Tying Instructions: Perdigon Nymph

1. Slip on a tungsten bead that is one size larger than indicated on the sizing chart. This is a size 16 C200BL Competition hook. Size chart indicates a 5/64 bead, I'm using a 3/32. The reason is that the larger bead represents the mayfly nymph head with wingcase that is much larger than the body.
Step One
2. Wrap about 4-5 times leadfree wire and push the wire into the bead cavity. You don't want to extend the wire much more since you want a thin body profile.
Step Two
3. Attach your thread just behind the wire wraps. Thread color can vary as it is an underbody as well as a hot spot. You might use an olive color for the underbody and a pink or red hot spot thread.
Step Three
4. Wrap the thread over the wire wraps to secure and build a slight taper from the wire wraps to the hook shank. Bring the thread to the bend of the hook where you want to attach the tail fibers.
Step Four
5. Clip 5-6 hackle fibers from a tailing feather. I'm using CDL Dark Pardo which has some nice speckling and stiff barbs. Keep the tips even and attach the bundle to the top of the hook shank at the bend of the hook. Adjust the length so that the tail is just somewhat longer than the hook shank. Secure the tag ends up to the wire wraps and clip off the ends. Step Five
6. Attach an extra small strand of silver wire for a rib to the bottom of the hook shank and secure to the bend of the hook.
Step Six
7. Next attach a piece of Magnum flashabou to the side of the hook shank and secure with thread wraps to the bend of the hook as well. You could use Krystalflash or regular flashabou.
Step Seven
8. Wrap the flashabou with overlapping wraps to just behind the bead and secure with a few thread wraps.
Step Eight
9. Wrap the silver wire forward with some spaced spirol wraps. Six to seven spirol wraps give a nice look to this mayfly nymph. Trim off the tag ends of the wire and the flashabou.
Step Nine
10. Wrap a collar just behind the bead for a "Hot Spot" and Whip Finish. Step Ten
11. Apply a thin layer of UV fly finish to the entire body of the fly behind the bead.
Step Eleven
12. Use a bodkin to even out the finish. Step Twelve
13. Using a UV lamp, harden the finish with about ten seconds of light exposure.
Step Thirteen
14. Using Black Nail polish or a product by Loon called Hard Head, place a dab on the top of both the bead and the hot spot. This represents the wingcase of the pattern.
Step Fourteen
15. The finished Perdigon Nymph. Streamline and heavy to sink to the bottom of a fast current.
Step Fifteen
   
   

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