Nymph flies and patterns Tying Instructions by Barry Ord Clarke
One of the classic generic nymphs. Although originally designed to imitate a cased caddis fly, the Zug Bug has proven its effectiveness over many decades. Well worth tying up a few in # 10-16. Zug Bug pattern Hook: Mustad R73 … Continue reading Zug Bug
A semi realistic and extremely effective, yet quick long horn caddis pupa. Tie it with or without a bead head in sizes 12, 14 & 16. Hook: Mustad C49S # 12-16Bead head: 2.5 mmTying thread: Sheer 14/0 OliveBody: Nymph Skin … Continue reading Long Horn Caddis Pupa
A new series of videos for those that are new to fly tying, to accompany my new book, ‘fly tying for beginners’ out later this year. Here I am showing techniques that may look challenging, but are totally achievable with … Continue reading Fly tying for beginners Montana nymph
A new series of videos for those that are new to fly tying, to accompany my new book, ‘fly tying for beginners’ out later this year. Here I am showing techniques that may look challenging, but are totally achievable with … Continue reading Fly tying for beginner’s Hares ear nymph
A new series of videos for those that are new to fly tying, to accompany my new book, ‘fly tying for beginners’ out later this year. Here I am showing techniques that may look challenging, but are totally achievable with … Continue reading Fly Tying for beginners – Pheasant tail nymph
Although an extremely simple tie, the Zebra midge is an essential pattern to have in your box all year round. Tie it in all hook sizes from a 12 to a 20 and in any colour you fancy, be it … Continue reading How to tie a Zebra midge
Currently one of the most used tied and nymphs, especially in competition circles. An extremely easy tie for an extremely effective pattern for Euro nymphing. Change the hook size, body and collar colour and even tie it on a jig … Continue reading Frenchie Fly
Walt Young’s hares ear pattern, that is one of the simplest but most popular competition jigs. Although an easy tie, there are a few nice techniques in this pattern that are worth learning. Walt’s worm fly pattern Hook: # 12 … Continue reading Walt’s Worm
WD 40 fly one of the simplest but most effective mayfly midge larva that you can have in your box. An absolute must for early season fishing! Tie it in sizes from 16 – 22 and in the most popular … Continue reading WD 40 fly
Pheasant tail black nymph A little, effective variant of the classic that you can fish in both still and running water all year round. A couple of nice techniques here to take further on other patterns. Fly tying materials for … Continue reading How to tie the pheasant tail black
Probably Jack Gartside’s best known pattern from the early seventies. Originally designed by Jack as a soft hackle muddler minnow but over the years has proved to be an excellent all round sub surface pattern. Hook: Mustad R73 Streamer # … Continue reading How to tie Gartside’s Sparrow
This variant of the semi realistic Solomon caddis pupa is a relative easy tie and has a few nice techniques to take further on other patterns. Hook: Ahrex FW560 # 12 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown Rib: Tying thread Body: … Continue reading Solomon caddis pupa variant
A little jig with a couple of nice techniques for breathing gills and a shell back. Hook: Barbless jig # 12 Bead: 4mm silver slotted Tungsten Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Olive Tag: Red Floss Rib: Fine silver wire Shell back: … Continue reading How to tie the bottom crawler jig nymph
An extremely quick and effective winter pattern for searching pocket water. Try it in smaller sizes with a green or yellow body. Hook: Mustad C49S # 10 Bead: Slotted Tungsten silver 2.8 mm Tying thread: Dyneema or white 8/0 Body: … Continue reading How to tie the Red hot chilli pupa
A little pheasant tail water boatman/Corixa that is super quick to tie and can be fished effectively both wet or dry. Tied only with pheasant tail and moose mane hair. Hook: Mustad R 30 # 14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 … Continue reading How to tie the water bug / Corixa
A little cased caddis fly larva that is extremely simple to tie. You can mix and match the hook size and colour of hackles used to match the debris that the larva use in your your local waters. Hook: Mustad … Continue reading How to tie a stick fly larva
Take a well known pattern and fish catcher and turn it into a Jig that has a couple of nice techniques and is super fast to tie. What more could you ask for ? Hook: Veniard Osprey Barbless Jig # … Continue reading How to tie the Brassie Jig nymph
Heres one of my moose mane nymphs, that can be fished wet or dry. Although it may look a little challenging, it’s a relatively straight forward tie that includes a few good techniques that can be put to use in … Continue reading How to tie the moose mane nymph
One of my ‘go to’ patterns for searching big fish. This great nymph/streamer pattern is a relative easy tie, again using only basic materials. The zonker strip used here is mink but all manner of fur strips can be put … Continue reading How to tie a strip nymph
A nice pattern for most of the larger mayfly nymphs. Not only an easy but semi realistic tie but an extremely effective pattern with some good techniques that can be used for other nymphs. Large mayfly nymph pattern: Hook: Mustad … Continue reading How to tie a large mayfly nymph
