Archive for May, 2006

Paul’s Chenille Nymph

Hook: Tiemco 200 (Curved) or Standard straight nymph hook (Sizes 2 –10)
Bead: Black Thread: Black
Weight: Lead (optional)
Tail: Black Marabou fibers
Abdomen: Black Chenille
Thorax: Orange Chenille
Legs: Brown Hackle palmered around thorax
Wing Case: 2-3 Strands of black Chenille

This was one of the first flies I ever learned to tie. Actually I started out tying Bitch Creeks but found that the rubber antenna and tail were too stiff. I think some trout were reluctant to take it. (There are a number of good new ‘leg” materials on the market the past few years. ‘Silly Legs’ to name one.) I substituted marabou for the tail, and instead of weaving a black and orange abdomen, used orange chenille for the thorax. Originally the ‘Bitch Creak’ nymph was developed on the Madison River in Montana to replicate salmon and stone flies.

Although it doesn’t look like much, sometimes big is just better. Not too many nymph patterns bigger than this one. And it’s easy to tie.

A great fly in early spring on the “Hous”, but you can catch fish on it all year long. Dead drift it and give it a little twitch at the end. When trout want a big meal they really whack this. For small mouth bass this thing is simply irresistible. I also use it as the first fly in a two fly rig. Usually fishing a much smaller pattern behind it.