Tying and Fishing the Fat Albert Fly Pattern

If you haven't fished the fat albert fly pattern yet, you're missing out on some of the most aggressive topwater strikes you'll ever see. It isn't the prettiest fly in the box—in fact, it looks a bit like a cartoon character—but that's exactly why it works. It's big, it's flashy, and it stays afloat no matter how much gear you hang off it or how choppy the water gets. ...

February 15, 2026 · 7 min · Sheryl Shea