigs.
Best Water: Fish riffle edges and pocket water on the Beaverkill and Esopus Creek where current breaks concentrate surface drift. Target drop-offs where slower water meets fast currents and creates visible feeding stations.
Strike Type: Searching pattern strikes vary from tentative sips to aggressive smashes; stay alert and set when you see or feel the take.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 9-12 foot leader with 4X-5X tippet. Durable construction supports use as indicator fly in dry-dropper rig through full-day fishing sessions.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during hatches April through June and prospecting July through August when water temperatures range 50-65°F. All-day effectiveness makes it reliable choice during varied feeding periods.
Pro Tips: Hackle selection provides reliable flotation through multiple fish without constant maintenance. The color scheme maintains visibility across varied light conditions from bright sun to overcast skies.
Entomology
Caddisflies emerge from fast-water habitats, breaking through turbulent surfaces with powerful swimming motions before their wings unfold and they struggle to gain altitude. Fish in pocket water and rapids target these emerging adults because the chaotic water conditions disorient the insects, making them easier to capture during their brief vulnerable period between emergence and flight.
- Order
- Trichoptera
- Common Name
- Caddisfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- adult
