Trueblood Otter

[Old Hat]

I just photographed some of these for an article so I'll kick off this section with the Trueblood Otter. This is one of the longest running nymphs in my boxes.. A great searching pattern and excels as a sowbug or scud as originally designed.


Trueblood Otter Nymph aka Trueblood’s Shrimp aka Otter Shrimp. Ted Trueblood.
Hook: 3x heavy standard, #6-#14 (originally tied on Mustad 7948a)
Thread: tan
Tail: partridge fibers short
Body: a mix of otter underfur with guard hairs and a little bit of white or cream seal or simi-seal
Throat: partridge fibers short

[Jim Slattery]

Wow that's a beauty!
What is this article that you speak of? And more importantly , how does one get to read it?
Jim

[Old Hat]

Thanks Jim.

I put together an article for the blog Frankenfly. It covered three "old school" stillwater wets: the Sheep Creek Special, the Trueblood Otter and the Timberline Emerger. He only ran a partial of the Sheep Creek Special step by step. I thought he would run the write up and the other flies as well. I need to contact him. If he isn't going to use the other stuff I'll post it here.

[William Anderson]

Carl, I can see you doing very well with this. I haven't tied beard style nymphs but this is certainly a nice combination. Especially the dubbing blend. Very nice fly. I'm looking forward to seeing your article.

w

[Mataura mayfly]

Carl, can you explain your method of forming the beard or throat hackle in this pattern. Is it a bunch tied in place, or a wrapped hackle stroked down and caught in place with a couple of tight wraps?

[Old Hat]

Hi Jeff,
I tie in a bunch of stripped fibers underneath with the tips forward in the beginning steps. I then tie the fly and finish by pushing the fibers back, spreading them a bit with my fingers and tying them in place when I finish the head. That way they are folded back and I know they are secure.

[Kelly L.]

I had forgotten about this fly. I saved it in my bookmarks under fly recipes. The recipes are "to do" in the future. This fly is a beauty. You should be proud of it. I am going to have to try some of these. Thanks for sharing.