Bodkin / Patterns

Palolo Worm

Worm · Tarpon · Snook · Jack · Beginner · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Owner Aki or Gamakatsu SC15, short shank, 1-2/0
  • Thread Orange or red Flat waxed nylon

Materials

  • Tail Orange-brown marabou tip or rabbit strip (1 short piece)
  • Body Burnt-orange chenille, dubbing, or vernille (1 length)
  • Head (optional) Tan/orange deer hair or thread head (small)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread at the eye and wrap a base to the bend of a short-shank hook. The whole worm is only 2-3 inches, so keep everything sparse and slim.
  2. Tie in a short marabou tip or thin rabbit strip tail at the bend, about one shank length long, for the worm's swimming tail.
  3. Tie in the burnt-orange chenille or vernille and wrap a slim, even body forward in touching turns to just behind the eye.
  4. Tie off and build a small thread head (or stack a small deer-hair head trimmed to a bullet for a version that swims higher).
  5. Whip finish and cement. Durability matters less than silhouette; palolo eats are savage but the fly is simple.

Other versions

1 more in the app: RIO's.

Tying videos

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