Tail: Mallard Flank (or Wood Duck)
Rib: X-fine copper wire
Body: Light and dark tan rabbit dubbing
Wing: Treated turkey wing feather
Gills: Mallard Flank (or Wood Duck)
Hook: size 14-18 2x long nymph hook
Thread: 8/0 tan or grey
This pattern is an excellent pattern to be used year round. It is fished as a dead drift pattern and, due to it’s small profile and weight, is my most common choice as the dropper in a tandem rig.
Step 1: Lead the hook for weight and body form. Should use fine lead wire (.015) and use 6-8 wraps on just less than half the front of the hook.
Step 2: Tie in a pinch of mallard flank fibers approximately the length of the hook shank, and then tie in the copper ribbing. This is to be done at the back of the hook shank. NOTE: Be sure to give the thread an extra wrap or two creating a ‘thread bump’ before tying in the tail to prevent an unnatural downward angle. This is especially important on dry flies, but a nice touch most of the time there is a tail to a fly.
Step 3: Dub forward, with the lighter tan dubbing, up to the lead and then wrap the ribbing at even interval 4-5 wraps. Tie in the turkey wing fibers and then continue the dubbing forward with the darker tan dubbing,
Step 4: Tie in a pinch of mallard flank on either side of the hook shank. The length should be approximately three quarters that length of the hook shank.
Step 5: Bring the turkey feather forward and tie in with a pinch of dubbing, and whip finish.
Fly pattern by Mike Schmidt
URL for this web page is http://centralohioflyfishers.org/hennynymph.htm