The tungsten bead version of Sawyer's classic nymph gets deep quickly and adds just enough flash to trigger strikes. The most productive nymph variation for most North American trout streams.
1. Bead — Thread a gold tungsten bead onto the hook and push it to the eye.
2. Thread base — Attach brown thread behind the bead and lay a smooth base to the bend.
3. Tail — Tie in 4–6 pheasant tail fibers at the bend, one hook-gap in length.
4. Rib — Tie in fine copper wire at the bend.
5. Abdomen — Twist the pheasant tail fibers into a rope and wind forward to the midpoint. Leave the fiber tips rearward to serve as the wing case later.
6. Counter-rib — Wind copper wire forward over the abdomen in open spirals. Tie off and trim.
7. Thorax — Wind 2–3 peacock herls together to form a full thorax from the midpoint to just behind the bead.
8. Wing case & finish — Pull the rearward pheasant fiber tips forward over the thorax and tie down behind the bead. Trim excess. Build a small collar and whip finish.
Ephemerella excrucians
