Western Green Drake de Spotts

The hackle and wing profile sit so flush on the water that a few picky browns took it without hesitation during a mid-afternoon hatch. I’m not normally one to fuss over fly details, but this one’s proportions just look right.

Tied this on during a heavy hatch last week and the trout couldn't resist—the lifelike silhouette fooled a couple of picky browns that were ignoring everything else. It floats high and stays visible even in choppy riffles, which made tracking it a breeze.

The hook sits perfectly in the water and the wing stands up tall, just like the real bugs I see hatching. My local browns crushed it on the first drift, which never happens with my other flies.