Bodkin / Patterns

Crystal Dip Bead

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook (e.g. TMC 100), 16-20
  • Thread Tan 70 denier (UTC)

Materials

  • Pearl Flashabou (or mylar) Pearl flashabou (a couple of strands (body))
  • Copper wire Copper wire (fine (rib))
  • Bleached elk or deer hair White/bleached elk or deer hair (~a dozen fibers (wing))

How to tie it

  1. On a size 16-20 standard dry-fly hook (TMC 100), start tan 70-denier thread and tie in a length of fine copper wire at the front, binding it down the near side of the shank all the way to the bend.
  2. Tie in a couple of strands of pearl Flashabou (or mylar) at the bend for the body, then advance the thread forward and stop about a quarter-shank behind the eye.
  3. Wrap the Flashabou forward, overlapping as needed to build a slightly tapered body, and tie it off at the front.
  4. Counter-wrap the copper wire forward over the body in open spiral turns to rib it and lock the mylar down; capture the wire with thread and helicopter or trim it off.
  5. Cut, clean and stack a small clump (about a dozen fibers) of bleached elk or deer hair and tie it in at the front as a wing, trimming it to about two-thirds of the shank length.
  6. Take a few wraps to seat the wing and form a small tapered head (leave it shaggy if you prefer), then whip finish.

Tying videos

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