FLYMPH FORUM

This pattern was responsible for roughly 80% of the fish I took out of the Madison River in June 2014, so it works as well as a PMD as it does as a Sulfur. I was fishing it on the point below a soft hackle dropper in a two-fly rig.
Based on the opinions of some really good fishermen friends of mine, and borne out by my own experience, one of the keys to a successful nymph pattern is a dark and slightly bulging wing case. This, in many important species, is characteristic of the nymphs right before the wing case splits to release the wings.

Hook: Light wire dry fly hook, Sizes #14 - #18
Thread: Uni 8/0, rusty brown
Tail: Lemon wood duck
Rib: Fine copper wire
Abdomen: Pheasant tail fibers as herl
Wing case: Black turkey or crow tail slips, doubled

tie2fish, Howdy;

Mr. Bill, that's one good lookin' fly.
Is the Thorax material a secret (?),or do you find that any old yellow
material will function well ?

hank

Bill, recently I reproduced a few of these from flies you passed to me this summer. I don't mean to pester and I could figure it out with some trial but I've learned that reproducing your patterns is a study of the details. I like the longer than "natural" tails and legs. I'm sure most yellow dubbing will work fine, but as with your emergers and comparaduns, I assumed a superfine synthetic dubbing. Curious about your thread selection and hook choice. I know that's some specific detail but your flies are not as easy to copy as I thought.

This is a beaut.

Very well done Bill.
I will have to test yours, and others theory about the dark wing case.

I am interested why you chose a dry fly hook for your nymph. In a two fly set-up were you not allowing the nymph to drag bottom? Were you fishing it closer to the surface as an emerger?

I am not able to use fine wire hooks when I nymph from top to bottom. Inevitably I will snag a stick or rock and bend the light wire hook. I end up spending more time changing flies than fishing. The exception is the Tiemco 200 hook. It is light wire but I seem to put up with it bending none the less. No reason why but I do.

I use to tie some PT nymphs using light hares ear, or light Yellow Haretron for the thorax. For the life of me I do not know why I stopped. Your pattern reminded me of that. They are not nearly as extravagant as your pattern but they did work at times. I better put a few in the fly box.

Great pattern and great technique Bill.

hankaye wrote:tie2fish, Howdy;

Mr. Bill, that's one good lookin' fly.
Is the Thorax material a secret (?),or do you find that any old yellow
material will function well ?

hank

Pretty much, Hank, although I do like just a touch of orange or amber in it. William is right about the stuff on this particular fly -- it is light yellow Hareline Superfine with a little bit of sulfur orange in it.

As for hook choice, I like the light hook for a couple of reasons: the water I fish most often is relatively shallow and also because I like this pattern to ride up in the water column just prior to and during the early part of the hatch. If for some reason I need to get it down, I do (gasp) carry a box of split shot.

Bill, your friends and yourself are correct re: the wingcase's and the expansion/darkening. Thing to think about though, the darkening is a darkening of the natural- more that say tying a black wingcase on a normally grey thorax skinned nymph. Least thats the way it is with our locals.
This is why I like and fish the heck out of Pogo Nymphs with the foam wingcase.

By the way, very elegant looking nymph.

Dear Bill,
This nymph is fantastic! Your attention to detail is exceptional and your craftsmanship is just.....out of this world crazy good! I also like that it can cover quite well both nymphs from two seperate and distinct species! Incredible Bill!
You're our hero....always have been!
Dougsden

Hi Bill,

I like this pheasant tail nymph very much, did not believe there could be another variation.

Well done!!!


Greeting


Ruard

Bill,

That's a fantastic looking Sulphur pattern. Nice details, and no surprise that it is such an effective patter, Welll done, as always, sir!

Best,

Tim

Beautiful fly Bill. Has the looks and features of a Skues' Nymph.