This fly has been a secret sauce for me for some time now. When fishing for picky fish, this fly tends to turn the tables for me. I see it as a super life-like clinger nymph imitation, but I can’t speak for the fish.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Begin by securing your hook in the vise. Add your thread using locking wraps. For flies in the 16 – 22 range, I prefer an 8/0 or 70 denier red thread. This leaves a nice finishing collar on the fly.
Add the tail securing part of a CDL feather to the hook shank. Select the feather from a patch of CDL. Strip some of the barbles from the stem. Keep the tips aligned. If needed, stack the material in a hair stacker. Save the butt ends for the wing case later on.
Add in the ribbing material. In this case, I am using some UTC gold wire in small sizes to match the size 16 being tied. This should be adjusted with the fly size. Secure along the shank and leave for use later in the tying process.
Begin dubbing the body. Using SLF Squirrel dubbing, create a tight dubbing noodle and wrap forward along the hook shank. Taper the body forward to create a realistic profile for this nymph pattern. Stop short at least three hook eye lengths back to segment the thorax from the abdomen.
Build the wing casing using more CDL. Using the saved butt ends. Secure them to the hook with tight wraps at the front end of the abdomen and rear of the thorax.
Add more dubbing and dub the thorax of the bug. On this fly, I am using SLF Squirrel Gray to create a little more segmentation to the fly. Continue the taper as you wrap forward. Once the dubbing is secured up to the hook eye, pull the CDL over top and secure it into place. Trim off the excess clean.
Add the legs! I prefer to do this sparingly, even though it can be combined into one process when adding the wing case. Similar to how you may have seen Pheasant Tails tied. When selecting a bundle from a feather, keep in mind that CDL is very fine. After selecting a bundle, tie it in on either side of the fly, extending well past the wing casing. Do this on both sides, whip finish, and you are done!
Recipe:
- Hook – Tiemco 3761
- Thread – UTC 70 Denier Red
- Tail – Coq De Leon Dark Pardo
- Abdomen – SLF Natural Squirrel Dubbing
- Ribbing – Small Gold Wire
- Thorax – SLF Gray Squirrel Dubbing
- Legs/Casing – Coq De Leon Dark Pardo
Leave a Reply