Humpy
The Humpy (also called the Goofus Bug) is the western angler's ace in the hole: a buoyant attractor dry fly that suggests mayfly, caddis, and stonefly simultaneously. The distinctive deer hair loop pulled over the back forms both body and wing, creating a fly that rides like a cork in rough pocket water. Tie it in red, yellow, and natural — each version excels under different conditions. A fly box staple for whitewater fishing.
- Type
- dry fly (Mayfly)
- Hook sizes
- #10–16
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Dry fly hook #10–16
- thread: Red or yellow 6/0
- tail: Deer or moose hair
- underbody: Tying thread (red or yellow), visible at sides
- overbody: Deer hair loop pulled over and tied down forming hump
- wing: Deer hair tips from hump, divided and upright
Tying steps
- Mount a size 10–16 hook; start red or yellow thread; tie in deer or moose hair tail.
- Tie in a long bunch of deer hair over the hook shank, tips pointing forward past the eye, butts to the bend.
- Wind colored thread over the butts to create the visible underbody.
- Pull the deer hair back over the body and tie down at the 2/3 mark to form the hump.
- Divide the remaining deer hair tips into two and stand as upright wings.
- Tie in brown and grizzly hackles behind the wings.
- Wind hackles 4–5 turns; tie off, build a small head, whip finish, and cement.
- Apply a drop of head cement to the thread head and to the loop tie-down point — the deer hair loop must be locked firmly or it will slide back under casting.