Now here is a fly that is about as versatile as it comes in terms of species sought.

It is right at home being smacked into backside vegetation and mangroves chasing those elusive estuary perch. Australian bass find it hard not to smack it just because it looks the goods, trout will gobble it because they can be greedy, and lastly it would not be out of place falling into a bucket sized hole in the water as a large Murray cod tries to engulf it.

Again a simple fly to tie, as all flies should be. The key elements to the effectiveness of this fly are profile, noise, and movement; all three of which play a key part in attracting fish.

As a trout fly it is most effective fished after dark where the flies profile is the trigger, either on impoundments or large slow pools on some of the larger rivers like the Mitta, Upper Murray, and Goulburn. Lakes such as Khancoban, Jindabyne and Eucumbene are all great places to use this fly.

Fished with a slow jerky or twitchy retrieve across the surface on dark moonless nights will more often than not see it get smashed from the water, the take will often be heard as well as felt.

In the estuaries of southern NSW and Victoria, home of the estuary perch and bass, often voracious predators who predate on frogs, crickets, cicadas and other large bugs and amphibians. Popping the fly vigorously across the surface either day or night will often see the fly intercepted and dispatched.

Cast in hard and tight against bank side structure and snags is the key, and commence the retrieve with 2-3 rapid surface pops, then pause and repeat the sequence.

And when fished in the lowland impoundments and rivers north of the divide for Murray cod, the fly’s profile, movement and sound all contribute to attract the attention of large hungry surface feeding cod.

In impoundments such as Lake Mulwala, casting the fly alongside submerged and exposed timber and then ripping and popping it across the surface often arouses the attention of fat lazy cod.

Backwaters and billabongs along the Murray River are another good venue to dance this fly for cod and sometimes other natives such as golden perch.

As an aside, if venturing north take a few of these flies to try on species such as billabong barramundi and saratoga.