Bodkin / Patterns

Shaggin Dragon

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL curved-shank nymph hook, 8-12
  • Thread Olive 6/0

Materials

  • Eyes Black mono or bead-chain (1 pair)
  • Lead-free wire Silver lead free wire (8-10 turns)
  • Tail Olive/brown marabou (1 short clump)
  • Body dubbing Olive-brown shaggy seal/Ice blend (1 pinch)
  • Rib Copper wire (1 strand)
  • Legs / hackle Brown partridge or webby hen (1 feather)
  • Wing case Mottled brown Thin Skin or turkey (1 strip)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a wire underbody over the middle of the shank to give the broad-bodied nymph its heft.
  2. At the bend tie in a short stub of marabou for the tail, no longer than a hook gap, since a dragon nymph is stubby.
  3. Bind in the copper rib and the wing-case strip at the bend.
  4. Dub a fat, wide, distinctly shaggy body forward to the 70% mark, keeping it broad and flat-looking, then rib it with 5-6 open turns of copper and tie off.
  5. Tie the mono or bead-chain eyes across the shank at the 80% mark with figure-8 wraps.
  6. Sweep a partridge feather to fold legs back along each side and bind.
  7. Pull the wing case over the thorax and eyes and lock it behind the hook eye, dub a small collar to hide the wraps, whip finish, and cement; pick out the body so it breathes.

Tying videos

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