Part hopper, ant, beetle, gnat, and caddis, the Chimera is a do-it-all dry fly that was originally developed to target high country trout—specifically cutthroat and brookies in alpine lakes—but has since proven effective just about everywhere it’s been fished. We cooked this fly up in our lab by combining portions of our favorite terrestrial patterns, the Griffith’s Gnat, and even elements of an Elk Hair Caddis. Because it represents a large swath of a trout’s diet on the surface, fish a Chimera as a searching pattern throughout most of the year, especially during warmer months.

Our favorite ways to fish it: 

• As the hopper in a hopper-dropper setup, using the larger sizes, or as the point fly in a double dry setup, where it acts almost like an indicator for a smaller trailing dry fly. 

• Effective on the drift but deadly off the bank as a terrestrial insect that just fell in the water.

• Before applying floatant, try stripping just below the surface film, mimicking a swimming beetle
  

Type of Water: Rivers, Creeks, Stillwater, High Alpine Lakes

Imitates: Hopper Beetle Ant Caddis Midge / Chironomid Stonefly 

Target species: Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout 

Insect life stage: Adult (Dry Fly)

Pair it with: Micro Bugger, Funky P, QB Butano, Green Machine, Tungsten Sparkle Softy, Soft Hackle Purple Reign 

This is a Yakoda-exclusive fly that's not available anywhere else.

Includes (3) flies.