The Nut Job is a two-section articulated predator fly created by Brendan Ruch, tied here by Jessica Suvak of Girl Talk Live. Built around Fulling Mill marabou, craft fur, rubber legs, and a Changer brush body on articulated shanks, it pushes water effectively and maintains a full, lifelike profile on the strip without collapsing. The tri-color craft fur head — green, yellow, and a touch of orange — gives it what Jess calls a "sherbet popsicle" finish that's hard for fish to ignore.
Jess runs it on an Ahrex TP610 Trout Predator hook with a Hairline plummeting tungsten bead up front, connected via wire or hard mono to a tail shank dressed with marabou, schlappen or hen saddle, and rubber legs. The bead adds weight and kick to the movement, though the hook can also be keeled with wire if you prefer to fine-tune the action streamside.
Originally tied as a smallmouth pattern, the Nut Job earns its keep on pike too — Jess credits a version of Brendan Ruch's fly with her biggest pike to date. A solid pre-spawn option for bass and toothy critters when fish are looking for something with real bulk and movement.
Materials
- Hooks: Rear - TP610 (size 2 or 4), Front - TP610 (size 1 or 2).
- Shank: 15mm or 25mm articulated shank.
- Tail: Marabou.
- Body/Collar: Fulling Mill brush
- Legs: Fulling Mill Rubber Legs.
- Head: Hollow-tied Craft Fur (often stacked/wrapped for bulk).
- Weight: Hairline 3/16 brass bead
- Thread: Matching color, 140 denier.
