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What can I say about this pattern that hasn't already been said. A great non descript beetle pattern that works all over the globe. Firstly it is very easy to tie requiring very little in the way of materials. This makes it inexpensive and because of its simple construction you don't have to be a guru flytier to begin knocking them out quickly. Hackle colours can be any shade of brown and I know a few people who like black best of all. To learn how to tie it go to the link above.

We are particularly fond of this fly as it accounts for so many of our fish each season. Chances are that when we are  fishing the edge somewhere on the Goulburn that a cochy will be the fly of choice. On the slower pools of the Rubicon I would personally choose no other blind searching pattern and it is very effective on those hot north days when every terrestrial in the valley is active, buzzing or hopping about. It is a must have in sizes 14-18 all year round. 

Two other places that this fly is particularly noted is Tasmania and the rivers of the South Island. In Tassie stillwaters such as Dee Lagoon accurate casting and small flies are required to trick some of the surface feeding rainbows that seem to constantly feed on either midge or floating terrestrials. This fly in its smaller sizes works very well when chasing these rather large fish and Rob Sloane mentions this in the book Australia's Best Trout Flies. The trout of other Tassie lakes such as Arthur's, Botsford and St Clair Lagoon are all at the mercy of this rather inconspicuous fly. Across the Tasman to the South island and there is not a fly that I would put before it. It is perhaps the only fly that in small sizes will tempt the single minded willow grub feeders of summer and if the first drift is right a take is almost assured. We have spent countless hours over the past seasons luring rather large browns up to take this fly when they appeared to be feeding solidly on nymphs and not looking up. A must have fly pattern that has been around for many and looks set to stay for a while yet.