Blowtorch Tag Nymph
Hook: Favorite jig,
nymph, or wet fly hook. I prefer to tie
mine on a jig hook such as an Allen Size #10 -#16.
Thread: Veevus 8/0
fluorescent orange.
Bead: Copper slotted
tungsten bead to match hook size, or bead & color of choice.
Tag: Glo Brite
fluorescent orange floss. Three to four
strands.
Weight (optional):
3-10 lead wraps of 0.015” for size 16 & 14, 0.020” lead for size 12,
and 0.025” lead for size 10.
Hackle: Mottled India brown hen hackle or CDC feather.
Ribbing: Opal or
pearl mirage micro-flashabou or krystal flash.
Counter-ribbing: 5x
tippet.
Dubbing: Hareline
peacock black ice dub.
This is a nymph that produced a lot of fish for me last
year. It was “designed” by a fly fisher
by the name of Devin Olsen. He is a
member of Fly Fishing Team USA. On a
trip to the Czech Republic, a similar soft hackle fly was being used by fly
fishermen there. He modified the fly
design/materials slightly and the “blowtorch” was born. In the past I’ve tied all of my blowtorches
on a size #14 hook. This year I’m also
going to fish them on a smaller size #16.
To tie this fly begin by placing the bead on your hook. Next, make your wraps of lead around the hook
shank. Push it forward tight against the
bead. Lock it in place with thread wraps
behind and over the lead wraps. Now wrap
your thread down to the bend of the hook.
Take 3 strands of your fluorescent orange floss and pinch tie it in
behind the lead. Wrap your thread down
the hook shank to the bend. Next, cut your floss (tag) just slightly longer
than the bend of the hook. Tie in your 5x
tippet on the far side of the hook. Tie
in your opel/pearl flashabou on the near side of the fly. Now, dub a body with your peacock black ice
dub. Leave a small gap behind the bead
for your hackle. Rib the fly first with
the opel/pearl flashabou. Tie and cut it
off. Counter-rib the fly with the 5x
tippet. Cut the tag end. Take a prepared mottled brown India hen
feather for your hackle fibers. The
feather is not tied on the hook shank and wrapped. Instead, the center is cut out of the
feather, creating a V wedge of fibers.
The fibers are then splayed over the hook shank, tied in, and pressed
around the hook shank. Cut off the butt
ends of the fibers and create a hot spot collar with your thread. Tie it off and apply some head cement.
Devin Olsen has a great video on how to tie this fly below:
He also has a great website at http://www.tacticalflyfisher.com/ .
He also has a great website at http://www.tacticalflyfisher.com/ .
If you have any questions about this fly or would like to
submit a pattern of the month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com .
