strike. Finally reaching my hand in my
pocket, I discovered several large buckshot. Removing the nymph from the
tip of the leader, I attached five of these large shots, to the very tip
of the leader, with a piece of 3x gut tippet about four inches long. I
connected the nymph to the leader about sixteen inches from the tip.
Within the next few minutes I took several nice trout, within rod's
length of where I was standing. What actually happened, the lead was so
heavy that it immediately sank straight to the bottom, and my taut line
held the nymph suspended about two inches below the surface. The short
gut between the nymph and the leader allowed the nymph to quiver much as
the natural was doing. All the various common nymphs can be faithfully
copied, by learning to tie the various styles of those herein
illustrated. Simply alter the sizes, and color combinations, according
to those found in the waters where you fish.

Remember nearly all the nymphs have flat bodies, and dark backs. The
bodies may be flattened by thoroughly lacquering them, and when nearly
dried squeezing them flat with an ordinary pair of pliers; or by {35}
cutting a piece of quill the shape of the body from a turkey or goose
wing. Bind this on top of the hook for the foundation of the body, and
build the body over this. When finished, lacquer the entire body.

Most any body materials that are used for the making of other flies can
be used; however, wool is mostly used for nymphs. Silk floss wound over
a quill foundation and then lacquered, makes a very smooth, realistic
body.

{36}

[Illustration: Diagram 6. Page sized diagram showing drawings of nymph
construction.]

THEIR CONSTRUCTION
(SEE DIAGRAM 6)

Start tying silk (A) an eighth of an inch from the eye of the hook and
wind closely down shank, as previously done with bucktails, wet flies
etc. Next cut a section (B) from a grey goose wing feather about one
eighth inch wide, and tie on top of the hook as Fig. 1. This is to make
the tail and also the back of the nymph. Bend (B) back and take a turn
or two with (A) in front as Fig. 2. Tie in the ribbing (c) close to (B)
Fig. 3. Next tie in body material (D) close to (C) Fig. 4. Wool yarn
makes the best body material for this style nymph. Now finish the body
as for a wet fly, Fig. 5, then pull (B) tightly over the top, finish off
as Fig. 6. This makes a sort of hard shell over the back. Next turn the
hook upside down in the vise, and lay {