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A jig-style streamer nymph design imitating small sculpins or leeches

Egan’s Poacher is a jig-style streamer nymph designed by Lance Egan, imitating small sculpins or leeches. It’s typically tied in smaller sizes (#8-#12), but can be scaled up to #4-#6 for targeting larger fish or faster water by using bigger hooks, beads, and materials. The steps below are adapted from a standard recipe, using your specified materials (e.g., Hareline India Hen Back Olive as a substitute for coq de León hen saddle; MFC Arizona Simi Seal Mega Dub Dark Olive Brown for the head; Wapsi Squirrel Zonkers for the body/tail; Hareline Ripple Ice Dub for the belly; black slotted tungsten beads; lead-free wire for weight; and the jig hook in sizes #8, #6, #4). You’ll need additional basics like olive thread (8/0 or similar), superglue, head cement, a black Sharpie, scissors, a dubbing brush, and a vise.

Let’s Tie, see Kyle in action in the video!

Materials Used:

• Hook: XC 400BL-BN5X 60 Degree Barbless Competition Jig Hook (sizes #4, #6, #8)

• Head: MFC Arizona Simi Seal Mega Dub Dark Olive Brown

• Body/Tail: Wapsi Squirrel Zonkers

• Belly: Hareline Ripple Ice Dub

• Weight: Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads Black

• Weight: Hareline Lead-Free Round Wire

• Bottom: Hareline India Hen Back Olive

Size Variations

• #8: Use 4.5mm bead; 12-15 wire wraps; squirrel strip 2-2.5x shank length.
• #6: Use ~5mm bead; 15-18 wire wraps; squirrel strip 2.5x shank length.
• #4: Use ~5.5mm bead; 18-20 wire wraps; squirrel strip 2.5-3x shank length.

Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:

Step 1: Mount the black slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook and slide it to the eye. Wrap a dozen (or more for larger sizes) turns of Hareline Lead-Free Round Wire (e.g., 0.020″ diameter) behind the bead. Add a drop of superglue to the front of the wire wraps, then push them into the back of the bead to secure. Start your olive thread behind the wire and build a smooth thread base from the bead to slightly around the hook bend.

Step 2: Select a strip from the Wapsi Squirrel Zonkers (sculpin olive color recommended) that’s 2-3 times the shank length (longer for #4-#6). Tie it in at the hook bend with the leather side up (since the jig rides hook-point up). Wrap thread forward over the strip base to behind the bead, keeping it flat.

Step 3: Tie in a small clump of Hareline Ripple Ice Dub (Mother of Pearl or UV Pearl for flash) at its midpoint behind the bead. Fold the fibers back and secure with thread wraps to the base of the squirrel strip, creating a belly underbody.

Step 4: Form a dubbing loop with your thread (about 6 inches). Insert a moderate amount of MFC Arizona Simi Seal Mega Dub Dark Olive Brown into the loop (cut fibers shorter if needed for easier spinning). Spin the loop to create a shaggy dubbing rope.

Step 5: Wrap the dubbing rope forward in tight, concentric turns to the back of the bead and tie off. Use a brush to pick out the dubbing fibers, freeing any trapped ones. Brush the fibers upward along the sides.

Step 6: With sharp scissors, trim the dubbing to a tapered shape: longer fibers at the front (near bead) and shorter at the rear (near tail). Brush again to splay fibers along the sides, forming a wide, tapered head when viewed from below.

Step 7: Select a feather from the Hareline India Hen Back Olive. Tie it in by the tip behind the bead, with fibers folding rearward. Make 2-3 wraps (more for larger sizes), tie off, and clip excess. Trim the top fibers flush with the dubbing for a flat bottom.

Step 8: Add a small amount of the Arizona Simi Seal Mega Dub to build a narrow collar behind the bead, covering any thread. Whip-finish (sliding wraps behind the bead) and clip thread. Apply head cement.

Step 9: Use a black Sharpie to add bands on the leather side of the squirrel strip for a segmented look.

This pattern sinks quickly due to the tungsten bead and wire, making it great for Euro-nymphing or trailing behind larger streamers. Test in water to ensure it jigs properly—adjust wire or bead size if needed for balance on larger hooks.

Fishing Tips

• Designed by Lance Egan, this fly is a killer attractor for trout in rivers and stillwaters.
• The squirrel tail gives movement, Simi Seal + Ripple Ice Dub adds flash & translucence, and the tungsten jig keeps it down.
• Fish on Euro rigs, under an indicator, or as a point fly in a two-fly setup.

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Check out some of our favorite Fly Tying Gear:

• Vise – Dynaking Barracuda Deluxe Pedestal Vise
• Scissors – Kopter ABSOLUTE Blade Micro Serrated Edge Thin Point
• Bodkin – Dr. Slick Jumbo Carbon Fiber Bodkin
• Whip Finisher – Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher
• Tool Kit – Umpqua Dream Stream Plus 7 Piece Fly Tying Tool Kit