The Bird’s Nest is a classic nymph tied by Californian Cal Bird almost 60 years ago. In this latest how-to video from Tightline Productions, Tim Flagler adapts the old pattern to create a sulfur emerger that is easy to tie and looks super buggy. Try this fly before the fish start feeding on duns, or drop it off the back of a dun as part of a tandem rig. Trout love few things more than a struggling emerger that can’t fly away.
Bird’s Nest Sulphur Emerger
Hook: 3X-long nymph hook (here, a Dai-Riki #285), sizes 14-18.
Thread: Wood duck or yellow, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Collar: Wood-duck flank-feather fibers.
Rib: Copper wire, small.
Tails: Wood-duck flank-feather tips.
Abdomen: Rusty brown Australian possum dubbing.
Thorax: Yellow beaver dubbing.
Head: Tying thread.
Tools: Bodkin.
Thanks Tim for another great video instruction on how to tie an awesome pattern. For other viewers, this “old school” looking fly is incredibly effective. I have also used it at a streamer fly imitating the tiny rainbow and cutthroat fry that inhabit shallow bank water in July-September.
Cal Bird was a a great fly tyer and one of the sweetest men I ever met.