Fuzzy nymph

 

This is just a great all round nymph. Whilst this nymph is not tied to represent the nymphal (sub imago or pupa) stage of any specific insect it is a good "buggy" looking fly and readily accepted by trout. Tie it in black, brown, dark olive, claret as well as Red Tag and  Adams or  Hare & Copper colours and carry a larger (size #10) and smaller (size #14) version of each.

Materials

 

Hook Thread Tail Rib Weight Body, thorax & legs Wing casing
Size 10  & 14 long shank (Knapek N or Tiemco 3761 SPL) To suit body Feather fibres Fine copper wire Lead wire if required Dubbing Pheasant tail fibres or rubber shrimp back

Process

 

A
  1. Wind the thread in touching turns to the bend of the hook.
  2. Tie in a tail equal 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the hook shank. Resist the temptation to make the tail too bulky and too long.
  3. Tie in a length of copper wire.
  4. If you going to add weight to the fly now is the time to do it. One of the easiest ways is to use lead wire. Wind the lead wire around the hook shank placing it as far forward as possible. This will enhance the swimming action of the fly.
  5. Wind the thread forward and then back over the lead to secure it in position. You can also add a drop of head varnish if you like.
  6. There are of course other ways of adding weight to a fly.

 

B
  1. Dub on a body starting at almost nothing and gradually increasing in width along the back half of the fly.
  2. Wind the copper wire along the body of the fly forming 5 or 6 segments.
  3. Tie the copper wire off at the half way point and worry the excess copper wire off.

 

C
  1. Tie in the back material directly in front of the body.

 

D
  1. Hold the back material out of the way and dub on the thorax making it about 50% thicker than the thickest part of the body.
  2. Pull the back material over the top of the fly and whilst holding it tight and in place tie it off just behind the eye of the hook.
  3. Trim the excess back material whip finish and varnish the thread head.

 

E
  1. Using a piece of male Velcro as shown in the previous image tease out the dubbing fibres to represent the legs of the fly.