Montana Fly Co.'s Fire Bead Ray Charles in Tan is a #16 scud and sowbug nymph with a fire bead that adds weight and a bright attractor point. The tan body matches the naturals trout eat on the bottom, and the fire bead gets the fly down fast in deeper runs and draws trout in stained water and low light. Fish it dead-drifted under an indicator or as a dropper behind a larger nymph — the #16 size fishes well when trout are keyed on small scuds and sowbugs. A go-to nymph for tailwaters and spring creeks, where scuds are a staple. Excellent fly for Montana's Missouri River.
