Y2K Egg
Imitates: Trout or salmon egg drifting in the current
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #12-16
- Best Season
- Fall (brown/brookie spawn) and Spring (rainbow spawn)
- Best Conditions
- Below or behind spawning fish, in tailouts and gravel runs
- Water Temp
- Any — egg-eating is opportunistic
- Recommended Tippet
- 4X-5X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Single egg under an indicator, or as a dropper behind a San Juan Worm. Add weight to get on bottom.
How to Present It
Drift it slow on the bottom, just downstream of redds (gravel beds where fish are spawning). Trout stack up to eat eggs that drift loose.
Why It Works
When trout are spawning, every other species in the river — rainbows, browns, whitefish — feeds heavily on the high-protein eggs that get washed loose. The chartreuse-with-pink-dot is the most consistent producer.
History
Developed in the 1990s on Western tailwaters and named for the Y2K computer scare. The pink-dot-on-chartreuse color combo became the default after years of guide trial-and-error.
Pro Tip
Never fish eggs ON the redd — that's where the spawning fish are. Fish them 20-50 feet BELOW the redd in the tailout where opportunistic feeders hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fishing egg patterns ethical?+
Yes — when fished below redds, not on them. Snagging spawning fish is unethical; targeting opportunistic feeders downstream is standard practice.
What color egg pattern works best?+
Chartreuse with a pink dot (the original Y2K) is the most consistent. Orange and pink also produce, especially in stained water.
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