Bodkin / Patterns

Graffam's Hustler

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Jig nymph hook (60-degree eye), 12-18
  • Thread Tan or brown 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Bead Copper or gold slotted tungsten (1, sized to hook)
  • Tail Coq de Leon (speckled tan) (6-8 fibers)
  • Rib Copper thorax stripe (fine wire)
  • Body Hare's ear / natural (spiky dubbing)
  • Collar Natural dun wing bud (1-2 CDC feathers in a loop)

How to tie it

  1. Seat the slotted tungsten bead at the jig eye and start thread behind it.
  2. Tie in a short coq de Leon tail about half a shank long and bind the copper wire in at the same point.
  3. Dub a slim, spiky hare's-ear body forward to just short of the bead.
  4. Counter-wrap the copper wire forward in 4-5 open turns and tie off to rib and reinforce the body.
  5. Spin one or two CDC feathers in a dubbing loop to build a soft, buggy collar; the CDC traps bubbles like an emerger.
  6. Wrap the CDC collar behind the bead, sweep the fibers back, and tie down.
  7. Whip finish behind the bead and pick out the body so it breathes.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie.

Tying videos

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