Bodkin / Patterns

Matchstick Quill Jig

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Jig nymph hook, 14-16
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Slotted tungsten bead Gun metal (3.5-3.8mm)
  • Cock (rooster) hackle fibers (tail) Black mayfly tail fibers
  • Peacock quill, stripped (body) Dyed olive peacock quill stripped
  • Holographic tinsel, medium (hot spot) Red holographic tinsel
  • UV resin (body coat)
  • CDC feather (collar) Dun / grey cdc feather

How to tie it

  1. Slide a gun-metal slotted tungsten bead (about 3.5-3.8mm) onto the jig hook and mount it. Start black thread just behind the bead and wrap down the shank to the bend.
  2. For the tail, tie in a few black cock-hackle fibers bent up to about 90 degrees, a bit shorter than the body length.
  3. Tie in a strand of olive-dyed stripped peacock quill at the bend. Wrap the thread forward to shape a smooth body base, then wind the quill forward in touching turns up to just behind the bead and tie off; trim the excess.
  4. Tie in a strand of medium red holographic tinsel just behind the bead and take three or four wraps to form a red hot-spot collar in the neck; tie off.
  5. Half-hitch, then coat the quill body with UV resin, spreading it evenly with a needle, and cure with a UV light.
  6. Re-attach the thread behind the bead. Wax and split the thread, insert a dun/grey CDC feather into the split, close the loop and spin it into a CDC brush; wind it as a collar, stroke the fibers back, and tie off so the red hot spot shows in the middle.
  7. Whip finish and varnish the thread head.

Tying videos

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