Nymph · Stillwater · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version
BCFlyguys
Hook size 10 hook, 10
Thread rusty brown 70 denier
Materials
Shellback / head (Scud Back tied in facing forward)
Eyes (melted 30 lb mono eyes, 1/8 inch wide)
Rib Gold middle (brassy sized wire)
Body Rusty brown (dubbing)
Legs Natural rubber legs (pheasant tail, 7-8 fibers each side)
How to tie it
Start rusty brown thread at the front and tie a length of Scud Back in facing forward over the eye. Laying it straight now means it folds back cleanly over the head at the end.
Melt a pair of mono eyes from 30 lb mono, sized about 1/8 inch wide, let them cool, and lock them in behind the Scud Back with tight figure-eights and gathering wraps. Dragons have prominent bug eyes and this is where the whole profile starts.
Tie the gold wire in and run it to the rear, then dub the body slim at the back, widest around the 75% mark, and tapering forward. Profile is the important part of any dragon. Get the silhouette right and the fish will forgive the rest.
Counter-wrap the gold wire forward for segmentation and tie it off behind the eyes.
Tie seven or eight pheasant tail fibers in on each side for legs, reaching back to about the end of the body. Do not be shy. A leggy, buggy look is what you want.
Dub over the leg butts, figure-eight around the mono eyes to build a bulbous head, then pull the Scud Back over, tie it down and whip finish there so you can glue the wraps and leave a pronounced break between head and body.
Cut a small notch into the trailing Scud Back wing so it looks less blunt, and give the body a haircut if it is too shaggy. Though the fish will not mind if it is buggy.