How to Tie the Little Brown Trout Fly Pattern

Aug 25, 2023 · 3 min read

Learn how to tie the Little Brown Trout fly pattern, including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly-tying skills here.

The Little Brown Trout is a classic streamer from Samuel R. Slaymaker of Pennsylvania, first tied in the late 1950s. Originally a part of a series of three streamers designed to imitate trout fry and intended to tap into the trout's predatory instincts. The other two flies in the series are the Little Brook Trout and the Little Rainbow Trout.

This pattern comes highly recommended in Joseph Bates' book, "Streamers and Bucktails: The Big Fish Flies," which suggests using a 6XL hook in sizes 2 -12., We find the moderate-size 8 Daiichi 2220 works best for most of our streams here in Maine.

Material List

Hook: Daiichi 2220 4XL size 8
Thread: Veevus 8/0 White, Danville's 6/0 Black
Ring Neck Pheasant Breast Feather
Body: White Yarn
Rib: Uni-Mylar Silver/Gold
Wing: Yellow, Black, and Orange Bucktail/Squirrel Hair

Buy Material Kit

Step One

Fly tying vise holding copper curved hook with white thread-wrapped shank, knurled vise screw, dark backdrop, trout fly

We’re using two different threads for the Little Brown Trout streamer. Establish a base by wrapping white thread from below the hook eye to the bend.

Step Two

Little Brown Trout fly pattern: white thread-ribbed body with orange feather tail tied on copper hook in vise

For the tail, strip away the excess fuzzy fibers from the pheasant hackle’s tip, cut the webby section’s center out, then secure it on top of the shank.

Step Three

Close-up fly tying: copper hook in vise with silver tinsel body and reddish-brown feather tail for a brown trout fly pattern

Moving onto the ribbing, secure a strand of Uni Mylar by the tip and below the eye with the silver part facing you, then cover the material with thread down to the tail. Leave the tag end intact, and we’ll complete the Little Brown Trout’s ribbing later.

Step Four

Close-up fly tying: white wool dubbing wrapped on copper hook with reddish-brown feather tail in vise for trout fly

Secure the white yarn at the initial tie-in point, then cover the rear-facing material with thread down to the tail to begin the body.

Step Five

White dubbed body Little Brown Trout fly pattern with orange feather tail secured in vise during fly tying tutorial

Finish the body by advancing the yarn’s tag end with overlapping turns, secure the material below the eye, then clip the excess.

Step Six

White dubbing body ribbed with copper wire and orange feather tail on Little Brown trout fly held in vise — fly tying

Complete the ribbing by advancing the mylar’s tag up the shank with evenly spaced wraps, then secure and clip it near the initial tie-in.

Step Seven

White fuzzy segmented trout fly with red ribbing and orange feather tail on bronze hook in vise, fly tying pattern

Clip the white thread, then create the Little Brown Trout’s head by wrapping the black thread below the eye several times.

Step Eight

Brown trout fly on vise with white segmented body, silver ribbing, orange tail, yellow hackle and gold bead head

The Little Brown Trout’s wing consists of multiple colors of bucktail, but let’s start with yellow. Secure a sparse clump by the tip and below the eye, with the hairs running to the tail’s end.

Step Nine

Little Brown Trout fly pattern with orange wing and white body with silver ribbing on hook in vise, fly fishing

Repeat the previous step with a mixture of orange and red bucktail tied over the yellow.

Step Ten

Little Brown Trout fly tying: orange-red feather wing, white ribbed body, copper hook and black thread head in vise

The final material is squirrel hair. Again, secure a sparse clump by the tip, below the eye, and directly above the bucktail.

Step Eleven

Brown trout fly pattern in vise with orange-yellow synthetic wing, translucent ribbed body and black thread head

Cover the wing’s tip tightly with thread, then complete the tying process by securing a whip finish.

Step Twelve

Little Brown Trout fly pattern with white ribbed body, orange-yellow feather wing and brown tail tied on hook

Finally, apply a small drop of head cement, then it’s time to hit the water.

Written by

Stephen D' Angelo

Stephen D'Angelo is a fly fishing expert with a passion for fly tying, gear, and time on the water. From small-stream trout to saltwater flats fishing, Stephen brings hands-on experience across a wide range of species and scenarios — and he's always happy to help you find the right setup for your next adventure.

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