THE CARROT NYMPH

The carrot nymph proved to be one of the most productive flies of the 2002/2003 season. Usually fished as the second fly under a bead head brown nymph, and fished upstream using an indicator, this nymph hooked most of the big rainbows taken by our staff and also accounted for several first class browns. The ideal fly for the rainbows in the opening weeks of the season.

MATERIALS:
Hook: Mustad signature R70 or equivalent. Size 10-16
Thread: 8/0 red unithread
Tail: Brown hackle
Body: copper "brassie" uni wire
Thorax: peacock herl
Hackle: Brown cock hackle.

METHOD

1. Lay a bed of thread from just behind the eye to the bend of the hook.
2. Tie in a bunch of brown hackle at the bend of the hook for the tail.
3. Tie in two long strands of peacock herl just in front of the tail.
4. Tie in a length of the copper wire beside the peacock herl.
5. Wrap the copper wire to a point three quarters of the way along the shank and tie off. DO NOT CUT OFF THE WIRE.
6. Twist the two strands of peacock herl together and lay them along the top of the copper wire and tie off where you tied off the wire.
7. Tie in a dark brown cock hackle. This will be used to form the legs.
8. Tie in a piece of wide pearl mylar or a bunch of pearl shimmerflash at the same point.
9. Build up the thorax with the thread and then continue wrapping the copper wire over the thorax to just behind the eye of the hook. Tie off the copper wire and cut off the excess. (Do not crowd the head, since three other materials will also be tied of here)
10. Now twist together the peacock herl and overwrap the copper wire thorax to just behind the head. Tie off and cut off the excess herl.
11. Palmer the cock hackle over the peacock herl thorax and tie off and cut off excess.
12. Stroke the hackles downwards to lie beneath the thorax and pull the mylar forwards to form a flash wing case. Tie off, trim and form a red head.
13. Go Fishing!

NOTE, The carrot nymph can be tied as a bead head using a brass or tungsten bead. Alternatively, extra weight may be added by tying the thorax with lead wire instead of the copper.

BACK TO THE FLY BOX