In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Davie McPhail ties jig style nymph that every angler should carry a variety of in their fly box, the CDC Jig Head Nymph.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
If there were a desert island scenario in fly tying where I could only bring five materials, CDC would be on that list every time. Few materials create as buggy a profile and come in at relatively low cost as CDC. Flies that incorporate this material will catch trout anywhere in the world and give you confidence on any adventure. This CDC Jig Head Nymph is a perfect base pattern for you to add variations and tweak to imitate natural and unnatural bugs, and should be in your fly box year-round.
I’m confident that tyers of any experience level will be able to master this pattern in no time. Creating this fly involves simple fundamental skills that make it perfect to practice on, especially if you are just beginning your journey in tying. Adding your own special flare to match the hatch in your water or adding a new color dubbing that caught your eye are two easy variations to start with. Bring the CDC Jig Head Nymph wherever and whenever, with your added touch or not, and watch the productivity unfold.
This pattern is versatile and can be fished in any rig or style. During the winter, you can dead drift it under an indicator or in a tight line rig, and it could even be swung behind a streamer like the Woolly Bugger. In the warmer months, you will find productivity by using this as a dropper under a larger dry fly. There isn’t a season that the CDC Jig Head Nymph won’t be your friend on the water, and this cold weather will give you ample time to stock up.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Fulling Mill FM5140 Jig Force size 14
- Bead: Fulling Mill 2.8mm Slotted Metallic
- Thread: Pink Uni-8/0
- Tail: Whiting Coq de Leon Medium Pardo
- Rib: Small UTC Red Wire
- Body: A Mix of Pink CDC Fibres and Hare’s Mask Dubbing
- Hackle: A Small Natural CDC Feather
- Thorax: Fulling Mil Euro Nymph UV Dub (Dark Hare’s Ear UV Dub)
Now you know how to tie a CDC Jig Head Nymph!
Video courtesy of Davie McPhail.
