This week’s Tying Tuesday features a big attractor dry, a deep-diving nymph, and a large saltwater baitfish imitation. We kick things off with a video from McFly Angler, who last week showed us how to tie the Madam X and now follows up with a parachute version called the PMX. This is my go-to pattern for hopper-dropper setups on the mountain streams near my home in Vermont. It floats well, is easy to see, and trout will take it for a stonefly, caddisfly, or grasshopper.
PMX
Hook: 2X-long nymph hook (here a Risen 9231), size 12.
Thread: Brown, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Post: White Polypro Yarn.
Tail: Natural deer hair.
Rear Body: Peacock herl.
Body Accent: Red floss.
Wing: Natural deer hair, cleaned and stacked.
Hackle: Golden badger, grizzly, or brown hackle.
Legs: Speckled tan MFC Centipede Legs, medium.
Adhesive #1: UV-cure resin (here Solarez Ultra Thin).
Thorax: Peacock herl.
Adhesive #2: UV-cure resin (here Solarez Ultra Thin).
Next, Simon from the Caddis Fly Angling Shop in Eugene, Oregon, ties a fantastic Jigged March Brown Nymph. March Browns are in the clinger family of mayflies, and they have a wide, flat body shape. Their legs are also very pronounced, so Simon uses a combination of Pheasant and Partridge to achieve legs that seriously protrude from the nymph. The result is a fly with a specific silhouette that trout will recognize.
Jigged March Brown Nymph
Hook: Jig nymph hook (here an Ahrex 555), size 14.
Bead: Copper Slotted Tungsten Bead, 5/32-inch or 3.8mm.
Thread: Black, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Tail: Pheasant tail fibers.
Underbody: Copper Uni Medium Soft Wire.
Rib: Copper Uni Medium Soft Wire.
Abdomen: Pheasant tail.
Wing case: Cinnamon tipped turkey tail.
Legs #1: Hungarian Partridge fibers.
Thorax: Peacock herl.
Legs #2: Pheasant tail fibers.
Adhesive: UV-cure resin (here Solarez Bone Dry).
Finally, well-known New England saltwater tier Joe Calcavecchia demonstrates how he ties The Streaker, a old pattern from the 1979 book Streamers & Bucktails the Big Fish Flies by Joseph D. Bates Jr. This pattern will work in both fresh and salt water, for any species of predatory fish: stripers, bluefish, bonito, bluefin tuna, false albacore and many more. This is a very old pattern that you just do not see anymore but Joe still ties a lot of them, and the fish loves them!
The Streaker
Hook: Ahrex SA270 Bluewater, size 4/0.
Thread #1: Clear white Monofilament thread, .2mm.
Tail: White bucktail.
Body: Pearl Bill’s Bodi Braid.
Adhesive #1: Solarez UV Flex.
Flash #1: Silver Flashabou.
Wing: Paired peacock sword feathers.
Belly: White bucktail.
Flash #1: Pearl Flashabou.
Thread #1: Black monofilament, .2mm.
Throat: Red Flashabou.
Head: Black thread.
Eyes: Holographic Silver Tabbed Eyes, 10mm.
Adhesive #2: Loctite Stik’N Seal.
Adhesive #3: UV-cure resin, thick.
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