How to Tie Nymph Legs

The legs are an important feature on the mayfly and stonefly nymph. Imitating the legs on flies increases the presence of realistic features and raises the odds of catching fish. Numerous materials are available for fly tying legs, with pheasant tail fibers, rubber legs and partridge being common choices. Tying each material requires a slightly different approach, but the end result is a set of protruding legs that provide a rough imitation of the natural insect.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly tying thread
  • Rubber legs
  • Pheasant tail feather
  • Hungarian partridge feather
Show More

Instructions

  1. Rubber Legs

    • 1

      Tie the tail and abdomen to meet the recipe for your specific fly pattern. Position the thread at the half-way point on the thorax of the fly.

    • 2

      Remove one long rubber leg from a strand. Measure the rubber leg to match the length of the hook shank and cut off the extra rubber material. Hold the rubber leg against the side of the hook shank with the center of the rubber strand at the thread.

    • 3

      Make two thread wraps with moderate tension to hold the rubber leg on the side of the hook. Make four tight wraps to divide and flex the material into two distinct legs. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the hook for four total legs.

    Pheasant Tail Legs

    • 4

      Tie the entire fly and leave a small gap between the thorax and the hook eye. Cut three pheasant fibers from a pheasant tail.

    • 5

      Measure the fibers to match the length of the thorax. Hold the fibers against one side of the eye of the hook with the tips extending past the eye of the hook. Make four firm thread wraps to secure the fibers. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the hook.

    • 6

      Cut the base of the pheasant fibers with scissors. Stroke the fibers forward with your thumb, index and middle fingers. Three fibers must be aligned on each side of the thorax. Make 10 tight thread wraps to secure the legs against the thorax and to build a small thread-head on the fly.

    Partridge Feather Legs

    • 7

      Tie the entire fly pattern and leave a small gap between the thorax and the eye of the hook. Select a partridge feather from the rump of the bird with short, soft fibers.

    • 8

      Hold the tip of the feather between your index finger and thumb on one hand. Stroke the fibers away from your fingers to expose the tip section. Cut the tip section and return the fibers to the natural position. The result is a "V" shaped notch in the feather.

    • 9

      Slide the feather against the head of the fly with the thorax between the notch. Pinch the fibers against both sides of the thorax to hold the legs in place. Make 10 thread wraps to secure the legs and cut away the extra feather with scissors.