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Bream Killer Fly Step-by-Step:
In last week’s Goober Bug tutorial, I acknowledged that it was not the titular fly that saved me from the dreaded skunk. Instead, it was a small, winged Slow-sinking Spider variant that enticed my best fish of the day.
Known as a Bream Killer (not to be confused with a Bluegill Killer), the pattern is again a favorite of the KFF crowd. Tied up as part of their February Zoom session, the fly is just the type of buggy, impressionistic pattern that panfish can’t resist. Offering a slow sink rate and significant movement from its eight legs, this pattern hovers in the strike zone effectively daring fish not to take a bite.
| Materials: | ||
|---|---|---|
 Curved Nymph Hook (#14-#8) |  70 Denier (Olive) |  Lead-free Round Wire |
 Round Rubber Legs (Color of Choice) |  Chenille (Medium; Olive) |  Squirrel Tail |
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Bream Killer Fly Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
(Mobile Viewers: Click images to enlarge)
Tips and Tricks
- Weight and Sink Rate – The sink rate of this pattern is largely determined by the use of Lead-free Round Wire as an underbody. Depending on fishing conditions, you may want more or less than what is shown. If you’re fishing deeper water, consider a heavier diameter wire and/or more wraps of wire around the shank. If you’re fishing shallower, or simply want the fly to “hover” in the water column, consider a thinner diameter wire, fewer wraps of wire, or no wire at all.
Proof of Concept
An early April visit to New Orleans’ City Park Lagoons helped provide proof of concept for this week’s pattern. A shallow, weedy waterway with crystal clear water, the resident bass, bluegill and Rio Grande Cichlids are highly pressured and have a long history of refusing my flies.
Such was the case this week as I headed for City Park to meet a fellow angler visiting from out of town. Conditions were less than ideal with overcast skies and gusting winds, but the fish were active and readily visible in protected shoreline pockets.
Tasked with targeting fish in water that rarely exceed 12” depth, slow sink was the name of the game. And, after more than a few attempts with heavier flies that failed to rise to the occasion, I tied on a #8 Bream Killer. A little large for the bluegill, it proved just the ticket for the small largemouth shown to the left.
Staged in the shallows, it took only a single well-placed cast and two twitches to trigger a strike. Far from a lunker, it proved to be the best fish of a slow afternoon. And one that saved me from the dreaded skunk.
Tight Line!
Chris
Species Caught on the Bream Killer Fly to Date:
- Largemouth Bass
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