If you live in an area that has a lot of alpine streams or freestone
waters, you have probably fished the Humpy. This fly is designed to
float in the fastest, roughest water.
You will see the Humpy tied several ways and with many body colors
when you visit fly shops in the west. It has endured a number of name
variations too. Called the Goofus Bug by Dan Bailey, the Crazy Goof,
Turtle Bug and Fuzzy Beetle Bug by others, it lives on as a favorite fly for
many western anglers. If you’re headed to one of the rocky mountain
states this summer, you need a few of these flies in your fly box.
As I mentioned at the start of our dry fly adventure, there are several
things that float a fly. Up to now, we have concentrated on flies that
are designed to float on the surface tension of the water. The extra
heavy hackle and stiff hair tail of the Humpy are designed to increase
the surface tension floatation qualities of this fly. The addition of elk
hair in the wings and on the back of this fly adds the dimension of
buoyancy to the fly.
Originally published c. May 15, 2008 on Fly Anglers Online by Al Campbell.