
Yum Yum
Imitates: Scud, sow bug, attractor — rainbow flash trigger
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #14-18
- Best Season
- Year-round (peaks on tailwaters in winter and spring)
- Best Conditions
- Tailwaters, spring creeks, weed beds, picky stocked rainbows
- Water Temp
- 40-65°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 5X-6X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Dropped 18-24" below an indicator or trailed behind a heavier nymph. Often the dropper in a two-fly tailwater rig.
How to Present It
Dead-drift slowly through deep weed beds, tailrace seams, and slow runs. Mend hard for a long, drag-free drift along the bottom.
Why It Works
The multicolor rainbow body is pure attractor — it triggers strikes from rainbow trout in tailwaters that have seen every natural pattern. Profile and weight match a real scud or sow bug, but the flash makes it stand out from the dozens of drab nymphs drifting past.
History
A modern tailwater pattern that emerged from the South Holston, White River, and other tailwater fisheries. Designed to combine scud profile with rainbow attractor flash for stocked and educated trout.
Pro Tip
Dead-drift it through a tailwater weed bed with 6X tippet. Stocked rainbows that ignore traditional scuds will eat the rainbow flash version on the first drift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Yum Yum fly?+
A rainbow-colored attractor scud pattern designed for tailwater rainbow trout. The multicolor flash triggers strikes from picky and stocked fish.
Where do you fish a Yum Yum?+
Tailwaters, spring creeks, and weed beds where scuds are abundant. Especially effective on stocked rainbows that have refused natural patterns.
What size Yum Yum should I use?+
#16 is the standard. Drop to #18 in clear winter tailwaters; #14 in stained or higher water.
Not sure if Yum Yum is right today?
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