Method of Dressing Nymphs

Method of Dressing Nymphs comes from THE WAY OF A TROUT WITH A FLY by Skues, G. E. M. (George Edward Mackenzie), published in London, A. & C. Black, ltd. in 1921.  I found this brilliant plate while researching some traditional wet fly patterns.  I find inspiration in looking at old patterns and intrigued with the methods used to tie these pattens.  Enjoy the plate and description.

Plate II. METHOD OF DRESSING NYMPHS.
From a water-colour drawing by St. Barbe Goldsmith.

"Placing your hook—say, a Limerick No. 16—in your vice, begin whipping near the eye, and whip nearly halfway down the shank. Tie in here, with point towards head of hook, a bunch of six or eight fibres of feather of suitable colour, regulating the length so that when the fibre is bent over to the eye of the hook and tied down there will be enough of the points left to be pressed out on either side to represent the legs. Then pass the silk under the ends of the fibres of feather on the side of the bend of the hook, and whip on the bare hook to the tail; tie in two short, stout, soft whisks of suitable colour, tie in gold or silverwire, twirl on dubbing thinly, and wind to the place where the fibre is tied in; wind on the wire in regular spacing to the same point, and secure on the head side of the place where the fibre is tied in ; thicken the dubbing, and wind over roots of feather fibre to head. Then divide the points equally, and press backward from the eye; bring over the feather fibre to the head, tie it down with two turns, including a half-hitch, cut off the waste ends, and finish with a whip finish on the eye. Thus the legs are forced to stand out at right angles, or rather more backward, from the eye, and below the level of the hook shank, andthe effect of wing cases is produced. (See Plate II.)" –  Page126  THE WAY OF A TROUT WITH A FLY

Killer Bug Yarn

At the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ today I was able to get from one of the vendors Sawyer's Killer Bug Yarn.  This is not the original Chadwick's 477, but is the closest around. As you can see it is a tan yarn.

Rag Bug

The Rag Bug is my version of Frank Sawyer's Killer Bug. This is a excellent crane fly larvae imitation.

The original Killer Bug is tied with Chadwick 477 (good luck find any). There are some substitute's, Chadwicks 477 Substitute from (http://www.lathkill.com/shop/index.php?productID=1658) and 477 Killer Bug Yarn from (http://www.fishingmegastore.com/view.php?module=products&productID=2530).

Like me you may have a rag wool sweater that no longer fits. The color is simular to other crane fly larvae imitation most notably Walt's Worm tied with Hareline Hares Ear Plus #1. Both Walt's Worm and the Killer Bug are deadly patterns and dead simple to tie.

A simple image search of a crane fly larvae will show you how well this pattern imitates the natural.

Thread – .32 gauge Brown Parawire

Hook – TMC 2302 or any Nymph hook

Size 8-16

Body – Rag Wool

 1. Mash down barb and secure in vice.

 

2. Wind wire onto hook.  I use a dab of super glue to secure.

3. Secure Rag Wool and wind back.

4. Wind wire forward several wraps away from the hook eye.

 5. Wind Rag Wool forward and secure with 1-2 wraps.

 

6. Trim away the excess.

7. Whip finish with 2 - 3 turns, and break off the wire.

Sawyers Pheasant Tail Nymph - Tied with Parawire

Thread – .32 gauge Brown Parawire
Hook – TMC 2302 or any Nymph hook
Size 12-18
Body – Pheasant Tail Fibers

1. Mash down barb and secure in vice.

2. Wind wire onto hook. I use a dab of super glue.

This helps me to keep my wraps tight.

3. Secure pheasant tail fiber with 1-2 wraps.

4. Wrap fibers around the wire (creating a rope),
then wind forward.

5. Build a thorax with the wire, and tie in
additional fiber then wrap forward.

6. Pull fibers over for wing case (Forward).

7. Bring wire back with one turn and
pull fibers back over the wing case.

8. Whip finish 2- 3 turns, clip excess fibers, and your done.

Frank Sawyer Tying a Pheasant Tail Nymph and a Dry Fly

This footage of the creator of the Pheasant Tail Nymph has been up on YouTube for a year. With many great patterns less is more.

I don't know any one who doesn't have a American Pheasant Tails in their fly box.  I love patterns with peacock, but the original is worth tying.

For more information and videos on Frank Sawyer I recommend going to http://sawyernymphs.googlepages.com/videos