RAMBLINGS OF A FLY TYER
Prince John
This month’s fly is a nymph that I had fun playing with and caught quite a few fish with last season. It did well on summer run steel head, cuttys and rainbows on the river. I also had good success on spring creeks like the Williamson and the Wood Rivers on the other side of the mountains, and the Metolious River up north. This year (if I can keep the dry flys off my leader) I want to try it on Hat Creek and the Sacramento River around Redding CA. I’ve dubbed this fly the “Royal Fly” (pun intended) and named it the Prince John. As you can guess, it’s half Copper John and half Prince Nymph.
Hook: Daiichi 1760, size 10-18
Thread –black
Wire weight – sized to hook, 1/3 to ½ the hook shank
Tail – 2 brown or amber goose biots
Abdomen – wire, x-small to med, 2/3 of hook length. The colors that have worked well for me are chartreuse, red, yellow, black or copper.
Thorax – peacock herl, fairly full
Hackle – brown, and I prefer mottled, like hen back, or a new quail called mega quail that Hairline carries.
Wing – White or amber goose biots
Head – black thread. (note: I am sure you could use a bead, in fact, I’m quite sure some will. I am just not a bead fan, just me.)
Notes: After I put on the lead, I tie in the wire, taper with thread, put on the tail, wrap wire, then coat with loon UV flow or thin. The rest, I think, is pretty easy to follow.
Hope to see you at the NW Flytying and Fishing Expo next weekend!
David E Roberts
