Dry FliesLumi
Lumi pairs a muskrat underfur abdomen ribbed in fine gold tinsel with a yellow-and-grey seal's fur thorax and a wing of muskrat guard hairs. Short golden Lady Amherst tippet barbs form the tail, and a medium pardo Coq de Leon hen hackle finishes the collar. Hans Weilenmann's pattern reads as a natural-toned mayfly or caddis profile fished on moving or still water.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
A gold tinsel rib segments a spun muskrat underfur abdomen, giving the body a soft, translucent sheen. Short, golden-dyed Lady Amherst tippet barbs form the tail, and the thorax mixes yellow and grey seal's fur for a mottled, insect-like core. Muskrat guard hairs form the wing, adding a natural gray tone and some water resistance, while a medium pardo Coq de Leon hen hackle provides support and leg movement around the thorax. Hans Weilenmann's design leans on natural fur and hair tones rather than bright attractor colors, suited to imitating mayflies and caddis on technical water.
Where to Buy This Fly
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Materials
- Hook:
- Tiemco 202SP #4
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, black
- Rib:
- Round tinsel, fine, gold
- Tail:
- Lady Amherst tippet barbs, dyed golden - tied short
- Abdomen:
- Muskrat underfur
- Thorax:
- Seal's fur, yellow and grey mixed
- Wing:
- Muskrat guard hairs
- Hackle:
- Whiting Coq de Leon hen shoulder feather, medium pardo
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Adults float on the surface with wings in characteristic positions, often during low-light conditions when their silhouettes stand out. UV materials enhance visibility underwater.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish cruise feeding lanes targeting adults in the upper water column during dawn and dusk.
How to Fish It: Dead drift through prime lies during low-light periods when UV properties enhance effectiveness.
Best Water: Tail-outs, slicks, seams, and foam lines during dawn, dusk, or overcast conditions.
Strike Type: Confident rises with visible takes as fish key on the enhanced silhouette.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 9-12 foot leader with 4X-5X tippet. White post allows use as indicator fly in dry-dropper rig while maintaining excellent visibility at dawn and dusk.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during hatches April through June and activity July through August when water temperatures range 50-65°F. Dawn and dusk periods from 5-8 AM and 6-9 PM maximize the low-light visibility advantage.
Pro Tips: White post provides critical visibility advantage during low-light periods when tracking becomes challenging. The wide hackle footprint creates stable surface position requiring less line management through varied current.
Entomology
Caddisflies emerge during low-light conditions at dawn and dusk, their pale coloration making them highly visible against dark water as they struggle to escape the surface tension. Fish feed actively on these twilight emergers because the reduced light conditions embolden fish to feed near the surface, and the light-colored insects stand out clearly during crepuscular feeding periods when other prey items are harder to see.
- Order
- Trichoptera
- Common Name
- Caddisfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- adult
