This is Tim Flagler’s take on the now-iconic Pink Squirrel, a fly nearly synonymous with Wisconsin’s Driftless Area and credited to John Bethke. While the original includes a krystal flash tail, Tim's version omits it, partly because he learned to tie it that way about a decade ago, and partly because it just works.
Despite the missing tail, this variation still carries the core of what makes the fly so effective: a scruffy, buggy body with a bright hotspot collar. That contrast between natural dubbing and a pop of fluorescent pink proves irresistible to trout, especially in stained or complex water conditions.
What makes the Pink Squirrel so enduring is its flexibility—it can pass for a scud, a nymph, or even a small baitfish depending on how it’s presented. Tim’s version emphasizes a slightly messier profile to trigger more aggressive takes.
Materials
- Hook: Scud/pupa hook (here, a Dai-Riki 135), sizes 12 through 18.
- Bead: Gold tungsten bead, 3/32-inch.
- Thread: Black or bright pink, 8/0 or 70-denier.
- Rib: Red Ultra Wire, small.
- Body: Tan Antron, natural fox-squirrel, and olive Ice Dub mixed in a 4:2:1 ratio.
- Thorax: Pink Ultra Chenille, micro.
