Re: A March Brown Nymph??
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 3:28 pm
March Brown Nymph....my version!
Hook: TMC 3761 size 10-16
Thread: Uni-thread 8/0 Camel
Lead: Appx. 12 wraps of .015 lead or lead substitute
with a generous coat of clear head cement.
Body (thorax/abdomen): A pre-spun body of Wapsi brand S.L.F. "Squirrel Spikey Dubbing" in Natural Fox Squirrel between Pearsalls Orange Silk. I made these on my Richard Clark type spinning block. That procedure is a joy in itself! The "noodle" should be moderately thick!
Hackle: Find the darkest, most well marked Hungarian Partridge you can find! Tie it in by the butt and give 2-3 wraps tops. In the picture above, my hackles seem a bit long. Shame on me!
Head: Same Uni-thread Camel thing thread not too big and then crowned with just a small drop of clear head cement spread over the top, sides, and bottom!
Tail: None!
Rib: None! I let the twisted silk strands of silk show through and bind the loose fur to the hook shank!
Tying notes: At the rear end of the hook where the last wrap is made, "ramp up" with tying thread the last 16th of an inch to form a nice taper. At the front end, not so much. Some, but not too much ramping! The abrupt ledge at the front of the lead needs softened a bit to make a gentle tie off point for the pre-spun body! Also, leave just enough room for the two or three wraps of Partridge!
The dubbing mix I use on this pattern is quite unique! It is spikey enough but also has a fair amount of antron in it! This makes the dubbing workable and also gives it that beautiful light reflecting shimmer that we, and the fish, enjoy! I think it's a fair representation of true Hares Ear dubbing!
The reason I have tied this weighted wet fly is to get at some deep living bluegills that are notorious for never coming up into the light to feed or live. It has worked and worked quite well! The basic features of the venerable March Brown wet fly are carried into the depths and represent something good to eat at least from the bluegills perspective! It is quick to tie and deadly effective down under! What more can we ask of a pattern? I still tie and use the traditional March Brown wet fly with great success closer to the surface.
You are probably wondering why I did not use traditional orange tying thread on this pattern. I had a little bit of 8/0 Camel left on the spool and I wanted to use it up. It turned out that I still have some left on the spool! This stuff lasts forever! I have switched over to orange on the next round of nymphs which are a size 10! That's more like it!
Long Winded Doug
Hook: TMC 3761 size 10-16
Thread: Uni-thread 8/0 Camel
Lead: Appx. 12 wraps of .015 lead or lead substitute
with a generous coat of clear head cement.
Body (thorax/abdomen): A pre-spun body of Wapsi brand S.L.F. "Squirrel Spikey Dubbing" in Natural Fox Squirrel between Pearsalls Orange Silk. I made these on my Richard Clark type spinning block. That procedure is a joy in itself! The "noodle" should be moderately thick!
Hackle: Find the darkest, most well marked Hungarian Partridge you can find! Tie it in by the butt and give 2-3 wraps tops. In the picture above, my hackles seem a bit long. Shame on me!
Head: Same Uni-thread Camel thing thread not too big and then crowned with just a small drop of clear head cement spread over the top, sides, and bottom!
Tail: None!
Rib: None! I let the twisted silk strands of silk show through and bind the loose fur to the hook shank!
Tying notes: At the rear end of the hook where the last wrap is made, "ramp up" with tying thread the last 16th of an inch to form a nice taper. At the front end, not so much. Some, but not too much ramping! The abrupt ledge at the front of the lead needs softened a bit to make a gentle tie off point for the pre-spun body! Also, leave just enough room for the two or three wraps of Partridge!
The dubbing mix I use on this pattern is quite unique! It is spikey enough but also has a fair amount of antron in it! This makes the dubbing workable and also gives it that beautiful light reflecting shimmer that we, and the fish, enjoy! I think it's a fair representation of true Hares Ear dubbing!
The reason I have tied this weighted wet fly is to get at some deep living bluegills that are notorious for never coming up into the light to feed or live. It has worked and worked quite well! The basic features of the venerable March Brown wet fly are carried into the depths and represent something good to eat at least from the bluegills perspective! It is quick to tie and deadly effective down under! What more can we ask of a pattern? I still tie and use the traditional March Brown wet fly with great success closer to the surface.
You are probably wondering why I did not use traditional orange tying thread on this pattern. I had a little bit of 8/0 Camel left on the spool and I wanted to use it up. It turned out that I still have some left on the spool! This stuff lasts forever! I have switched over to orange on the next round of nymphs which are a size 10! That's more like it!
Long Winded Doug