Dave Whitlock's favorite fly — he said if he had one nymph, this would be it. The orange-tan belly fur of a red fox squirrel for the abdomen, the darker back fur for the thorax, ribbed with gold: a warm, buggy, all-purpose nymph that looks a little like everything trout eat.
1. Thread base — Attach thread and wrap to the bend. Optionally add lead wraps or a gold bead first.
2. Tail — Tie in a small tuft of squirrel back fur with guard hairs.
3. Rib — Tie in oval gold tinsel.
4. Abdomen — Dub the orange-tan belly blend over the rear two-thirds, tapered. Counter-wind the rib. Tie off.
5. Thorax — Dub the darker back-fur blend, fuller, to behind the eye.
6. Legs (larger sizes) — A turn of brown partridge or picked-out guard hairs.
7. Finish — Whip finish and cement.
Seasons
Water conditions
hook
thread
tail
rib
body
thorax
legs
