I have been looking for some instructions on tying a Czech Nymph, as I bought some and found them very effective. I've tried to tie them but have been unsuccessful. (IAN YOUNG, IPSWICH)
Peter Gathercole answers: As the name suggests, the Czech Nymph was developed by anglers from the Czech Republic as an effective way of catching trout and grayling in fast flowing streams. Tied in a range of sizes and colour combinations the pattern is used mainly with a technique known as the rolled nymph where it is fished on a very short line so that the downstream drift of the fly can be accurately controlled.
The key to making Czech Nymphs is to pack in as much weight as possible without making the finished fly overly bulky. This is achieved by winding close turns of lead wire on to the hook shank before the other materials are added. Then the fur used to form the body and thorax is actually dubbed on quite thinly - just enough, in fact, to cover the turns of lead wire and not leave any gaps. The whole thing is then capped with a thin plastic shellback, which helps create the profile of a case-less caddis larva and also helps the nymph cut through the water.
Another tip when tying Czech Nymphs is to always use a heavyweight grub hook. This type of hook not only adds extra weight to the finished fly but the curved shape gives a profile very similar to a free-swimming caddis larva such as the Hydropsyche.
MATERIALS
- Hook: Size 8-12 heavyweight grub hook
- Thread: Brown
- Weight: Lead wire
- Back: Brown Nymph Skin or similar
- Rib: 4 lb BS dear monofilament nylon
- Body rib: Fine, flat gold tinsel
- Body: Tan fur with a short section of green fur
- Thorax: Natural hare's fur
TOOLS YOU WILL NEED
- Vice
- Bobbin holder
- Whip finish tool
TECHNIQUES
- Winding lead
- Ribbing
- Forming a shellback
- Making a thorax
- Whip finish
MATERIALS AVAILABLE FROM
- Most outlets
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| Fix the hook in the vice and wind dose turns of lead wire over the hook shank. This weighted underbody should end well round the curve of the hook. | Run on the tying thread using it to cover lead wire. Next, add a short strip of brown nymph skin plus three inches of fine dear monofilament nylon. |
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| At the same point add two inches of fine, flat gold tinsel. Dub on a small pinch of tan fur and wind it thinly to cover two thirds of the underbody. | Take a very small pinch of green fur and dub it on to the tying thread. Wind on just two turns then rib the entire body with the gold tinsel. |
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| Apply a small pinch of hare's fur to form the thorax. Stretch the Nymph Skin over the top of the body and thorax and secure. Rib with open turns of mono. | Secure the loose end of the mono with thread and remove the excess material at the eye. Complete by adding a neat head, casting off with a whip finish. |