Shop Vac

The Shop Vac — Creator: Rowan Nyman; Description: developed while guiding at Blue Ribbon Flies, the Shop Vac is a simplified, highly effective variation of the Pheasant Tail Nymph built with a wire rib and a distinct white wing bud. Rather than imitating a single insect, it suggests a range of emerging mayflies, midges, and caddis pupae, giving it broad effectiveness across changing conditions. Its balanced profile and subtle contrast allow it to stand out just enough in the drift without overpowering the presentation, making it a trusted searching pattern that consistently produces fish in both rivers and stillwaters.

Submitted by: Kelsey G.

Pro Tip: Fish the Shop Vac slightly above your point fly on a tag and let it ride just off the bottom—its effectiveness comes from drifting naturally in the column, not dragging the substrate.