Fly Tying Tutorial: Chubby Chernobyl

The Chubby Chernobyl is one of the most utilized flies in my box, easy to see, extremely buoyant, and will always get a few looks throughout the warm season. I’ll typically use them as an indicator well before or after the big bugs come out, then transition into more of a single fly or paired with a dropper as the season heats up. I’ve even had success sinking and stripping it in fast water; it’s definitely one of my favorite flies and has provided me with tons of success.

Chubby Chernobyl Recipe

  • Hook: Umpqua 200R Size 6-14
  • Body: Black Foam
  • Dubbing: Ice Dub
  • Wing: Para Post Wing
  • Legs: Medium or small rubber legs

Special Tools:

  • Chernobyl Body Cutter

Step 1. Wrap the thread around the hook shank and create a thick baselayer ending at the back of the hook.

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Step 2. Make a small Ice Dub noodle on the thread and dub to the point of the hook.

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Step 3. Use the chernoybl body cutter and stamp out a body from the foam.

Step 4. Tie in the foam body about a 1/3 of the way up.

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Step 5. Take a single strand of rubber legs and cut off two 1in pieces. Next tie each piece at the same place you tied in the foam body.

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Step 6. Cut off about an inch of poly wing and tie that onto the top of the foam body in the same spot. This will make your underwing.

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Step 7. Make a dubbing noodle on your thread with the Ice Dub. Pull back the underwing and make a few wraps of ice dub around the foam body and between the legs, then transition back to the hook shank with a few wraps.

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Step 8. Add more ice dub to your thread and dub around the hook shank 2/3 of the way up.

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Step 9. Fold the foam body over and tie in this segment where you ended your dubbing.

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Step 10. Take the leftover rubber leg and cut off 2 more 1-inch pieces and tie them in on each side of the body.

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Step 11. Cut off a 2in piece of poly wing and tie it in the middle on top of the body.

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Step 12. Add more dubbing to your thread, pull back the wing and make a few wraps of dubbing around the body. Once you’ve ran out of dubbing transition back to the hook shank, build up a thread-head and finish off your fly with a whip finish.

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Step 13. Lastly trim up the legs, wings, and round off the head if need be.

Finished Chubby Chernobyl fly