Troutbitten’s Blue Collar Worker

Description

The Blue Collar Worker is one of those flies that earns its place as a confidence fly through consistency, not flash.

Originally developed by Dom Swentosky of Troutbitten, this pattern has become a staple for anglers who value control, efficiency, and realism in their nymphing. Dom was gracious enough to let me offer my own variation of this fly, and this version stays true to the spirit of the original while making a few subtle adjustments that suit how I fish.

This is the TroutStrike Slim Blue Collar Worker.

Why a Slim Version

The original Blue Collar Worker is designed to imitate a wide range of mayfly and caddis nymphs while maintaining enough presence to be seen and eaten in moving water.

My variation keeps that intent but trims the profile slightly and replaces the traditional ribbing with pearl crystal flash. The result is a fly that sinks a bit faster, creates less resistance in the drift, and still offers just enough visual trigger without becoming flashy.

These changes were made with tightline nymphing in mind.

In low to moderate flows, or when trout demand a more natural presentation, a slimmer fly often drifts truer and stays in the strike zone longer. This version excels in those conditions.

What Changed and Why It Matters

Slimmer body profile
• Reduces drag in the drift
• Helps maintain better contact without over-weighting
• Performs well in low-clear water

Pearl crystal flash rib
• Adds subtle light reflection without bulk
• Maintains durability while keeping the fly lean

Everything else stays intentionally simple. This fly is built to work, not to impress in the vise.

How I Fish It

I most often fish the Slim Blue Collar Worker as part of a tightline nymphing system, either as a point fly or paired with a lighter tag fly.

It shines when you want:
• Clean drifts through seams and soft edges
• Reduced bottom ticking
• Better feedback through the sighter
• A natural look without excessive weight

This fly is not about matching a specific hatch. It is about control, efficiency, and repeatability, which is exactly what makes the original Blue Collar Worker so effective.

Credit Where It Belongs

Troutbitten’s Blue Collar Worker directly inspired this pattern. Dom Swentosky has done tremendous work breaking down modern nymphing systems, and this fly exists because of that foundation.

If you want to see the original pattern, explanation, and tying video, I strongly recommend reading Dom’s article on Troutbitten:
Troutbitten Fly Box: The Blue Collar Worker

This TroutStrike version is simply a refinement based on my own fishing and the water I spend time on.

Materials and Construction

Jig-style hook
Tungsten bead
Pheasant Tail  body & 
Pearl crystal flash rib
CDC collar

Each fly is hand-tied with durability and consistency in mind.

Ideal For

Tight line nymphing
Euro-style systems
Anglers who value drift control
Fans of Troutbitten style nymphing