1st Annual N.G.T.O. Fly Swap

Fly photos courtesy of Michael Lim.

"The Scorpion Nymph"

from the vise of David Edens

Hook: Scud hook size 10, 12, 14, or 16

Thread: Camel, Uni 6/0

Bead: for a size 16-18 hook, for a size 14, larger or smaller, depending on hook size.

Fine gold wire

Wing case: Turkey wing slip

Beard: I used furnace hen hackle

Tail: Mallard flank feather

Dubbing: Hareline Natural Hare's Ear

Step 1: Slip the bead on the hook. Slip the bead to the eye, and start the thread right behind the bead. Wrap back 1/2 the way to the hook shank. Wrap back up to the thorax area. Move the bead to the thorax area. Make "X" wraps over the top of the bead to secure it in the thorax area. Leave plenty of room. A lot of tying goes on at the eye.

Step 2: Wrap 5 wraps of 2/0 lead wire (optional) behind the bead and push it up to the bead. Tie in a piece of mallard flank for the tail. Tie in the gold wire for the ribbing. With your thread, make a smooth transition, tapering the fly from the head to the tail.

Step 3: Dub the fly up to the bead. Make a nice tapered body. If you used lead, it will look rather chunky. If not, it can be quite skinny. Counter wrap the wire up to the bead, segmenting the fly. Use the wire to help taper the fly by using more tension at the tail than at the head. Wrap three times to tie off the wire.

Step 4: Take a turkey slip and tie it onto the fly behind the bead so the main part of the slip is toward the back of the fly. Make a wrap over the bead to the eye area of the fly.

Step 5: Take a hen hackle feather and strip all the fiber from the side that you will be wrapping toward. You want to tie in the feather so the fibers naturally slant toward the rear, and no fibers are on the bottom of the quill after wrapping (top of the feather forward.) Tie in the feather by the tip, and wind it forward. Stroke the fibers back after each turn, and wind in front of the previous turn. Make four to five turns. Tie off.

Step 6: Take the turkey slip and bring it forward over the bead. Pinch it down onto the eye of the hook. Wrap your thread over the slip to secure it. Wrap three times to anchor the slip. Trim the turkey slip closely at the eye. The turkey slip pushes the hen hackle down to make a nice, full beard.

Step 7: Wrap a nice thread head, and whip finish. Coat the wing case with Orvis holofleck, or anything else to protect it. Try Loon's hard head finish in black. Try fingernail polish, or just soak it with cement.

Fish it the same way you would any other nymph. It is a killer!

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