How to Tie Bead Head Nymph Flies

Nymph flies are found in many tackle boxes; they accurately represent many of the insects upon which trout commonly feed. The copper wire on the fly gives it weight, allowing it to sink toward the bottom of the water and drift a bit downstream. The shiny head of a nymph fly reflects light, as is true with the actual insect.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly tying vise
  • Fly tying bobbin
  • Scissors
  • Head cement
  • Nymph hook, No. 6
  • Tan thread
  • Gold bead
  • Pheasant tail fibers
  • Copper wire, fine in diameter
  • Lead wire
  • Peacock herl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed the hook through the small hole in the gold bead. Rest the bead against the head of the hook. Mount the hook firmly in the vise.

    • 2

      Wrap the hook shank with the lead wire until the top half of the hook is covered. Tie the tan thread to the shank of the hook; wrap the thread around the shank and the lead wire. This holds the wire firmly in place. Wrap the thread around the shank a few times.

    • 3

      Choose up to seven tips of pheasant tail fibers. Hold them on the shank so they hang no more than one and one-half times the length of the hook gape. Hang them off the back of the hook.

    • 4

      Cut a piece of copper wire, and lay it on the hook shank. Wrap it in place, and let the end of it hang off the back of the hook. Add another layer of pheasant fibers, followed by another copper wire section.

    • 5

      Twist together a few of the pheasant tail fibers. Wrap them around the hook shank, covering about two-thirds of the shank. Counter-wrap the tail feathers into place, using the already attached copper wire. Bind it tightly enough so that it will not come apart. This is the body of the fly.

    • 6

      Add another bunch of tail feathers; tie them down with the body thread. Tie five of the peacock herls in front of these feathers.

    • 7

      Make a rope with the peacock herls; wrap this rope toward the head of the fly. Tie it in place with the thread.

    • 8

      Tie four pheasant tail fibers to each side of the fly. Clip the tag ends short, to look like small wings. Pull the tail feathers gently over the herl rope, and tie them down. Tie off the thread with a whip knot, and trim the thread. Secure everything with a couple of drops of cement glue. Let dry completely.