Pat's Rubberlegs Fly Tying Instructions by Charlie Craven 

Pat's Rubber Legs is a Pat Bennett design. He is also listed as the designer in the Solitude Fly company catalog. Pat is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army who started guiding for LaMoyne Hyde ( creator of Hyde Drift boats) at Hyde Outfitters at Last Chance in Island Park, Idaho. The fly was designed for the Box Canyon on the world famous Henry's Fork, and was very productive for his clients. It became the fly to have in your box when fishing the Yellowstone area. It is now popular all over the world.

"and if you know the answer just keep that to yourself, I don't really care." 🤣

Pat's Rubber Legs is also known as Jimmy Legs, Knotty Girls, Restless Stone, The Turd, Cat Turd, Cat Puke and The Pickle. "Pat" has been suggested to be a guide, Pat Bennett, that works out of the Hyde shop in Island Park, Idaho but this may be a ruse. Jimmy Legs is a variation from Idyllwild Flies in which the legs are pre-knotted and tied on a bent hook, such as a Daiichi 1730. Knotty Girls also have knotted legs, but they are usually round rubber material. Restless Stone is another name as marketed by Umpqua. Whatever the name, the pattern works quite well and has become a favorite among guides. The pattern is a variation off an older pattern known as the Girdle Bug. This pattern was developed in the 1930's by Frank McGinnis of Anaconda, MT. He developed this pattern while fishing the Big Hole River. Originally, round rubber legs were used but a spandex rubber material such as Super Floss, Flex Floss, Life Flex, and Spanflex has become preferred over round rubber legs. It is much more durable and transparent than rubber leg material and very supple with lifelike movement in the water. Mickey Wooton, a guide out of West Yellowstone, came up with a nice variation of trimming the chenille at the abdomen for a flattened taper and replaced the antennae and tails with Krystal flash and Goose Biots, respectively. Fish Pat's Rubber Legs in the riffles and runs of fast-moving water. It also makes a great pattern for short line nymphing. The weight of the pattern allows it to quickly sink into deeps slots and pools. Great with a Beadhead dropper such as a Prince Nymph or Hare's Ear.

Very nice,like the color,thanks for acknowledging the older brother the Girdle Bug,tie mine on the Umpqua U106 hook & like the bend,tight lines 🤙😊

Thank you for all the advice you shared when tying this fly. This is a beautiful fly that will catch fish Each and every time I view any of your videos, I learn so much. Notes I have to take to remember all the information

Thanks for the tips on controlling the legs and adding a little class to a simple bug with a touch of taper. Take Care

Always enjoy the the tying tips, i.e. use a thread turn to hold the legs out of the way! 🤯🎣

Thanks Charlie, I was doing well with the Zirdle fly I found on your channel last time I was up in the mountains of Co. I totally thought Pat Dorsey came up with this one. Dorsey has some great patterns as do you.😊

Inquiring minds want to know . Now we know . I do like the final taper cut to the chenille really does finish it off . Probably the most used fly on the Madison. Thanks for sharing

Really like the technique for tying in the legs, Charlie! Great tie as always!

I like that tye. Thank you

Nice looking stone pattern.

Also a great hellgrammite imitation for smallies when you tie it in black!

FYI Nose hair trimmers work so much faster and more efficient for rounding the strung chenille.

Always love watching you tie Charlie! Do you have a favorite colored chenille for these? I’ve always used the coffee colored for the Taylor and that seems to do the trick

How about a Robert’s Yellow Drake (w/ the Craven twist) Would love to you tie that one.

Great tie Charlie. The fly was a staple for Pat Bennett, which I believe didn't like the rubber legs on a girdle bug and instead wanted to use floss. Always makes me think that he named it Pat's Rubberlegs, when that is exactly what it isn't. Hopefully, it was a joke. =]

I hope you don't have to change your name or go into witness protection program for trying this one. I like having you around Charlie.😊😊

Good old stonefly pattern, thanks for that. Do you ever tie articulated Pat's Rubber Leg patterns? Do you think it makes a difference with a little more motion in the fly?

hello from Nz, will be tying this.. hay what head cement and applicator u using here charlie?

Another reason I get along with Charlie and his “ways”. Almost always agree that I wanna fish something beautiful, unique to me and something I put time into tying. This is most definitely NOT one of those patterns.

Also, not trying to tell the master how to tie a turd - however, you’re life is automatically worse if you tie in the 3 “body” legs in before you tie the chenille in. Chenille first, then 3 legs, then wrap chenille.

aint a proper cat turd without tapered ends just like the real thing =)

46 turns of wire. lol