Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version
Lucian Vasies
Hook Demmon N01 BL, 14
Thread Tyer's choice Sumo Power 50 denier
Materials
Bead Gold bead (3mm classic tungsten)
Tail Pardo (Coq de Leon barbs)
Body Rusty brown (goose biot)
Thorax Natural case (Mad Rabbit Dubbing)
Hot spot Hot orange arctic fox (Grip 10/0 thread)
How to tie it
Bead the N01 with a 3mm gold tungsten and start the Sumo thread behind it, running back to the bend.
Tie in a short Coq de Leon pardo tail, about half a shank long, keeping it sparse so the barbs stay stiff and splayed.
Tie in a rusty brown goose biot by the tip and wrap it forward to the 65% mark with the notched edge trailing, so each turn leaves a hard rib. This is the whole point of the fly: a biot body is far more durable than the pheasant tail barbs it replaces, and it still gives you natural segmentation.
Dub a compact natural Mad Rabbit thorax over the front of the body, leaving room behind the bead.
Switch to hot orange Grip 10/0 and build a small hot spot collar directly behind the bead, then whip finish. Using a fine 10/0 thread here keeps the collar bright but tiny.
Fish it as a searching nymph anywhere you would fish a pheasant tail.