Fly of the Month: Sawyer’s Killer Bug

Video Description:

Follow the step-by-step guide with TFF Editor Steve Cullen and tie Sawyer’s Killer Bug.

Frank Sawyer was a man who knew a thing or two about the game fish in our rivers. His five nymphs have stood the test of time and continue to catch all manner of fish the world over. They’re all pretty basic patterns, simple to tie and very robust – unlike some of today’s manufacturers’ creations.

Why on earth this particular simple little fly should be so damned effective is a mystery – even Frank’s grandson, Nick Sawyer, said: “As far as I’m aware, no-one’s really sure why the Killer Bug is so effective.” Could it just be the simplicity of the fly? Or perhaps – and this is what the vast majority of river fishers believe – the fly’s effectiveness could be all down to the deadly Chadwick’s 477 body, a mixture of 85 per cent wool and 15 per cent nylon. This deadly stuff is held in very high esteem, a kind of Holy Grail of fly tying. The colour is nothing special either; it’s just a light fawn with a slight hint of pink.

When the fly is wet, however, the colour deepens and you can see why so many trout and grayling take the Killer Bug. It seems to be representative of so many underwater creatures.