Czech Catnip

Czech Catnip, Chartreuse

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Hook	TMC 2499 SP-BL #6-12
Thread	Uni-Thread Olive 8/0
Head	Black Tungsten Bead
Weight	0.020 Leadfree wire
Body	Fl. Chartreuse Micro Polar Chenille
Thorax	Black Micro Polar Chenille
Shellback	Mottled Olive Fino Skin
Ribbing	Monofilament

George Daniel

Czech Catnip

The Czech Catnip is a European style caddis nymph designed by competition angler George Daniel. Daniel is a two time US national champion and former member and coach of the US Fly Fishing Team. It is one of his favorite anchor flies with tight line nymphing. The Catnip is heavily weighted with a tungsten bead and leadfree wire. It is a simple fly to tie using Hareline Micro Polar Chenille for the body and Olive Mottled Oak Thin Skin for Shellback. It can be tied with many different colors, Chartreuse and Olive being the most popular. The hook is a competition style that is barbless and has a long thin point for excellent penetrating power to maneuver the fish for a quick release.

Variations

Czech Catnip, Olive

Hook	TMC 2499 SP-BL #6-12
Thread	Uni-Thread Olive 8/0
Head	Black Tungsten Bead
Weight	0.020 Leadfree wire
Body	Olive Micro Polar Chenille
Thorax	Black Micro Polar Chenille
Shellback	Mottled Olive Fino Skin
Ribbing	Monofilament



	1. Select a Tungsten Bead to fit the hook size. On this TMC 2499sp-bl size 10 hook, I am using a 1/16″ Black Tungsten Bead onto the hook. Attach the hook to the vise at the base of the hook curve. Do not pinch the point.
	2. Use 6-7 lead wraps behind the bead to fill the bead cavity and increase the weight. Shove the lead wraps up against the cavity of the bead.
	3. Attach the thread to the hook shank behind the lead wraps and build a thread dam to lock the wraps into place. Apply thread wraps over the lead to secure the lead wraps even more.
	4. Next build a thread foundation along the shank of the hook ending about one thrid down the curve where the body will end. You do not want to extend the body too much as this will decrease the gap of the hook .
	5. Attach a piece of Monofilment for ribbing. I am using Fine Larva Lace Nylon thread. Secure the ribbing to the top of the hook shank with thread wraps up to the lead.
	6. Clip a segment of Thin Skin in which the width of the slip is about 2/3 the hook gap. Trim the end of the slip to a point and secure this point to the top of the hook shank behind the lead.
	7. Continue to secure the shellback down to the end of the body. The material should envelope over the shank evenly.
	8. Attach a piece of Micro Polar Chenille for a body to the shank with the exposed thread core of the chenille. The chenille should be secured all the way to the end of the body.
	9. Wrap the chenille forward using your thumb and finger to brush back the mylar fibers so the that the wraps do not trap the fibers. Each wrap should touch the previous wrap for an even body..
	10. Wrap up to the lead wraps leaving room to attach the thorax chenille behind the bead. Secure the body chenille tag end with thread wraps and trim.
	11. Attach the thorax chenille behind the bead with thread wraps.
	12. Place about 3-4 wraps, brushing back the fibers, and secure with thread wraps behind the bead. Trim off the tag end.
	13. Trim off the fibers from the top of the body and thorax. The shellback material will cover this area and will fit better without the fibers.
	14. Bring the Shellback (Thin Skin) material over the top of the body and thorax and secure with a few thread wraps behind the bead.
	15. Next, wrap the ribbing forward with evenly spaced wraps. Oscillate the ribbing back and forth to reduce any trapping of the mylar fibers. I have placed about 5 wraps for this body. Secure the ribbing behind the bead with thread wraps and trim off the remaining tag end.
	16. Lift up the tag end of the shellback and place a couple of thread wraps in front of this material to pinch it upright. Trim this material as close to the body as possible.
	171. Additional thread wraps will help to push the trimmed end of the sheelback behind the bead. Apply a Whip Finish.
	18. Any fibers that have been caught by the ribbing can be free by the use of a dubbing brush.
	19. The finished Chartreuse Czech Catnip.