RIOs Beard Louse

RIO Beard Louse | Subtle Realism for Stillwater & Coastal Trout

The RIO Beard Louse is a hyper-realistic, downsized fly that imitates freshwater shrimp (scuds), lice, and other tiny aquatic invertebrates — the kind of small, protein-rich prey that big trout love to feed on when they're cruising shallow flats, lakebeds, or estuaries. Designed with subtle translucency, fine legs, and a buggy profile, this fly is deadly when fish are dialed into the small stuff.

Whether you're fishing it under an indicator or on a slow hand-twist retrieve, the Beard Louse excels in stillwater environments like Alberta’s pothole lakes or shallow back-eddies on spring creeks. It’s also surprisingly effective in light saltwater conditions — including estuaries and tidal zones where sea-run trout and cutthroat pick off amphipods and lice.