Bodkin / Patterns

Copper Swan

Nymph · Salmon/Steelhead · Steelhead · Salmon · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL, 2X-heavy nymph hook, 6-10
  • Thread Black 140 denier

Materials

  • Bead Hot orange or copper bead (large tungsten, sized to hook)
  • Weight Lead-free wire (6-8 turns of .020)
  • Tail Brown permanent marker (2 goose biots)
  • Abdomen Black and copper material (two colors of brassie wire wrapped together)
  • Legs Brown silly legs nymph size (round rubber legs)
  • Wing case Black floss (thin skin strip)
  • Thorax Peacock or black herl (peacock herl or dubbing)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the hot bead to the eye, mount the hook, and wrap 6-8 turns of lead into the back of the bead for a fast sink.
  2. Start thread and tie in two brown biots splayed for the tail, one shank length long.
  3. Bind in both wires together and wrap them forward as a pair to the 55% mark, building a bold two-tone abdomen; tie off and snip.
  4. Tie in a pair of rubber legs on each side, angled back.
  5. Tie in a strip of black thin skin pointing rearward for the wing case.
  6. Wrap a plump peacock or dubbing thorax up to the bead, working around the leg roots.
  7. Pull the thin skin forward over the thorax, bind behind the bead, and whip finish.

Tying videos

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