• Hook: TMC 2457 or 2487, sz 16-20
• Thread: black UTC 70
• Bead: gold tungstenn
• Abdomen: black turkey biot
• Wingcase: pearl Flashabou
• Thorax: black UV Ice Dubbing

I believe trout in heavily-pressured Western waters grow accustomed to seeing the same flies over and over, so I am constantly looking for patterns that other anglers aren't using. The Biot Bug is one of these patterns. In larger sizes, it can be used to imitate a variety of mayfly nymphs, while the smaller sizes make great midge imitations. I keep a variety of Biot Bug color combinations in my box, including black, olive, red, and brown, and tie them as large as a size 16 and as small as a size 20. While I will use this fly in a two fly nymph rig, I have found it particularly effective as a dropper under a dry fly when sight fishing in shallow water. Tie up a few Biot Bugs and see if they don't do the trick for you the next time you find a fish that won't eat a Copper John or Pheasant Tail.

Directions

1. Presoak the quills in warm water for about five minutes to prevent them from breaking.
2. Slide the bead over the hook.
3. Start your thread one-third of the shank back from the eye and wrap back two-thirds of the way into the bend. Take care to keep your thread wraps even and neat to prevent any bumps when constructing the abdomen.

4. Tie in the turkey biot so the rib side will be up when you wrap the biot up the hook shank.
5. Wrap your thread forward to the starting point.
6. Use hackle pliers to wrap the biot forward, making sure wraps are evenly spaced.
7. Tie off the biot and clip the excess.
8. Tie in the pearl Flashabou and make two or three thread wraps back over the biot to secure.

9. Dub a thorax of Ice Dubbing slightly less than the width of the bead and whip finish.
10. Push the bead into the thorax so there is a small gap between the bead and the hook eye. This gap should be no wider than the width of the eye.
11. Start your thread in the gap and wrap back to the bead to secure it tightly against the thorax.
12. Pull the Flashabou over the Ice Dubbing and bead and whip finish.

13. Add a drop of 5 minute epoxy to the Flashabou to create a three-dimensional wing case.