Lightning Bug Nymph
- This topic has 17 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated Mar 6, 2009 at 8:51 pm by
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The lightning bug has become my favorite nymph attractor pattern. This is certainly a well recognized pattern and often found in the go-to fly box. However, not everyone knows how to tie it properly. Sounds like a good reason to do a tutorial.
Hook: Scud hook or curved hook of choice, size 12Tail: Pheasant tail fibers, about 6 total, three-fourths-hook-length
Body: French tinsel, medium (flat silver) by UTC
Rib: Ultra wire, red, small, by UTC
Thorax: Blended mixture of hairs mask fibers (tan) and finely cut fibers of crystal flash (chartreuse), tri-lobal-fiber (crystal tri-lobal hackle peacock), and SLF (rust-brown), blended together in a spice/coffee grinder.
Head: Silver tungsten bead, 1/8”
Thread: Rust, 8/0 or 6/0 (I use 8/0)
Adjectives: Brush-on super glue.
First make the blended fiber mixture for the thorax. This is like Grandma’s kitchen – add a little bit at a time.First, take a clump of tan hare’s ear fibers. I always pre-blend my hare’s ear in tan/black/green and make a stock.
Then cut up some fibers of crystal flash, tri-lobal-fiber (the stuff used to make braided worms), and SLF.
Put the ingredients in the spice blender and mix.
Add little bits at a time until you have something like this.
Put the tungsten bead on the hook.
Tie in the pheasant tail a bit past the bend of the hook and then wrap back to the head. Leave the tag end of material in place (i.e. don’t cut it).
Carefully wrap the pheasant tail back toward the tail about three wraps and then come back to the head and tie off.
Now cut the remaining material flush. This technique helps to build and form a body foundation. Notice the nice taper.
Tie in the red wire to the tail. Then wrap back to the head.
Tie in tinsel to the tail. Then wrap back to the head.
At this point apply a small amount of superglue to secure the foundation.
Tightly wrap the tinsel to the head and secure with a few wraps of thread.
Apply a small amount of superglue over the tinsel. This not only secures the foundation but prevents the wire over-wrap from slipping. Wait a few seconds to start the wire. This allows the glue to firm up every so slightly.
That’s how you get nice symmetric wire ribbing. All nice-and-tight and secure.
Now build the thorax. This is the part of maximal frustration. You want to get a nice tight wrap without having the fine fibers scattered. The traditional method is to dub the fibers and then wrap but I am often frustrated using this technique on this particular fly because the dubbing blend is comprised of many different “types” of material and the shinny stuff just falls off the dub. Instead, I now use a dubbing loop and apply the fibers in fine even clumps. Then spin the loop tightly and palmer toward the head. Remember to securely close the loop before starting.
It should look like this when finished. Nice and tight.
Trim the scattered fibers. Finished.
Have fun. The lightning bug is a great pattern.
Thise are pretty sweet bugs Neal.
I have fished this pattern on the Home waters many times with success.Ok- Those are the best lighting bugs i have seen. I would like 3 or 4 of those if you can spare them- Let me know.
Tim Matthews
Neal- What’s the deal with those sexy lightning bugs- Since you know my address I was wondering why I haven’t received my supply.
Really you are a fantastic tyer.
Neal- Thanks for the finger “of flies”. No really those are great just as all the patterns you are tying. As someone who has just started really getting into it I love to see yours as well as the other guys flys.
Cole had a good link to a tying light- What light do you use????Tim – The best light solution IMHO is the classic Ott lamp http://www.ottlite.com/p-62-classic-task-lamp.aspx.
I really like this fly Neal. I sat down last night, tied a dozen or so caddis pupae, then tried the lightning bug nymph only to find that I could not find my pheasant tails-I suspect my dog, and we will be discussing this later. Do you only tie this in 12s, and does the color of the dubbing/synthetic blend matter very much?
Cameron – don’t make me do a special finger picture for you too – it might not be as pleasant 😉
Be careful Neal, I have friends who have spent the night in the clink for offering these gestures to those in his profession! 😉
Dusty
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