Bodkin / Patterns

Blackburn Tellico Nymph

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook 2x-long nymph, #6-10
  • Thread Brown 70 denier

Materials

  • Lead-free wire Silver lead free wire (.015, wraps down most of the shank)
  • Saddle hackle fibers (tail) Brown saddle hackle (one good-sized clump)
  • Peacock herl (rib) Natural peacock herl (2 strands)
  • Turkey feather slip (shellback) Brown/mottled turkey feather slip (1 slip)
  • Dubbing (body) Dirty yellow (small amount (yellow mixed with squirrel or rabbit))
  • Hackle (palmered) Brown hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap.015 lead-free wire down most of the shank, then start brown thread and build a dam behind and in front of the wire before running the thread back to the bend.
  2. Tie in a clump of brown saddle hackle fibers for the tail, about one hook-gap long, and bind the butts down up to the wire.
  3. At the tail tie-in, catch in a slip of brown mottled turkey for the shellback, then tie in two strands of peacock herl for the rib.
  4. Wax the thread and dub a thin dirty-yellow body over the rear half of the shank only.
  5. Tie in a brown hackle feather at the midpoint, then continue dubbing the front half of the body up to just behind the eye.
  6. Wrap both peacock herl strands forward in 4-5 open turns over the whole body and tie off up front.
  7. Palmer the brown hackle 2-3 turns over the front half only and tie it off. Keep it sparse, just a hint of legs.
  8. Pull the turkey slip over the top as a shellback, secure it behind the eye with a couple of loose wraps then tight ones, and trim the excess.
  9. Build a smooth tapered head, whip finish 4-5 turns, and add a generous drop of head cement or UV resin.

Tying videos

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