Do you like nymph patterns with “markings out the wazoo”? Then Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions has a pattern for you! As you can see in the photo above, natural mayfly nymphs are often quite mottled, with lots of light and dark parts–just like a wood-duck flank feather. Tim explains that this is why he uses so much wood duck in his nymph patterns.
In this great video, Tim shows you how to create a gorgeous little mayfly-nymph imitation, using three different parts of a single wood-duck flank feather. The only other ingredients on the hook are the tying thread, some gold wire, a skosh of dubbing. Some of Tim’s trick include using the thread to keep wraps of hackle fibers tight together, having a single clump of fibers serve as both legs and wingcase, and using the thread to clear the eye of wayward butt ends at the end.
Wood Duck Nymph
Hook: 2X-long nymph hook (here, a Fulling Mill FM50 85), size 16.
Thread: Tan, 6/0 or 70-denier.
Tails: Wood-duck flank feather tip.
Rib: Gold Ultra Wire, small.
Body: Wood-duck flank feather fibers.
Legs/Wingcase: Wood-duck flank feather fibers .
Thorax: Natural hare’s mask dubbing.
Head: Tying thread.
Adhesive: Head cement or Sally Hansen Hard-As-Nails.