Bodkin / Patterns

RIO's Knotty Zirdle

Nymph · Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 4XL streamer/nymph hook, 4-8
  • Thread black 140 denier

Materials

  • Tungsten bead (or lead wire underbody) Gold tungsten bead (1 (sized to hook))
  • Lead-free wire Natural lead wire (10-15 turns)
  • Rabbit or pine squirrel zonker strip Olive/black rabbit or pine squirrel zonker strip (1 strip)
  • Variegated chenille Olive-black variegated chenille (1 length)
  • Round rubber or sili legs, barred Brown/orange round rubber legs barred (2 pairs)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the bead to the eye, then wrap 10-15 turns of lead behind it and shove them into the bead to lock it and get the fly diving. Start thread behind the lead and lay a base back to the bend.
  2. Bind a zonker strip on top at the bend so the tail rides one shank length past the hook for the streamer wag, then tie in the chenille at the same point and let both hang rearward.
  3. Tie in the first pair of rubber legs at the one-third mark, figure-8'd so one leg sits on each side; add the second pair at the two-thirds mark. Leave them overlong and trim later.
  4. Wrap the chenille forward, taking a turn behind, between, and in front of each leg pair so the wraps splay the legs out to the sides. Stop a bead's width short of the eye and tie off.
  5. Pull the zonker strip forward over the top as a back, part the fur so it lies flat, and bind it down tight behind the bead. Snip the excess.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead and cement. Trim each of the four legs to about one shank length.

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