Bodkin / Patterns

Sexy Hex Nymph

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL curved-shank nymph hook, 8-10
  • Thread Tan 6/0

Materials

  • Bead (optional) Gold bead (1, 7/64")
  • Tail / gills Tan or gold ostrich herl (3-4 fibers)
  • Lead-free wire underbody Silver lead free wire (8-10 turns)
  • Abdomen dubbing Amber/golden Hexagenia (1 pinch)
  • Gill fringe Tan ostrich herl or marabou (1 strand)
  • Flashback / wing case Pearl mylar (1 strip)
  • Thorax dubbing Amber dubbing (1 pinch)
  • Legs Brown partridge (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the bead to the eye if using, then lay a wire underbody over the front 60% of the shank to give the nymph its weight and burrowing sink rate; bind it and start thread behind it.
  2. At the bend tie in a sparse clump of ostrich herl tips one gap length long for the tail; keep it wispy, this is a soft gilled nymph not a stiff one.
  3. Tie in a strand of ostrich herl and a strip of pearl mylar at the bend, leaving both hanging to the rear.
  4. Dub a slim tapered abdomen forward to the 65% mark, keeping it half as thick as you think, then palmer the ostrich herl forward over it in 5-6 open turns to suggest gills and tie off.
  5. Pull the pearl mylar over the top as a flashback to the 65% mark and bind it, leaving the tag to become the wing case.
  6. Dub a fatter thorax forward to just behind the bead, stopping short so you have room to finish.
  7. Sweep a partridge feather's fibers to each side as legs and bind, then pull the mylar tag over the thorax as a wing case and lock it down.
  8. Whip finish behind the bead, snip, and add a drop of head cement.

Tying videos

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