Burk’s Aggravator – lots of action and attraction

A collection of shiny metallic chess pawns arranged on a peach background.

Andy Burk

Andy Burk, a Central Sierran fly fishing guide, designed this fly originally for smallmouth bass. Yet, it has also been very effective for a number of other species including largemouth, steelhead, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout, brook trout, salmon and even panfish.

Composite Pattern

The pattern is basically a composite of a Nymph and Marabou Streamer with Rubberlegs thrown in. It could represent a damsel nymph, a stonefly, a minnow, or a crawdad. Lot’s of action, a pure attractor streamer. Some have even adapted the pattern to be articulated.

Presentation

To fish the Aggravator in fast moving water an angler can either dead drift the fly through a fishy looking run or riffle or strip it actively against the current to try and get a reaction strike. In stillwater, a sinking fly line will get the fly to the big fish while the waving marabou tail and wiggly silicone legs should put any fish in the vicinity into a feeding frenzy. Andy has tied these in variations of black, olive and Prince Nymph.

Variations

A collection of shiny metallic chess pawns arranged on a peach background.
Burk’s Aggravator, Prince Nymph

Burk’s Aggravator, Prince Nymph

Hook TMC 200R # 6-14
Thread Danville Black 6/0
Head Gold Bead
Weight Leadfree Wire wraps
Ribbing Medium Gold Wire
Legs Pumpkin/Olive Black Crazy Legs
Body Peacock Herl
Thorax Peacock Herl
wingcase White Goose Biots
Tail Brown Olive Marabou
Tag Pearl Krystal Flash
Collar Peacock Herl