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San Juan Worm , Worm Brown 
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Tan San Juan Worm 
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Orange San Juan Worm w/bead 
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Rust Diamond Braid San Juan Worm w/Hourglass Bead  |
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Pink San Juan Worm  |
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Purple San Juan Worm w/Dazzle Bead  |
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The San Juan Worm originated with Jim Aubrey in the 1970's. Jim was a well-known fly tier and fisherman attending many FFI conclaves were he was involved in teaching fly fishing. He also taught school kids and adults in Durango, Colorado and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jim passed away at the age of 90 years in 2021. The actual San Juan Worm is about two inches and resides with the silty river bottom of the San Juan River, New Mexico. Jim utilized Ultra Chenille for the body and burned the ends of the material to keep it from unfraying. The pattern was the impetus to the infamous "San Juan Shuffle", in which fly fishermen used to scuff along the bottom to dislodge the worms and create a feeding frenzy with the local trout inhabitants. This technique has become "unsporting" and is not looked upon favorably by most flyfishermen. Nevertheless, the San Juan Worm pattern has found a niche in most flyboxes. In the Sierra, it imitates the blood midge which frequents many of the eastside alkyline lakes. It also is used as a midge larvae patterns within most of the Sierran streams. The pattern is particularly useful when fishing in high water situations after a rainstorm. The natural terrestrial worms will become evident within the stream from bank erosion and the leaf worms will be washed into the stream from the overhead cover by the rain. The stained conditions of the water at this time also enhances it's usefulness and darker colors such as Purple and Red might be a good choice. Colors can vary from Orange, Chartreuse, Tan, Claret, Pink, Red, or Earth tones. Ultra Chenille (aka Vernille) is stiffer and more dense than standard Chenille and is preferred as material to tie the San Juan Worm. A little flame from a lighter will melt a tapered end to the material. Add a bead to the hook shank to get the pattern to go deeper in the water column or during fast stream flows. Use a slow twitching action. The San Juan Worm with a tungsten bead has become a popular anchor fly pattern for euro nymphing.