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Nymph / Pattern notes

Serendipity

A segmented red body and clipped hair wing suggest a small caddis pupa or midge.

At the vise
Intermediate
Common sizes
#14–22
From hook to fly

At the vise.

4 steps

Follow this base recipe in order. The materials list specifies one hook size; adjust proportions together when tying another size.

  1. Prepare the stem

    Strip a red saddle feather. Moisten a brittle stem before tying its flexible tip at the bend.

  2. Body

    Apply a thin glue film to the thread base. Wind the stem forward in touching turns and secure behind the eye.

  3. Hair wing

    Tie a small deer-hair bunch over the front, pointing rearward. Trim both tips and butts to leave a short upright stub.

  4. Finish

    Build a neat thread head without crowding the eye. Whip finish and cement.

Beyond the bench

On the water.

Dead-drift as a small nymph or lift gently at the end of a drift to suggest emergence.

Tied by independent makers

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Recipe references

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.

For the same fly box.

Illustration of a finished Prince Nymph flyPrince NymphNymph · #10–18Illustration of a finished Pheasant Tail flyPheasant TailNymph · #12–20Illustration of a finished Hare’s Ear flyHare’s EarNymph · #10–18