Bodkin / Patterns

Crystal Stone

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

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL curved nymph hook (TMC 200R style), 4-10
  • Thread Black 6/0

Materials

  • Weight Lead-free (10-15 wraps)
  • Tail Black goose biots (1 pr, split)
  • Rib Black wire or mono (1 strand)
  • Abdomen Black with pearl (black crystal chenille / sparkle dubbing)
  • Wing case Pearl/black mylar (1 slip)
  • Thorax Black ostrich herl (crystal dubbing)
  • Legs/antennae Black goose biots (1 pr forward)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook, wrap 10-15 turns of lead-free wire over the thorax area, and start black thread.
  2. Split a pair of black goose biots as a forked tail about half a shank long.
  3. Tie in the rib wire and a strand of crystal chenille at the tail, then wrap the chenille forward over the rear two-thirds for a flashy segmented abdomen.
  4. Counter-wrap the wire forward in 5-6 open turns and tie off to lock the body and hint at segmentation.
  5. Bind a pearl mylar wing-case slip at the 65% mark, pointing rearward.
  6. Dub a fat black crystal thorax over the weighted area, then pull the wing case forward and bind it down.
  7. Split a second pair of biots forward at the eye as antennae, whip finish a black head and cement.

Tying videos

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