Bead Head Prince Nymph

Recipe (from the Art of Fly Tying by John van Vliet)

Hook:   TMC 3761:8-16 or Mustad 3906B
Thread: Red 6/0
Head:   Brass bead
Tail:   Brown goose biots
Rib:    Gold Mylar (I used round fine gold tinsel)
Body:   Peacock Herl
Wing:   White goose biots
Hackle: Brown hen

Tying Steps

1. Crimp down barb.
2. Slide on bead with small eye hole first, the Mustad may have to be opened. Secure the bead forward the hook eye with the thread.
3. Tie in the goose biots curving away from each other for tail, trim and tie down the biots.
4. Tie in the rib and leaving in the material holder.
5. Tie in the peacock herl (I used 6-9) number of herls depend upon the size of hook and how big the body is to be).
6. Wrap the herl and thread together to give the herls additional support.
7. Wind the herl forward. Tie in the herls at the bead, cut off the excess.
8. Wind the gold tinsel forward, and tie in at the bead, cut off the excess
9. Tie in the hackle and wrap 2-3 times, and tie in, cut off the excess.
10. Tie in the wings on top the fly, with length going to the end of the body and the curves down, cut off the excess.
11. Whip finish and cement the thread.

Fishing the nymph

This nymph designed by Doug Prince and imitates a mayfly or a stonefly. The Brook Trout love this nymph. I fish this nymph in fast water and/or muddy/murky water and let it bound along the bottom. Please note the red color fades as the nymph gets into deep water and is gone in 3 feet of water. The red acts as a great attractor in shallow water.

Doug Kellermann (doug.kellermann@qm.sprintcorp.com)