Sometimes a San Juan Worm will out-fish every fly in the box. The Eggi Wan Kenobi improved it and Joe Silverman’s Bacon & Eggs takes it a step further with Pearl Core Braid and a squishy soft egg. Why? Trout love worms and eggs. I’m taking this design to Alaska, although I’ll mix it up a bit for those Russian River rainbows.

On the river, drift it in tandem with a beadhead nymph. In still water, tie the fly on by itself and stalk the shoreline to sight-fish to cruising or holding rainbows. With a long fluorocarbon tippet, set the fly down about 5 feet away. Let the “worm” settle to the bottom. The trout is watching. Give it a tiny twitch.

Tie this Silverman’s Bacon & Eggs with pink thread on a No. 10 bronze scud hook. For the body, use red or pink Pearl Core Braid and a tango/silver Sparkle Soft Egg.

—Gary Lewis, for The Bulletin