Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version
Reference Recipe
Hook 1XL nymph, down-eye (e.g. TMC 5262), 12-16
Thread Black 8/0 (70 denier)
Materials
Bead Gold bead (1, sized to hook)
Goose biots (tail) Brown goose biots (2)
Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (2-3 strands)
Wire rib Gold wire (fine, 1 strand)
Hen hackle (collar) Pink hen hackle (1 feather)
Goose biots (wings) White goose biots (2)
How to tie it
Slide a gold bead small-hole-first onto the hook, seat it behind the eye, then start thread behind the bead and blanket the shank back to the barb.
Tie in two brown goose biots at the bend as a split V tail, one hook-gap long and curving apart; a drop of glue locks the splay.
Bind a length of fine gold wire at the tail, then catch in 2-3 peacock herls; twist the herls into a rope and wrap forward to the 75% mark, tie off and snip.
Counter-wrap the wire forward 4-5 evenly spaced turns to armor the fragile herl, then helical-lock and break off the tag.
Wind a pink hen hackle 2 turns as a collar, sweep the fibers down and back and pin them as a throat beard. The pink is what marks this as the Queen.
Tie two white goose biots flat over the back in a shallow V, tips reaching the hook point and curving up.
Build a small thread head against the bead, whip finish, and add one drop of head cement.