Bodkin / Patterns

Carpet Bug

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard scud/nymph hook, 16-18
  • Thread Orange 8/0

Materials

  • Shellback Silver holographic ice dub (Holographic tinsel)
  • Rib Silver metal tape (Fine ultra wire)
  • Body Grey or tan material (Sowbug/scud dubbing)
  • Head Orange permanent marker (Thread hot spot)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lay a thread base, leaving the rear of the shank exposed.
  2. Tie a strand of holographic tinsel flat on top of the shank for the shellback.
  3. Tie in fine wire along the side of the shank for the rib.
  4. Dub a plump body from the bend to the eye, keeping it segmented and buggy.
  5. Pull the tinsel forward over the top as a shellback and bind it just behind the eye.
  6. Rib the wire forward in 5-6 evenly spaced turns to segment the body and lock the shellback, then helicopter off the tag.
  7. Build an orange thread head, whip finish, and pick out a few side fibers with a bodkin to suggest legs.

Tying videos

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