The ego of a fly fisherman can be fragile. Nothing is worse than when you’re fishing near someone hammering trout while you’re struggling for a bite.
When this is happening, tying on a egg pattern can be the answer. The Miracle Fly, which is an enhanced jig head egg pattern, can be your best bet.
I first met Jeremy Hunt while fishing Lake Taneycomo near Branson, Missouri nearly a decade ago. We’ve fished together numerous times since, and I credit him with my introduction to this fuzzy little miracle.
“First of all, I didn’t invent or come up with the concept of this fly, but I do like to think that I’ve turned a novelty pattern into a legitimate weapon,” Hunt said. “I was introduced to jig head eggs at Roaring River State Park by Tim’s Fly Shop. That day, I caught a rainbow over 10 pounds, my biggest ever, and I knew that there was something about this particular style of egg that appealed to large trout.”
To make sure the Roaring River experience wasn’t a fluke, Hunt took the jig head egg pattern back to his home waters of Lake Taneycomo. He fished it during low water and caught a nice brown, and the rainbows were fighting over it. He was sold from that point on.
"The Miracle Fly works so well because it stays down where the fish are," Hunt said. "A big key to the ease of using this fly is that the hook rides up, so it will rarely hang on the bottom. Even though the Miracle Fly can help beginners catch more fish, I prefer a specialized approach when the water is lower, and I will rarely fish blind.
"Still, the fact that so many bites come on the fall makes it so a lot of guys will catch a few fish pretty much by accident," Hunt said.
The Miracle Fly is effective when fished a number of different ways with a fly rod. You can blind nymph the fly and feel for strikes. You can also drift it down current under a strike indicator.
What Hunt really enjoys is sight fishing to the Miracle Fly to large trout. You can also fish a Miracle Fly with a spinning outfit in nearly the same sort of fashion as with a fly rod.
“I’ve seen huge browns just pick this fly right off the bottom in slack areas. I prefer to sight-fish on light to moderate flows when I can. This way, I can see the bites and get a really solid hook-set,” Hunt said.
Sometimes, in order to have more fun, we just need to catch some trout when we are out on the water. The Miracle Fly offers a way to fish with confidence. There are times when fish are very picky about what they will eat. An instinctual pattern like an egg can elicit a response from trout that would otherwise snub the most subtle of offerings.
You can use a Miracle Fly anywhere trout swim. They should work in any natural reproducing or annually stocked trout waters.
Hunt is also an expert guide, so if you’re looking for a trip with a fella who can teach you a ton about catching trout, get a hold of Hunt. Those interested in purchasing some Miracle Flies or learning more about the materials used to tie them, should check out Hunt’s website at www.flysandguides.com.
See you down the trail …
