Nymph · Trout · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version
Tyer Recipe
Hook Curved shank nymph hook (a straight shank works fine), #12-16
Thread Black (or a bright colour for a hot spot) 70 denier
Materials
Tungsten bead Gold bead (One, 2.8 mm to match the hook)
Lead-free wire, 0.015 Silver lead free wire (About six wraps)
Cactus chenille (also sold as ice, crystal or tinsel chenille), medium Any bright colour, olive, green, purple, orange, yellow, blue cactus chenille also sold as ice crystal or tinsel chenille medium (One length for the body)
Antron yarn White poly yarn (A folded tuft for the wing)
How to tie it
Slide a 2.8 mm tungsten bead onto a #12 curved shank hook, add about six wraps of 0.015 wire, jam them up into the back of the bead and break off the tag.
Start black thread behind the weight and smooth out the step between the wire and the bare shank, then wrap back around the bend.
Tie in the cactus chenille at the rear, then run the thread forward in touching turns right up behind the bead. The dyed thread core of the chenille also colours the underbody as you wrap the body over it.
Wrap the cactus chenille forward in touching turns to just behind the bead and tie it off; there is no need to trim the ends the way you would with standard chenille.
Cut a length of white Antron, fold it in half so the wing is half as thick as the finished bundle, and tie the fold in right behind the bead.
Fold the yarn back over itself and lock it with two or three wraps.
Whip finish behind the bead.
Brush the wing out with a dubbing brush, then trim it to about one body length, cutting at the bend since it will spring back up.