Remember the old commercial for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups featuring the tag line “Two great tastes that taste great together”? Well here’s a nymph pattern based on the same principle. Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions has created a mashup of two of his favorite nymphs–Cal Bird’s Bird’s Nest and Dave Whitlock’s Red Fox Squirrel-Hair Nymph–and the resulting fly is pretty darn buggy and fishy-looking.
In this great how-to video from, Tim demonstrates how to tie his combo pattern, which makes use of some specific dubbing. (Click the links in the recipe to find a source.) Aside from that, the tying process is fairly straightforward. If you need a little extra instruction on splitting the thread to make the dubbing noodle, check out yesterday’s “One-Minute Fly-Tying Tips and Techniques” video.
Flying Squirrel Nymph
Hook: 2X-long nymph hook (here, a Dai-Riki #730), sizes 12-18.
Bead: Gold tungsten, 7/64-inch.
Weight: Lead-free wire, .020.
Thread: UTC Wood Duck, 70-denier.
Rib: Gold wire, small.
Tail: Wood duck flank feather.
Abdomen: Red Squirrel Nymph-Abdomen dubbing.
Legs: Wood duck flank feather.
Thorax: Red Squirrel Nymph-Thorax dubbing.
Head: Tying thread.
