Barbless fish egg & bait paste patterns
These fly patterns perfectly imitate fish eggs and trout paste
EGG & BAIT PASTE
EFFECTIVE FLY PATTERNS FOR CHALLENGING WATERS
EGG & BAIT PASTE are simple yet highly effective fly patterns, particularly on commercially stocked lakes and fisheries with heavy angling pressure. As their name suggests, these flies imitate fish eggs and trout bait paste, both of which are commonly used by anglers in stocked stillwaters. During casting, small pieces of paste and loose eggs frequently end up in the water, creating an easily available food source that fish quickly become accustomed to. These patterns allow you to exploit exactly this feeding behaviour with remarkable success.
TYING MATERIALS AND UNDERWATER EFFECT
A specially developed material is used to tie these patterns: Eggstasy Chenille. This unique translucent tying material takes on an almost gelatinous appearance underwater, giving fish the impression of something natural and edible. It also perfectly replicates the soft texture of eggs and bait paste, preventing fish from becoming suspicious even after taking the fly.
PRESENTATION AND FISHING TECHNIQUES
These flies can be presented in a variety of ways. Fish them static, as a single point fly, or retrieve them slowly or with short, sharp strips. By choosing between a floating, intermediate or sinking fly line, you can keep the imitation exactly where the fish are feeding, regardless of depth.
A favourite tactic among experienced competition anglers is to fish an EGG & BAIT PASTE pattern in tandem with a streamer. The streamer is tied on the point, while the egg or paste fly is attached to a short dropper. The contrasting movement and bright colours of the two flies attract the attention of fish from considerable distances. Driven by competition and feeding aggression, fish will often rush in to steal what appears to be an easy meal or attack the apparent rival outright. Either way, it frequently results in a solid take. This setup is outstanding not only on stillwaters—you may be surprised by how effective it can also be in rivers and streams.
If you regularly fish pressured stocked waters, these patterns deserve a permanent place in your fly box. Time and again, they prove capable of catching fish when more conventional flies fail.