Bird’s Nest Nymph (very productive pattern)

Tying Instructions: http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/011501fotw.php

This is a great pattern for stillwaters and rivers. I have tied it in tan, grey and brown (I have seen it in claret, green, white and, of course, basic black). The mallard or teal feathers should be of a similar shade as the abdomen/thorax. I have usually tied it in sizes 10 to 14, although a better tier than me could go to a size 16 and still maintain the elements of the fly. Fish it in the film or subsurface. I have seen it with a bead head…but, stay with the original pattern and weight the shank, or use a sink line or whatever weightin mechanism besides the ubiquitous bead head. I have nothing against beads, but sometimes some patterns should just fish horizontal and neutral in weight. A simple pattern that is seriously productive. Note the tail and hackle lengths (length of shank is best..not to short nor too long). Keep it a nymph and resist the wet fly look. Try it!