Wing Organza, burnt to shape in a wing burner (1 delta wing)
Wing markings Black permanent marker (blotched over the wing)
Hackle Grizzle, good quality (1 feather)
How to tie it
Mount a size 14 scud hook and lay a base of black 8/0 thread. The curved scud hook is chosen deliberately so the fly sits low in the water, the way the real insect does.
Run the thread back to just around the bend, but no further. You need to leave room for the hackle and for a short stubby body, and getting those proportions right is the whole trick.
Dub the MS Nymph Dub on tightly and wind a short, stubby, tapered body. The dub has rubbery legs in it which stick out and give the impression of an insect struggling in the film.
Snip off the excess fibres on top only, and leave the ones underneath sticking out as legs.
Stop and make the wing. Cut a small square of organza, put it in the wing burner and trim close around the burner first. Too much surplus material leaves lumps.
Run a lighter all the way around the burner to melt the organza off, which also seals the edges. Wet your fingers to cool it, and you are left with a clear delta wing.
Colour the wing in with the permanent marker, aiming for a blotchy pattern with a dark outline, similar to the real insect.
Lay the wing flat over the body and tie it in with pinch wraps, adding a couple of wraps behind as well so it sits up slightly. It wants to project well out over the back to give that delta-wing profile over the short stubby body.
Strip the base of the grizzle hackle and tie it in.
Wind the hackle forward in tight wraps with hackle pliers, leaving enough room to tie off at the front, then tie off and trim the stray fibres.
Put a smidgen of glue on the thread, take a couple of wraps and finish with a single whip finish.