Overview

Designed by Umpqua signature tyer Charlie Craven of Charlie's Fly Box in Colorado, the Two Bit Hooker was first known as the Beanie May. The name comes from its two tungsten beads, one at the head and a second hidden in the thorax.

That second bead is the trick. It adds weight without bulking up the body, so the fly keeps the slim, tapered profile of a small mayfly nymph while sinking like a much bigger fly. An epoxy-coated wing case with a little sparkle adds durability and a touch of flash. The result is a small, realistic nymph that gets down fast, which is exactly what you need when trout are holding deep and eating small bugs.

Euro Specs

• Bead: Tungsten, two beads (one at the head.
• Role: Dropper fly, or the point fly in shallower water where you want a small, natural nymph that still sinks fast.

How to Fish It

• Dropper: Craven built it as a dropper nymph. Fish it 14 to 18 inches behind a larger nymph or worm under an indicator.
• Euro or tight-line: use it on a dropper tag above a heavier anchor, or as the point fly in moderate riffles.
• Dry-dropper: the double bead pulls it down quickly under a buoyant foam dry in pocket water.
• Tippet: 5X or 6X fluorocarbon helps it sink and drift naturally.

Choosing Color and Size

Brown is the most natural choice and matches many mayfly nymphs. Black gives a strong, dark silhouette that shows up well in low light or stained water. Red adds a hotspot of color that can trigger trout when natural patterns are ignored.

Size 14 carries the most weight for faster, deeper runs. Sizes 16 and 18 match Baetis and other small mayfly nymphs and are the go-to sizes on tailwaters.