Swimming Nymph

[letumgo]

Swimming Nymph
Hook - Gaelic Supreme "Hidden Bend Rudder Hook" / Size 12 (or smaller)
Thread - UTC 70 Denier Ultra Thread (Wood Duck)
Hackle - Whiting Hen ("Sunny Dun/Pale Honey Dun)
Tail - Wood Duck Flank
Rear Body - Nature Spirits Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing (Tan/No. 7)
Front Body - same dubbing in split thread



















ADDITION - TYING SEQUENCE FOR INNER WEIGHTED VERSION:



The body of the fly is dubbed from the back to the middle, then from the front to the middle. This helps form the taper of the body (use a tapered dubbing noodle) and places the hook mid-shank to secure the hackle. Wrap the hackle back towards the awaiting thread, then wind the thread forward thru the hackle, reinforcing the stem.





The body of these flies are tyed with muskrat fur. One is tyed with the sunny dun hen hackle, the other is tyed with grizzly hackle dyed coachman brown (JimCo hen hackle).

[Variant]

Great job Ray!
I really like the color combination, was that the cape you purchased from Jim a little while back?

Lou

[letumgo]

Thanks Lou. Yes, this is the same hen neck I bought from Jim. The color is listed simply as "Variant", but based on feedback from Dana it is actually an pale honey dun. The tips of the hackle are very blond in color (why I've called it a sunny dun). Lovely feathers, which seemed to harmonize well with this pattern.

[DOUGSDEN]

Wow Ray!
These are really beautiful patterns, all of them! I am particularly fond of the muskrat versions both light and dark! I also like how you have wound the hackles over the front 1/3 (the hidden bend) of the pattern!
D.

[Roadkill]

Ray, I love the fly and the color combinations. I have experimented with keel hooks with good results, but my favorite application was Popovic's Schoolie for salt water.

[letumgo]

Bill - These hooks are quite small (size 12), which is why I used them for trout fly patterns. Had they been larger, I could see them being ideal for weedless streamer patterns.

I've tyed bendback minnow patterns on curved keel hooks in the past, and really liked fishing them slow and deep.

[DOUGSDEN]

Ray,
I'm loving this minnow pattern a bunch too! It is screaming....Smallmouth, Smallmouth! And, I don't think the Largemouth will reject it either! Great patterns friend! This is what keeps you at the top of your game!
Doug

[jcwillow777]

Ray, those are some great looking flies! You always do such a nice job on your tutorials for tying them too.

[Johnno]

Nice.
Do you have any issues with the gape being reduced by the keel?

[letumgo]

John,

I’ve not fished these yet, but Wayne has. Perhaps he can comment on this.