Bodkin / Patterns

Old School Chironomid Pupa

Nymph · Midge · Stillwater · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

BCFlyguys

  • Hook 2X long nymph hook
  • Thread rusty brown

Materials

  • Wing case and body Natural mottled turkey (turkey fibers)
  • Gills White uni stretch (Uni-Stretch, figure-eighted)
  • Thorax Pheasant tail (Ice Dub, wrapped as a ball)
  • Rib Red holographic flash (tinsel)
  • Finish (glue or resin)

How to tie it

  1. Start rusty brown thread at the front of a 2X long nymph hook and tie a bunch of turkey fibers in facing forward over the eye. These will fold back as the wing case, and mounting them first is how a beadless old school pupa gets its head.
  2. Figure-eight a strand of Uni-Stretch in behind the turkey so a gill tuft stands on each side, then dub a ball of pheasant tail Ice Dub for the thorax.
  3. Fold the turkey fibers back over the thorax ball to form the wing case, tie them down and start building the body taper behind them.
  4. Tie in red holographic tinsel and run it back to the rear, then add a second bunch of turkey fibers at the same point.
  5. Wind the turkey forward in touching turns to the thorax and tie it off, trimming the excess.
  6. Counter-wrap the red holographic tinsel forward for segmentation, tie it off, whip finish, trim the gills and coat the wraps with glue or resin.

Tying videos

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