(B) GOLDHEAD HARE’S EAR has a goldhead in front of the dressing.
(C) FLASHBACK RUBBER LEGS HARE’S EAR has two rubber legs for tails, two rubber legs on either side of the thorax, and pearl Flashabou wing cases.
RED FOX SQUIRREL NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 10–18.
Thread: Black.
Tails: Sparse tuft of guard hairs from the back of a red fox squirrel.
Abdomen: Fine red-buff fur from the belly of the red fox squirrel.
Rib: Fine oval gold tinsel (optional).
Thorax: Darker fur from the back of a red fox squirrel, including plenty of guard hairs.
Wing cases: Dark brown turkey tail.
Legs: Brown speckled partridge, 1 turn (optional).
Designed by Dave Whitlock, this is an essential nymph that could be taken for a wide range of aquatic invertebrates.
MICK’S PRE-EMERGER
Hook: Nymph, sizes 10–16.
Thread: Black.
Tails: Few fibres natural dark red (brown) cock hackle.
Body: Mix of 50:50 dark-brown and fiery-brown seal’s fur (or substitute).
Rib: Fine copper wire.
Wing case: Black raffine.
A Mick Hall fly from Victoria, Australia, this is a useful pattern in rivers and lakes throughout the world when dark nymphs are moving to the surface or the shore to hatch into the adult flying stage. The next fly, also by Mick Hall, is what often typifies a great fishing fly. It matches nothing in particular, but might be taken by trout as a caddis larva, stonefly or mayfly nymph, small dark fry, etc.
MICK’S SCRUFFY
Hook: Long shank nymph, sizes 12–14.
Thread: Black.
Tail: Bunch black squirrel tail hairs.
Body: Mix of olive and black rabbit fur.
Head: Chartreuse glass bead (slide this in place at the start).
MUSKRAT NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–16.
Thread: Black
Tails: 2 brown goose biots (keep separate with a tiny ball of dubbing).
Abdomen: Muskrat.
Thorax: Fine black dubbing (e.g. rabbit or synthetic).
Head: Goldhead.
This is suggestive of a small stonefly nymph.
‘Olives’ and olive nymphs are important in all cool rivers and lakes, for these waters are habitat for many smaller species of upwinged flies (mayflies) that are some shade of that colour. The following are four typical olive tyings.
OLIVE NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–14.
Thread: Olive.
Tails: 4–5 fibres drake mallard breast feather dyed olive.
Abdomen: Fine olive dubbing (e.g. rabbit).
Rib: Yellow floss.
Thorax: Hare’s ear.
Head: Goldhead (optional).
PVC NYMPH
Hook: Wet fly, sizes 12–16.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Tips of 3 olive or brown goose herls.
Underbody: Fine copper wire.
Abdomen: Olive or brown goose herls, from tail.
Over-abdomen: