The Chubby Chernobyl

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1. About The Chubby Chernobyl

The Chubby is one of the original large foam “terrestials” that loosely resembles a large grasshopper in shape, if not colors, and just works.  It comes in many colors and patterns, will float all day long like a life preserver.  It’s known for bringing fish to the surface for tail slapping strikes.

2. When and How To Fish It

The Chubby has played a formative role in the art of dry/dropper fishing.   The combination of wing and foam body float so well, you can carry wet droppers under it up to even a size 6 – practically streamer sized.  Fished as an indicator fly, you’ll be twice as effective picking up on takes of your dropper in addition to hits on the surface.

Fish the Chernobyl as a searching pattern when you start, if no hatch is evident, or change out to it when the fish just aren’t buying your attempts to match the hatch.  As one of the best dry flies for trout, you can fish the CC like any large terrestrial such as a grasshopper, except use it year round, using the following techniques:

• Be sure to carry not only black & chartreuse as shown, but also the tan, purple, golden stone, and royal for starters.
• With the right color combinations, the CC can be fished as a grasshopper or stonefly imitation.
• Use a dropper smaller fly with it, such as an emerger, soft hackle, or nymph.
• Float it near and under overhanging vegetation.
• Float it right past the eddy line below riffles and constrictions in the river (you can float it on the slow side of the eddy line, but because it floats so well, we suggest first running it through the faster water which has less spook risk, then fish the slower side).
• Skate it over the surface at night to attract larger fish, like you would a mouse pattern.

Here’s how to catch trout using the Chubby Chernobyl – be ready to set the hook when you get aggressive strikes.

3. Tie It, or Buy It?

For fly tying, this is a straightforward fly, we’d put it at a lower-intermediate level fly, with lots of room for error.  It does require a range of skills and several different materials, so would be a challenge for a beginner but a great fly to challenge yourself to move to intermediate level.  For experts, this is a great fly to tie in a variety of patterns, as well as invent your own color combo or even slight design variations.

.4. Basic Chubby Chernobyl Fly Tying Recipe Card

There are many variations on the CC, here’s one of our favorites, or substitute your own colors and materials:

• Hook: a long-shanked dry fly hook, in sizes # 6 – 10, such as the TMC 5263
• Thread: 6/0 UNI Tan
• Tail:Krystal Flash, pearl colored
• Body Dubbing: a crystal flash chenille or synthetic dubbing, such as gold nymph dubbing
• Body: Cinnamon, black, or other colored, 2 mm foam
• Legs: mottled or pumpkin colored, Sili legs
• Wing: us white colored, either McFlylon or strike indicator yarn is a great convenient substitute to avoid buying another material

5. How To Tie The Chubby Chernobyl

We think that this video by Umpqua Signature tier fly tying expert Greg Garcia has a great overview, with his take on uses of the fly, materials, and how to tie it.  As an Umpqua tier, you know his approach will lead to a quality, durable, effective fly.  

How-to tie the Chubby Chernobyl – By Greg Garcia of Umpqua and Anglers All

6. Buy It – One Of The Best Flies For Trout

If you prefer to purchase, here’s an option for you: