Bodkin / Patterns

Grease Top Sowbug

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 4 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Scud/curved nymph hook, 14-20
  • Thread Gray 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Bead Silver/copper tungsten bead (1, sized to hook (optional))
  • Rib Silver or copper material (fine wire (optional))
  • Body Gray/sowbug dubbing (spiky dubbing)
  • Back/Shell Clear head cement (UV resin coat)

How to tie it

  1. Add the tungsten bead if using and start thread behind it, laying a base to the bend.
  2. Tie in the fine wire rib at the bend if you want segmentation.
  3. Dub a slim, spiky gray body forward, keeping it flat and buggy rather than round.
  4. If ribbing, spiral the wire forward in 4-5 even turns and tie off.
  5. Pick out the belly dubbing so it looks leggy underneath.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead.
  7. Run a thin bead of UV resin along the top and cure it to form a shiny greased-back shell.

Other versions

3 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 1, Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 2, Bead Head.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns