The Jerry French Lamprey Fly Tying Tutorial: A Fly for People Who’ve Given Up Pretending Fish Are Picky

This fly-tying tutorial is brought to you by Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage, Alaska, where the legendary advice on flies, gear, and techniques is hotter than their coffee. (907) 770-2666 or mbrown@mossysflyshop.com.

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Ever seen a lamprey in the water and thought, “If I were a fish, I’d hit that.” you probably need to get out more, but you’d also be right. These slippery little vampires are the perfect inspiration for a fly that screeches “predator food.” Enter the Jerry French Lamprey. A pattern that’s somehow equal parts genius, foolery, and fish charisma. Welcome to your new favorite fly.

Named after the parasitic jawless fish that BRTs (Big Rainbow Trout) and Steelhead encounter throughout their ocean migrations (and the guy who designed it), the Jerry French Lamprey doesn’t ask for your respect. It just produces. Whether fish mistake it for the real thing or simply see a large, pulsating, vaguely offensive object and decide it needs to die is a question best left to marine biologists.

This fly doesn’t just turn heads; it turns big, angry fish into believers. Grab some materials, clear your tying bench (or just shove the old coffee cups aside), and let’s dive into the delightful chaos that is turning a parasitic eel into a swing-worthy masterpiece.

We’ll walk through the tie from hook to head — materials, proportions, and the two moments where precision actually matters. Spoiler: there are fewer than you’d think.

Let’s get into it.

Tied By: Brian Davenport, Mossy’s Fly Shop, Photos By: Mike Brown, Mossy’s Fly Shop

Materials:

Hook: Aqua Talon Sz 2
No Foul Loop: 30lb Monofilament
Under Tail: 5-6 Brown Ostrich feather
Tail: Dark Brown Rabbit Strip Zonker
Rear Legs: Crusher Black Barred/Clear
Body: Blend of STS Trilobal Black Dubbing and Rainbow Angel Hair
Front Legs: Crusher Black Barred/Clear
Collar: STS Trilobal Black Dubbing
Bead: Black Nickel 7/32” Bead
Thread: Veevus GSP 100 Black

Step 1: Place the bead on your hook, start the thread then tie in your mono loop. The loop length should be approximately the length of the hook shank.

Step 2: Using 5-6 ostrich feathers, tie into the top of the hook.

Step 3: Tie in your rabbit strip. Make the overall length of the fly 3 inches.

Step 4: Tie in two rubber legs down each side of the rabbit strip. Legs should be just short of the tail in length.

Step 5: Using STS Trilobal black dubbing and a small clump of Rainbow Angel Hair, make a composite loop. Spin the loop, then brush and pick out all the trapped fibers.