Although this nymph is approaching 70 years old, it’s originator, Artist & illustrator John Atherton used European kingfisher for the original wing case. Perhaps using its iridescent blue to imitate the gas filled wing case of an emerging nymph, or … Continue reading Atherton Medium nymph
A cracking little nymph with lots of bling. Three great materials, copper wire, Pheasant tail and peacock herl make this a great pocket water pattern that gets down deep quick. Hook: Mustad R73 # 10 Tying thread: Black 6/0 Tail: … Continue reading How to tie the Copper Nymph
Another good simple pattern that is quick & easy to tie. This generic caddis pupa has a couple of nice techniques and can be tied in a number of sizes, colours and weight to match your hatch or favourite pocket … Continue reading How to tie a simple Caddis pupa
One of the most popular patterns in the UK in recent years. When using marabou, the key to getting it right, is to get as much animation in the pattern as possible, it helps using the right marabou in combination … Continue reading How to tie the blue flash damsel
A nice little nymph made from one wood duck flank feather. The speckled wood duck feather gives a very realistic nymph appearance to this quick and easy generic pattern. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on AMAZON:Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying … Continue reading How to tie the Wood Duck nymph
One of the first nymphs I ever tied and fished with. Although this has the appearance of a modern nymph it was first tied back in the early 1930’s by Don Martinez from California. A great generic nymph that has … Continue reading How to tie Black Martinez nymph
An extremely quick and easy tie for an extremely effective midge pattern. A great fishing pattern that only requires the most basic of tying skills. Top secret midge pattern Hook: Mustad C49S # 16-26 Tying thread: Sheer brown 14/0 Rib: … Continue reading Top secret midge
The scruffy squirrel nymph is a great all rounder and a good alternative to a hares ear. The combination of squirrel dubbing and a rib of Ultra lace tubing makes a very buggy morsel that ticks all the boxes for … Continue reading How to tie Scruffy Squirrel nymph
A very quick and easy variant of the classic pheasant tail nymph, using only a sparse amount of materials. One for the box in various sizes and colours. Hook: Mustad R 74 # 10 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Tail: Pheasant … Continue reading Magic Glass Pheasant tail nymph
A damsel nymph tied in the Montana nymph style. A great pattern, especially for still waters and as a stalking bug. Tie it in your favorite colours and the more weight you add at the head the more aggressive the … Continue reading How to tie Montana Damsel nymph
Another easy nymph technique for a long slender nymph body style that with a little adjusting will work for most larger mayfly nymphs. Hook: Mustad R75 # 10 Tying thread: UTC 70 Flou Green & Sheer 14/0 Brown Tail: … Continue reading Ultra Lace Mayfly nymph
A nice technique for making realistic mayfly nymph abdomen with simple materials. Hook: Mustad S82 # 8-14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 olive Tail: Peasant tail Abdomen: Larva Lace & peacock herl Wing case: Pheasant tail fibres Thorax: Peacock herl … Continue reading How to tie Gill Abdomen nymph
An extremely mobile nymph, that uses only marabou and a copper wire rib. Although very simple the technique has to be learned in order to tie it correctly. Once you have seen this pattern wet or swimming, you’ll be tying … Continue reading How to tie Generic Marabou nymph
An nice little wet pattern that imitates a diving egg laying caddis fly. The small Tungsten bead head will put this caddis where it needs to be. The wing and collar creating a trapped air bubble effect. Again a few … Continue reading How to tie Bead Head Diving Caddis
A little variant of Andre Puyan’s famous Muskrat mayfly nymph. Hook: Mustad S60 nymph hook # 8-14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown Tail: Moose body hair Rib: Copper wire Abdomen: Muskrat fur Wing case: Moose body hair coated with UV … Continue reading How to tie Muskrat Nymph
A semi realistic caddis pupa thats a real easy tie. Just learn the technique and change the colour of Antron to match your hatch. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on AMAZON:Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying tools and materials shop TRIDENT:Buy … Continue reading Antron caddis pupa
One of the first patterns I tied and fished. The original had a Raffia shell back. This quick and easy pattern is still catching fish for me today, in both fresh and salt water. Although chocolate & vanilla is my … Continue reading Tying a Chocolate & Vanilla Chomper nymph
This is a diving or egg laying caddis that is fished just under the surface with long slow pulls. The combination of partridge hackle and hen mallard breast feathers is a real fish attractor. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on AMAZON:Buy … Continue reading How to tie Diving caddis
Not only one of the first flies you should learn to tie, but also tied in 2 or 3 sizes, one of the most important flies to have in your box. There are so many hares ear variants out there, … Continue reading How to tie Hares Ear nymph Variant
A quick and easy tie for a # 16 BWO nymph that has saved many a day for me. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on AMAZON:Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying tools and materials shop TRIDENT:Buy SIMMS fishing products:EPIC water … Continue reading A little blue winged olive nymph