Delektable Soft Hackle Worm

The Delektable Soft Hackle Worm, created by Dan Delekta of Beartooth Flyfishing, blends the natural movement of soft hackle with the irresistible profile of a worm imitation. This pattern excels in pocket water, riffles, and transitions where trout key on drifting annelids and aquatic worms knocked loose by fluctuating flows. The chenille body provides bulk and color, while the partridge hackle adds subtle pulse and lifelike motion with every micro-current. Extremely versatile, it fishes well as a dropper, anchor, or point fly and remains a proven producer during high water, post-rain surges, and year-round midge-oriented feeding cycles.

Fish on a micro-tension drift rather than a dead-drift. After your fly settles, gently lift or tighten the line just enough to make the soft hackle pulse once every few feet. This tiny, intermittent movement mimics a real worm twisting or contracting as it’s carried downstream