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Schmidt’s Hex Nymph
Schmidt’s Hex Nymph
Tying Instructions
1.Tie-in weighted wire about 1/3 the shank length behind the eye and wrap to the tail tie-down point above the hook barb. This will be about 12-15 wraps of wire. Flatten the weighted wire and add a drop of Zap or superglue.
2. Tie in pheasant tail fibers for tail exactly at tail location, then fold back butts to be used later for shellback.
3. Tie in wire for ribbing. Dub a heavy abdomen with a Golden Stone nymph dubbing. Dubbing should be translucent and absorbent. I used Metz “Paxton’s Buggy Nymph” for this one.
4. Pull the butts from tail forward over the abdomen as a shellback, tie off and trim. Wind the ribbing forward, binding the back to the abdomen. Tie the wire off, fold the wire back over the tie-down, tie off again, and break off the remaining wire.
5. If your section of pheasant tail is long enough, you can continue to use it for the wingcase. If not, cut another section of the pheasant tail feather and tie it in by the butts where the abdomen and thorax meet. Place the mono eyes about 1/8 inch behind the hook eye and dub a thorax from the abdomen to just behind the eye placement. Make the Thorax a bit bulkier than the abdomen. Prepare and tie in a Hungarian partridge feather, by the butt, in the front part of the thorax area.
6. Fold the partridge feather and spiral it forward, making one wrap, and tieing it off in front of the thorax.
7. Bring the wingcase over the thorax, spreading the partridge fibers in a downward sweep and tie down. Dub an additional amount of dubbing over the mono eyes and in front of them. Bring the wingcase over the dubbed eyes and tie down securely behind the eyes.
8. Whip finish and apply head cement if you choose. Some like to apply a little epoxy to the wingcase.
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | TMC 200R #6 |
| Thread | Danville Light Olive 6/0 |
| Weight | .020 Leadfree Wire |
| Eyes | Mono Nymph Eyes |
| Body | Golden Stone Haretron Dubbing |
| Thorax | Golden Stone Haretron Dubbing |
| Tail | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
| Shellback | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
| Wingcase | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
| Legs | Olive Partridge |
Ray Schmidt
Schmidt’s Hex Nymph
This fly was developed by Ray Schmidt in the mid-70’s for fishing steelhead in Michigan. The pattern become one of his signature flies and the pattern became popular in the Northern Sierra for hex hatches. Ray started tying flies at age 12. From 1977 through 1985 he owned and operated a fly fishing manufacturers rep firm that sold premium brands of fly fishing products.
From 1985 to 2012, Ray owned Schmidt Outfitters, a full service fly shop, lodging establishment, fly fishing guide service and travel service in NW Michigan. In October 2012 he sold Schmidt Outfitters and retired from the outfitting business.
Ray’s accomplishments include:
•1989 top ten “Guide of the Year”, Fly Rod and Reel Magazine.
•Two-time winner of the FFF Great Lakes Council, “Presidents Award”
•1993 winner FFF Great Lakes Council, “Artisan of the Year,” award
•1997 winner FFF International, “Lefty Krey Award”
•Member of FFF Casting Instructor Advisory Council and Certified FFF Fly Casting Instructor
Ray is an active conservationist and has served on many fisheries committees and has spearheaded many projects to enhance river habitat in Michigan. These days Ray is a partner with his wife Kate in Double SS Outdoors, a sales and marketing, consulting and adventure travel firm. www.doublessoutdoors.com