Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version
Lucian Vasies
Hook Demmon N01 BL, 16
Thread Brown Sumo Power 50 denier
Materials
Bead Copper bead (tungsten bead)
Tail Pardo (Coq de Leon barbs)
Body Purple arctic fox (Atomic strip)
Thorax Brown permanent marker (Sumo thread)
Coating Clear head cement (UV resin)
How to tie it
Bead the size 16 N01 with a copper tungsten and start the Sumo 50 denier thread behind it, running a smooth base to the bend.
Tie in a short, sparse Coq de Leon tail at the bend.
Cut the Atomic strip narrower than it comes and taper the leading end at an angle before tying it in. Vasies is specific about this, a full-width strip builds a lumpy body on a size 16, and the angled start lets the first turn blend in instead of stepping up.
Wrap the strip forward in tight, slightly overlapping turns to just behind the bead and tie off.
Build a small brown Sumo thread thorax directly behind the bead, whip finish, then coat the body in UV resin and cure. The resin locks the strip down and adds the glassy finish that makes the UV-reflective purple pop.
Fish it deep in cold water, especially after a short rain, where the purple gives a strong contrast against a coloured river.