This weeks interesting nymph pattern is brought to you by our hero Walt Dette and the recipe comes straight out of Eric Leisers' fantastic book, "The Dettes - A Catskill Legend". Of course, I have made a few changes to the original due to materials limitations (I tried my best to duplicate the shade and texture of the dubbing for the abdomen) and such! This nymph pattern is awesome even as a general attractor pattern and has fooled some dandy bluegills in our local ponds, down deep! Here we go!
Walt Dette's Isonychia Nymph (Side-view):
Here is a top down view of the fly pattern:
Here is a bottom-up view of the underside of the fly pattern:
Hook: Tmc 5263 3x long round bend nymph hook in sizes 10-16.
Thread: Danvilles 6/0 maroon(?) color. I am uncertain what Danvilles calls it....possibly Dark Sherry? It is a nice compliment to the color of the abdomen coming up shortly! Black can also be used without upsetting the apple cart!
Weight: .020 diameter on hook sizes 10 & 12. .015 diameter on hook sizes 14 & 16. The lead weighting is wound on right next to the tie in point of the tail fibers and carried almost to the eye of the hook and then back again about 4-5 turns to form a really pronounced thorax and some really heavy weight to carry this pattern to the bottom!
Tail: Three barbs from a cock pheasants tail! Take advantage of the natural curve of the barbs and tie them on sweeping gracefully upwards! Not too long!
Abdomen: Very dark maroon (or dark sherry) fur. I have settled in on Hareline Dubbin brand #47 Hendrickson Nymph. For those inclined (and I did try it but couldn't produce the shade that I wanted), see the dubbing recipe in Eric's book and mix it yourself! It's a blast!
Gills over abdomen: Dark brown ostrich herl reinforced with black tying thread and counterwound to the thorax!
Wingcase: Dark gray goose fibers from a wing feather of the same! Please let experience be your guide in making a realistic wing case! I like it to be triangle shaped! Try and keep the darker side of the fibers up! It looks better!
Thorax: Any dark gray, soft textured fur preferably with antron in the mix! The thorax should be a bit plump to accentuate the lead thorax already in place (lead wire)! We all know what antron does when mixed with just about any fur....shazaam!
Beard: Darkest Hungarian Partridge feather, no more than three turns, tied in by the tip, folded and secured with thread and then pulled downward under the thorax! Fibers not too long perhaps just brushing the hook point!
The final pattern may not look anything at all like the mature Iso Nymph but is a real killer pattern for me and I hope it is for you as well! I wish I would have payed more attention to the nymphs in the Willowemoc at Roscoe Rendezvous #1!
Enjoy and let me know what you think! And, if you have any questions, please ask!
Doug
, 
Doug, ... that has to be one of the best flies I've seen tyed on this or any other
