Bodkin / Patterns

Little Olive

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard nymph hook, 16-20
  • Thread Olive 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Bead (optional) Black or copper slotted tungsten bead (1, sized to hook)
  • Hackle fibers or pheasant tail (tail) Olive / natural tailing fibers (4-5 fibers)
  • Fine wire rib Copper wire (1 length)
  • Olive dubbing (abdomen) Olive ice dub (small pinch)
  • Olive dubbing (thorax) Dark olive dubbing (small pinch)
  • Wingcase (optional) Dark wingcase strip (1 slip)

How to tie it

  1. Seat the bead if using and lay a thread base to the bend.
  2. Tie in a short soft tail of olive fibers, about half a shank long, and bind a fine copper wire rib in at the same point.
  3. Dub a slim tapered olive abdomen forward over the back two-thirds, then rib it with 5-6 open counter-wraps of wire and tie off.
  4. Optionally tie in a dark wingcase slip pointing rearward.
  5. Dub a slightly fuller dark-olive thorax, fold the wingcase forward over it if used, and secure behind the bead.
  6. Whip finish and add a drop of cement.

Tying videos

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