12–16.
Thread: Black
Tails: 2 brown goose biots (keep separate with a tiny ball of dubbing).
Abdomen: Muskrat.
Thorax: Fine black dubbing (e.g. rabbit or synthetic).
Head: Goldhead.
This is suggestive of a small stonefly nymph.
‘Olives’ and olive nymphs are important in all cool rivers and lakes, for these waters are habitat for many smaller species of upwinged flies (mayflies) that are some shade of that colour. The following are four typical olive tyings.
OLIVE NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–14.
Thread: Olive.
Tails: 4–5 fibres drake mallard breast feather dyed olive.
Abdomen: Fine olive dubbing (e.g. rabbit).
Rib: Yellow floss.
Thorax: Hare’s ear.
Head: Goldhead (optional).
PVC NYMPH
Hook: Wet fly, sizes 12–16.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Tips of 3 olive or brown goose herls.
Underbody: Fine copper wire.
Abdomen: Olive or brown goose herls, from tail.
Over-abdomen: 1⁄8 inch-wide strip cut from clear polythene bag.
Thorax: Olive of brown herls, from abdomen.
Wing cases: 4–6 cock pheasant tail fibres.
This is a modification of John Goddard’s PVC Nymph (the original used dyed condor herls, that are now not readily available).
DARK OLIVE
Hook: Wet fly, sizes 14–16.
Thread: Yellow, well waxed with brown cobbler’s wax.
Tails: 3 fibres guinea fowl (gallina) dyed olive.
Body: Dark olive seal’s fur, tapering from tail to a pronounced thorax.
Rib: Fine old wire.
Hackle and wing cases: Bunch dark blue dun hackle fibres.
This is a very old tying by G. E. M. Skues, and dates from the first half of the twentieth century. Skues is considered the ‘father’ of nymph imitation and fishing.
CALLIBAETIS/BAETIS FUR NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–18.
Thread: Olive.
Tails: Few fibres speckled brown partridge, dyed olive.
Abdomen: Fine olive fur (synthetic or natural e.g. rabbit).
Thorax: As abdomen.
Wing cases: Cock pheasant tail fibres or quill slip from grey goose.
The next two flies were designed by Chris Hosker for fishing deep in very dark or cold fast water. Chris uses them to great effect, catching grayling with them through winter.
BLACK BEAD BAETIS NYMPH
Hook: Wet fly, sizes 12–16.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Few fibres brown speckled partridge hackle dyed olive.
Abdomen: Heron herl dyed olive (or substitute).
Rib: Fine gold wire.
Thorax: Hare’s ear.
Head: Black tungsten bead.
GREEN BEAD BAETIS NYMPH
Hook: Wet fly, sizes 12–16.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Few fibres brown speckled partridge hackle.
Abdomen: Brown herl (e.g. dyed goose).
Rib: Fine silver wire.
Thorax: Hare’s ear.
Head: Fluorescent green tungsten bead.
COMPARA-NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–18.
Thread: Grey.
Tails: 3 fibres drake mallard flank feather.
Abdomen: Rabbit underfur.
Thorax: As abdomen.
Wing cases: Grey goose quill slip.
