Mop Fly, courtesy of Fly and Field Outfitters. (Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin photo)

Buy a new dust mop for Mom’s birthday. In fact, get her two: one in chartreuse and one in another of your favorite colors. Now clip off some fibers for your fly-tying bench and wrap the presents. I call that a win-win.

The Mop Fly, to my mind, represents a caddis larva, which can be particularly effective for rainbows, sea-run cutthroat trout and steelhead, especially in August, September and October. Fish it deep, dead-drift with an indicator or using the high-stick technique and that sixth sense that tells you to set the hook when the unseen quarry inhales the offering.

Tie the Mop Fly on an egg hook with strands from a dust mop — think chartreuse, tan, cream, yellow, pink and even purple. Slide a slate gray tungsten bead up against the eye. Cinch down a section of dust mop fiber (about .700 inch) then finish with an olive or black Haretron dubbed collar.

— Gary Lewis, for The Bulletin