Episode Overview
In this episode of The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Brendan Ruch, the innovative tier behind the Nut Job, to explore every dimension of this game-changing swim fly pattern. From its accidental birth on Logjam Live to its current status as a go-to predator pattern for serious smallmouth and trout anglers, Brendan walks through the complete evolution of the fly. The conversation covers Central Pennsylvania waters where the pattern has proven deadly on big smallmouth and trout, particularly during spring high water conditions. Brendan details his craft fur-based approach, explaining how the synthetic material provides superior castability and a distinctive glide bait action compared to traditional hen saddle patterns. The discussion moves from vise to water, covering everything from material selection and proportioning to advanced retrieve techniques that maximize the fly's strip-and-stall bite trigger, making this essential listening for any angler pursuing large predatory fish on the fly.
Key Takeaways
- How to tie a swim fly with predictable glide bait action using craft fur instead of expensive hen saddles, resulting in easier casting and better material availability
- Why positioning rubber legs on top of the shank rather than on the sides creates critical parachute action that allows the fly to suspend and trigger strikes during the pause
- When to adjust tungsten bead weights between 3/16" and 7/32" based on current speed to keep the fly in the strike zone without losing the neutral buoyancy that makes the pattern effective
- How introducing slack through rod tip manipulation and strategic mends maximizes the fly's side-to-side glide within a confined 12-inch zone where fish are holding
- Why dark colors like olive-and-black with copper flash outperform bright patterns in off-color spring water, while yellow-orange combinations excel as visibility improves
Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode centers on Brendan's systematic approach to fishing articulated swim flies with emphasis on strip-and-stall retrieves that create glide bait action. He details using rod tip manipulation—upward jerks, downward strips, lateral movements combined with mends—to introduce slack that allows the Nut Job to kick side-to-side within a tight zone. Tying techniques focus on craft fur density and proportioning, including ripping tips rather than cutting to preserve bulk, using finesse chenille as a low-drag core and positioning 4-8 rubber legs to create suspending action. Brendan discusses hook configurations ranging from size 2 Trout Predator to 1/0 hooks paired with 15-25mm shanks connected via Maxima Chameleon 25lb, with tungsten bead options from 3/16" to 7/32" for varying current speeds. Line selection covers Type 3 sink tips for early season high water transitioning to intermediate lines as flows normalize, paired with fluoro leaders built from 30-35lb stepping down to 16-20lb tippet.
Locations & Species
The Nut Job has proven effective across East Coast waters, with Brendan's primary focus on Central Pennsylvania smallmouth fisheries where the pattern excels during high water conditions typical of March through May. He references success on the West Branch of the Delaware targeting trout with smaller versions of the pattern and discusses adaptations for musky fishing and striper applications along coastal waters. The fly's design addresses the challenges of fishing swollen spring rivers with off-color water, where heavy tungsten keeps patterns in the zone while craft fur provides visibility. Brendan emphasizes the pattern's effectiveness during pre-spawn and post-spawn transitions when predatory trout and smallmouth are aggressively feeding on baitfish, making it particularly deadly during early spring runoff and late spring clearing conditions when fish are looking up in the water column.
FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does the Nut Job differ from traditional hen saddle swim flies?
The Nut Job uses craft fur instead of hen saddles for the front head, providing easier casting than soaked feather patterns while maintaining excellent action. The synthetic material flows through water similarly to natural materials but offers better availability and lower cost than quality hen saddles, which have become scarce and expensive since COVID. The craft fur butts create density at the tie-in point similar to the Bad Hair Day streamer, while rubber legs positioned on top of the shank add critical parachute action for suspending behavior.
What's the key to getting proper glide bait action from the Nut Job?
Introducing slack is essential—the fly needs to move no more than 12 inches (roughly twice its length) before pausing to allow the side-to-side glide. Brendan recommends various techniques including upward jerks followed by mends, downward rod tip drops during strips and lateral movements combined with upstream or downstream mends. The goal is creating hard, short movements followed by pauses where the fly suspends and kicks, mimicking an injured baitfish rather than simply stripping the fly back to the boat in long pulls.
When should you adjust tungsten bead weights on the Nut Job?
Use 7/32" tungsten beads during early spring high flows when you need to get the fly deep quickly and keep it in the zone. Switch to 3/16" beads or keel-weighted hooks as flows normalize and fish start looking higher in the water column—lighter weights allow for longer pauses and better neutral buoyancy. If the fly sinks too fast and you can't stall it effectively, you're too heavy for the conditions. The sweet spot is maintaining depth without sacrificing the suspending action that triggers strikes.
What are the most productive Nut Job color combinations?
For off-color, green-brown spring water, olive-and-black with a few turns of copper polar chenille over the finesse chenille core dominates—this dark pattern is visible to fish even when anglers can't see it. As water clears to a few feet of visibility, yellow or yellow-with-orange veil (Brendan calls it "flame boy") becomes deadly due to its luminescent glow underwater. In clear conditions, natural combinations work well: white, cream, tan, medium olive, dark olive and camel in various two-tone arrangements—there's rarely a bad combination among these colors.
How do you adapt the Nut Job for musky or saltwater species?
For musky, use a hook-shank-hook configuration with a 4/0 short shank in back, 35mm big game shank in the middle and 5/0 up front for an 8-inch fly with a 2.5-inch marabou tail. A translucey fiber body and a micro Buford under the craft fur tie-ins on the head increase profile on these larger patterns since you're using the full length of the craft fur sheet. For stripers, tie a single-hook style version with two shanks (15mm rear, 20mm middle) connected with Maxima and a 6 mm bead, finishing with an Ahrex 1/0 minnow hook to avoid having two hooks in the fish's face—this creates a peanut bunker-sized profile.
Sponsors
Thanks to Schultz Outfitters, TroutRoutes and OnX Fish Midwest for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.
Related Content
BONUS - Tying the Circus Peanut: Streamer Secrets and Fishing Strategies with Russ Maddin
S7, Ep 31 - Nut Jobs and Quesadillas: A Spring Fishing Update with Brendan Ruch
S7, Ep 33 - Nut Jobs and Chimichangas: A PA Smallmouth Update with Brendan Ruch
S6, Ep 146 - Musky Mysteries: Winter Tactics and Fly Tying Tips with Matt Reilly
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Helpful Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction
05:32 Inspiration Behind the Design
11:56 Crafting the Perfect Pattern
15:59 Material Selection and Techniques
20:23 Weighting and Proportions
24:30 Hook and Shank Combinations
31:01 Common Mistakes to Avoid
33:46 Fishing Techniques for Success
42:38 Exploring Color Variations
