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Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Pink Squirrel showing curved nymph hook, buggy squirrel-dubbing body, bright pink thorax, gold bead and red ribIllustrated reference

Nymph · guide 134

Pink Squirrel

John Bethke's Driftless-region attractor nymph with a buggy squirrel-dubbing body and unmistakable fluorescent-pink thorax.

Common size
#12–18 in the reviewed Orvis variant
Common colors
tan-gray body, fluorescent pink thorax, gold bead, red rib
Imitates
general aquatic nymph, small crustacean or larva impression
How to recognize it

The reviewed form uses a curved hook, gold bead, red wire rib, blended tan-gray squirrel body, bright pink chenille thorax, and sparse flash tail. Tail-less and differently beaded versions remain labeled variants.

Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Pink Squirrel showing curved nymph hook, buggy squirrel-dubbing body, bright pink thorax, gold bead and red rib
Illustrated reference

Pink Squirrel reviewed side profile

A schematic profile emphasizing curved nymph hook and buggy squirrel-dubbing body.

View
reviewed side profile
Color shown
tan-gray squirrel body, fluorescent-pink thorax, gold bead, red rib, and sparse flash tail
Look for
curved nymph hook; buggy squirrel-dubbing body; bright pink thorax; gold bead and red rib
Open full-size image ↗

On the water

Know when and how to fish it.

Use these tips as a starting point. The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation.

01

When to use it

  • When the local food form, size, water type, and target depth support the exact pattern or family member.
  • Use the linked river report as seasonal context, then verify what is present before choosing size and weight.
02

How to fish it

  • Start with a natural drift at the depth fish are using; add a controlled lift, swing, or short movement only when the food form supports it.
  • Adjust depth and drift before treating a bead color or hot spot as the deciding factor.
03

Mistakes to avoid

  • Treating every similarly colored fly as Pink Squirrel.
  • Letting a generic size, bead, jig, or dropper label erase the pattern's actual body profile and life-stage cues.

Common variations

Small changes can make a different fly.

Three reviewed technical illustrations show the identified profile, construction, and fishing orientation. Hook brand, bead mass, color, size, and regional tying choices remain labeled variables.

Reviewed identified form

The reviewed form uses a curved hook, gold bead, red wire rib, blended tan-gray squirrel body, bright pink chenille thorax, and sparse flash tail. Tail-less and differently beaded versions remain labeled variants.
Colors shown
tan-gray body, fluorescent pink thorax, gold bead, red rib
Weighting
Bead material, underbody weight, hook orientation, and rig weight determine sink rate; a family name does not.

Related patterns

Scud Fly Patterns ↗Sowbug and Cress Bug Patterns ↗Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph ↗

How this guide was checked

Fly information and photo sources.

Guide checked on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own source and usage record. Natural insects and hand-tied flies can vary in shape and proportion.

Pattern sources

Orvis NewsHow to Tie the Pink Squirrel Variant↗

Image credits