Popper Nymph

HOOK: Dai Riki 270, size 12 TAIL: Form pieces from underbody BUBBLE: Bright Antron yarn UNDERBODY: Four strips of foam BODY: Chenille RIBBIN: Small pearl mylar tinsel WING/HACKLE: Soft marabou COLLAR (OPTIONAL): Widgeon flank or dark-dyed flank feathers FLASH (OPTIONAL): Pearl Flashabou HEAD: Peacock Ice Dub

Uses

This unusual pattern is suited to the "bottom-up" presentation in early-season trout lakes (see Bottoms Up! in the Westfly archives). It is a bouyant attractor pattern that is meant to be fished near the bottom with a heavy sinking line.

Variations

Vary the body color as desired. Good choices include brown, olive, peacock, purple, and black.

How to Fish

Use a heavy sinking line that will reach the bottom in 10-20 feet of water. The line rests on the bottom, but the fly floats above (use a two to three foot leader). Retrieve with short pulls, putting a good pause between each pull. See the article mentioned above for more details. The retrieve pulls the fly downwards; the pause lets it float back up. It's a tantalizing retrieve for early-season trout

Tying Instructions

1. Debarb hook, place in vise, start thread.

 
2. Tie in Antron for bubble. Usually you'll need 4-5 strands.

 
3. Tie in four strips of foam, allowing it to extend beyond the hook bend by about 20% of the hook length. Superglue it to prevent spinning

 
4. Make a bubble of antron around the foam butt

 
5. Tie in chenille and mylar tinsel.

 
6. Wrap body with chenille, then wrap tinsel.

 
7. Tie in marabou.

 
8. Tie in flash.

 
9. Dub head.

 
10. Whipfinish, cement, and trim.