How to Tie the Glow Bug & Good Egg: Simple and Effective Egg Patterns for Trout

With: Fly Fish Food

If you’re looking for a high-visibility, highly effective egg pattern for targeting trout during spawning season, the Glow Bug and Good Egg are two killer flies every angler should have in their box.

Pattern 1: Glow Bug

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Mount the Hook: Start with a curved shank egg hook (like a TMC 2487 or equivalent) in your vise.

2. Select Your Material: Use McFly Foam — not traditional egg yarn — for better shape and density. Pull out about 3 pencil-widths of material, approximately 5 inches in length.

3. Start the Thread Base: Use Veevus GSP 100D thread and create a short thread base near the hook eye. Be cautious — GSP can be slippery.

4. Tie in the McFly Foam:

   • Place the foam slightly over the hook eye.

   • Secure with 3 tight wraps.

   • Pull the front-facing end of the foam toward you and figure-eight wrap it to lock it down tightly.

5. Create the Egg Post:

   • Pull both strands upward.

   • Wrap your thread around the base of the foam in parachute-post style to create a clean tie-in point.

6. Whip Finish & Secure:

   • Whip finish and cut your thread.

   • Dab a small amount of super glue at the tie-in point to secure the GSP thread.

7. Shape the Egg:

   • With sharp scissors (serrated recommended), trim the foam upwards in a circular motion, then round it off by angling back down.

   • Use your fingers to shape the final spherical egg.

Pattern 2: Mickey’s Good Egg

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Mount the Hook: Use a straight shank egg hook, size 10 is ideal. Add a tungsten bead at the front for weight and profile.

2. Start the Thread Base: Use the same Veevus GSP 100D thread to create a short thread base behind the bead.

3. Tie in McFly Foam:

   • Use the same 3-wrap + figure-eight method with McFly Foam (MC Cheese color used in the video).

4. Add the “Nucleus” Effect:

   • Take a small pinch of UV hot orange Ice Dub.

   • Tie it in behind the bead — do not dub it, just secure the fibers loosely to stick out.

5. Whip Finish & Secure:

   • Whip finish and cut your thread.

   • Add a dab of super glue to the tie-in point.

6. Shape the Egg:

   • Pull all materials (foam and Ice Dub) upward.

   • Trim in the same circular fashion as the Glow Bug.

   • Distribute Ice Dub fibers evenly around the egg to create a UV flash “nucleus.”

7. Final Touches:

   • Trim any excess or stray dubbing fibers.

   • The bottom gap in the egg shape is not an issue — it will close naturally in the water.

Materials List

For the Glow Bug:

• Hook: Curved shank egg hook (e.g., TMC 2487), size 10–14

• Thread: Veevus GSP 100D, white or color to match

• Body: McFly Foam (MC Cheese or your preferred color)

• Adhesive: Super glue

• Tools: Sharp serrated scissors (e.g., Loon Ergo Scissors)

For Mickey’s Good Egg:

• Hook: Straight shank egg hook, size 10

• Bead: Tungsten bead (color to match or contrast)

• Thread: Veevus GSP 100D

• Body: McFly Foam (MC Cheese, Fluorescent Peach, etc.)

• Accent: UV Ice Dub (Hot Orange, Cinnamon, etc.)

• Adhesive: Super glue

• Tools: Sharp serrated scissors