Foam Trouser Worm Update and Video

When I visited John Montana in Oregon this summer I had a couple dozen leather Trouser Worms and one foam.  Early in the trip John told me that while he likes the leather allot, he prefers the foam version on the Columbia and I immediately tied it on..  I only landed two carp before I broke it off but I also got 5 or 6 more takes and briefly hooked several more in less than half an hour.  It was easily the hottest half an hour of carpin I had all year.

That experience galvanized my intentions to re-work the Foam Trouser Worm to fix some of the issues that have relegated it behind the leather version in my box.  I think that this the updated version is a significant improvement.

Updates:

1. Switch to a size 6 Scorpion Gaper hook for more positive hook-ups with zero risk of bending the hook.
2. Switch to a single strand of big-fly thread for the tail instead of mono-filament to reduce stiffness of the tail under water.
3. Make the end of the tail out of a brass bead.  This adds weight to the end of the tail that adds action under water and is also a more durable way to make a stopper for the foam beads.
4. The bead at the end of the tail and the heavier gauge Scorpion Gaper hook both add weight.  Replace the tungsten bead at the hook-eye with a brass bead to offset this inrease in weight.

Here are the tying instructions for the new and improved Foam Trouser Worm.  There is a little bathtub footage at the end to show how the new fly acts in the water.