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How To Tie A Gold Bead-head
The finished Product
Michael Hinton’s first fly, the gold bead head nymph with lots-a-legs!
Michael
analytically examines the fruit of his hard labours, a bead head nymph, his
first fly. Close up, photo on right hand side. Slightly modified with legs. Tie
lots of these for New Zealand and put in lead! By the way, these "you
beaut " pictures are on the net.
Thread on a gold bead head. Use a 3mm drill bit to file the ends and take off the burrs. Wrap on tying silk along the base of the hook, tie on pheasant tail basal feathers for the tail and tie in the gold wire.
Dub on body two thirds along the way of the hook and then tie in some more pheasant tail basal feathers as a wing case and legs. These are like normal feathers but tie up good tails and make great nymph legs. They are also bi-colour so have a pattern. Tie on a body in front of the wing case. Fold over the wing case and tie off. Pull back the feather to form legs and tie loops behind the bead head, gradually pulling down the legs. Whip finish and cement.
Fly by Michael, photos courtesy Steve Varga. Better quality photos are available on the net.