Micro Slump Buster

This pattern is part of the J. Stockard Flybrary, our organised collection of fly recipes. Browse our full collection of recipes and find something new to tie!

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Materials needed 6

Tying difficulty Easy

Target species trout, bass, panfish

Tied by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies on YouTube
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The Slump Buster is already a fish-catching classic, but sometimes you need a more subtle option—especially in clear water or when fish are keyed in on smaller bait. That’s where this Micro Slump Buster comes in.

Tied by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies, this is a downsized version of the John Barr original. Matt trims down the profile without sacrificing the core action and realism that make the Slump Buster so effective. It still has that signature movement thanks to the zonker strip, and the conehead keeps it swimming true and getting down into the strike zone quickly.

This micro version is perfect for trout, smallmouth, and even panfish in the right situations. It’s also a great fly for technical water where fish spook easily at larger streamers. Whether you’re stripping it through runs or swinging it near structure, the Micro Slump Buster is a great “get-it-done” pattern when bigger flies get refused.