How to tie the Humpy Blob with Steve Cullen

You probably haven’t seen this fly before! While browsing other fly-tying channels for inspiration, Steve stumbled across this pattern and immediately set out to master it. The result? A quirky, eye-catching creation known as the Humpy Blob.

As the name suggests, the Humpy Blob is a playful twist on the classic Blob fly; a hugely popular trout lure designed more to provoke a reaction than to imitate a natural food source. Blobs are especially effective on stillwaters and remain a firm favourite on the competition scene.

What truly sets this variation apart, however, is the way it’s constructed. Instead of tying the full pattern directly onto the hook, the distinctive “hump” is first created on a needle, allowing the foam and fritz body to be shaped cleanly and precisely. Once this pre-formed blob is slid off the needle and secured to the hook, additional complementary-coloured fritz is added to bulk it up and boost its visibility. The end result is a fuller, more vibrant lure with an exaggerated silhouette, almost mimicking the shape of a snail.