Video: How to Tie a Wood Duck Nymph

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.

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