Tail: Mallard Flank (or Wood Duck)
Rib: X-fine copper wire
Body: Light and dark tan rabbit dubbing
Wing: Light Dun CDC 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 around the Hendrickson hatch. It is fished primarily as a dead drift pattern, but if the fish are not hitting it at the surface a slight tug sends it sub-surface, and if done at the right moment can induce a strike.
Step 1: Thread the body for extra form. NOTE: This is an opportunity to use clipping from other patterns to build the body and save thread.
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. Then dub forward a few wraps of the darker tan dubbing.
Step 4: Tie the CDC feather in on the top of the hook and in the center.
Step 5: 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). Tie them off with a pinch of dubbing and whip finish.
Fly pattern by Mike Schmidt
URL for this web page is http://centralohioflyfishers.org/hennynymphemerger.htm