H&L Variant
Imitates: Attractor — generic mayfly silhouette
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #12-16
- Best Season
- Summer
- Best Conditions
- Western freestones, pocket water, fast riffles
- Water Temp
- 55-70°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 4X-5X
How to Rig It
Single dry. The white wing and tail make it the most visible attractor dry ever tied.
How to Present It
Dead-drift through fast water and pockets. The bright white wing tracks easily through chop.
Why It Works
The split-quill rear body and peacock front create a natural mayfly silhouette, while the bright white calf-tail wings and tail give visibility no other attractor matches.
History
Reportedly President Dwight Eisenhower's favorite trout fly — he fished it on Colorado's Frying Pan River. Origin name 'House and Lot' refers to a bet supposedly won on it.
Pro Tip
On bright sunny days when you can't see standard attractors, the H&L Variant's white wings shine through glare. Best searching dry for high-elevation pocket water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called H&L Variant?+
H&L stands for House and Lot — folklore says it won someone a house and a lot in a fly fishing bet. Eisenhower fished it on the Frying Pan.
Not sure if H&L Variant is right today?
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