Not those sneaky little guys in black that appear out of nowhere…these are some flies that will take Trout all year, on the East Side – if presented properly.The ASSASSIN was developed by Eastern Sierra guide, Tom Loe. It is a variation of the late Cal Bird’s “BIRD’S NEST” pattern, originated in 1959 for the Truckee River…I have messed with this to include some other color variants that the Trout have not seen in places me and the kids visit…
A BUNNY is involved…
OLIVE TUNG ASSASSIN…Tom Loe/Variant ( of a Cal Bird variant) …
HOOK: TMC 2302 or Daiichi 1760, #14-#18…or, TMC 5262, #14-#18
THREAD: Wapsi Ultra 70 Denier -Olive- to thorax, then Tiemco 16/0, Olive
TAIL/SHUCK: Strung Marabou Blood Quills – Olive, overlaid with Coq De Leon, Black/Brown
RIB: Wapsi Ultra wire , Chartreuse, sized to hook
ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask, Olive, #4 ( from the upper face, below the ears)
HACKLE: Mallard Flank Wood Duck Gold, V-notched and evenly distributed around the hook shank with fingernails
THORAX: Hare’s Mask #2 (between eyes)
BEAD: Silver Tungsten, sized to hook
As suggested in the above link to the Bird’s Nest, hit this guy with some dry shake or Frog’s Fanny when fishing the pattern….dead drift or swing…it’s a soft hackle –because Tom does not tie them in OLIVE…
A good place to work this pattern…Michael on the Lower “O”….
RED HEAD ASSASSIN… Tom Loe/Variant…
HOOK: TMC 2302 or Daiichi 1760, #14-#18…or, TMC 5262, #14-#18
THREAD: Wapsi Ultra 70 Denier, Black to thorax, the, Tiemco 16/0, Black
TAIL/SHUCK: Strung Marabou Blood Quills – Black – overlaid with Coq De Leon. Black/White
RIB: Wapsi Ultra Wire, Red, sized to hook
ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask, Black, #4
HACKLE: Mallard Flank Wood Duck Gold
THORAX: Hare’s Mask, Black, #2
BEAD: Hareline Dazzle Bead, Red, sized to hook – stuffed with wraps of non-lead sub.
TUNG DUN ASSASSIN… Tom Loe/Variant
HOOK: TMC 2302 or Daiichi 1760, #14-#18…or, TMC 5262, #14-#18
THREAD: Wapsi Ultra 70 Denier, Gray to thorax then, Tiemco 16/0, Gray
TAIL/SHUCK: Ice Dub UV Dun overlaid with 3 small Ostrich Herl fibers…a Shane Stalcup suggestion…
ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask – Dun – #4
RIB: Wapsi Ultra Wire – Gunmetal Blue – sized to hook
HACKLE: Mallard Flank – Natural
THORAX: Hare’s Mask – Dun, #2
BEAD: Silver Tungsten, sized to hook
NATURAL CB ASSASSIN…Tom Loe/ Variant…
HOOK: TMC 2302 or Daiichi 1760, #14-#18…or, TMC 5262, #14-#18
THREAD: Wapsi Ultra 70 denier, Cream to thorax then, Tiemco 16/0, Brown
TAIL/SHUCK: Marabou Blood Quills, Ginger, overlaid with Lemon Wood Duck fibers
RIB: Copper or Amber Ultra wire, sized to hook
ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask – Natural – #4
HACKLE: Mallard Flank Wood Duck Gold
BEAD: Copper Tungsten or copper stuffed withh non-lead sub., sized to hook
THORAX: Hare’s Mask – Natural – #2
These guys get INVOLVED too !!!….My testers, Michael and Ally on the Boulder River, MT – another place that these Assassins would work…
NEXT: A mixed bag of “FLASH-ies“…
PT/TB 
More to follow…
PLANETTROUT: Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and LIFE
Tom’s a great guide. My brothers and I frequently book trips to Crowley with Tom. Have you tried any of his “broke-back” midges?
Jim,
I have tied up some of his other patterns like the Spruce-a-Bu, Crystal Midge, Crystal Caddis and Loebergs. I got snagged once, on the Lower “O” and when I pulled everything up, I had a “broke-back” stuck in the stick my fly was attached to…still have it. I have the recipe for it… so the next time I do some Midges, I’ll tie some up. Thanks for reminding me !!! I met Tom on the EW, back in the 80’s, before he moved up to East Side…he had the largest collection of bead heads that I had ever seen – at that time…
PT/TB 🙂
Do you have any of these for sale?
Justin,
I do not sell flies, I only tie them.The Assassin may be purchased at The Sierra Drifters site…HERE:
https://sierradrifters.com/fly-sales/
PT/TB 🙂