Bitch Creek

Bitch Creek Nymph

How to tie a woven body nymph.

When I first saw the name of this fly I thought it had to do with how hard it was to tie. This is a western nymph but works well in the east too. The are many ways to tie a woven body fly but I feel this is the best way to do it. The materials are secured to the hook making this a durable fly. This pattern uses chenille but you can use a multitude of material, such as flosses and dubbing brushes. I learned how to tie this fly from Eric Leiser.

The technique on how to tie a woven body pattern was requested by Henry Hager. Thanks Henry for the suggestion, hope this is a helps to you.

Materials:
Hook:        Mustad 79580 (size 4 - 8)
Tail:            Two strands of Rubber Hackle
Underbody lead wire covered by white poly yarn
Abdomen:    Black and Orange Chenille (woven so that the black is on the top and the orange is on the bottom)
Thorax:       Black chenille
Thread:      Black 6/0
Antennae:     two strands of white rubber hackle
Legs:          Brown hackle palmered through thorax

Step 1	Attach a strip of lead wire to both sides of the hook shank. This will help give the nymph a flat appearance and add bulk to the body.
Step 2	Add two pieces of rubber legs for the tail at the bend of the hook. Try to tie them forked style
Step 3	Trim the excess of the rubber legs.
Step 4	Tie in the Black and Orange Chenille at the bend of the hook
Step 5	Tie in the white poly yarn at the bend of the hook. Wrap it towards the eye. This will help make the body fuller and give shape to the nymph.
Step 6	The next few steps are to show how to weave the body. It is easy if you just remember to keep the black on top and the orange on the bottom.
Step 7	This picture show the knot needed to weave this fly. Orange going underneath the shank of the hook while the black goes on the top of the shank.
Step 8	This isn't the only way to weave a fly body but the most durable. Since these are a series of knots, if the material is cut by a fish the knots will hold in place.
Step 9	This is underneath the shank of the fly. See how the knot is formed and also how the orange is kept on the bottom.
Step 10	This is what the knot looks like after you pull it tight
Step 11	When the abdomen is complete, tie off the orange chenille, then cut of the excess. This is about 3/4 of the hook shank.
Step 12	Tie in a brown hackle for palmer ribbing. As you can see the tip is tied in. After it is secured, cut the tip of the brown hackle off.
Step 13	Tie in two rubber hackles for the antennae.
Step 14	Finish the thorax area with the black chenille. Tie it in then cut off the excess.
Step 15	Wrap the brown hackle through the thorax. Tie the hackle off and trim. Whip finish.
Bottom	This is the bottom of the fly. See how the orange chenille is on the bottom.
Top	This is the top of the fly. The black chenille is on the top.