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Fly of the Month

Bob Ireton brings together his experience in fly fishing, aquatic entomology, and knowledge of fly tying techniques and materials, to design and tie durable and effective flies.

Volume 4, Issue 11 November 2003

TEENY NYMPH
Fly, Text, and Photography by Bob Ireton

Jim Teeny designed and made the first Teeny Nymph in 1962. This, and his other fly designs, are the only flies he fishes. Over the years, this fly has over 20 world records to its credit. That says a lot about this generic, easily tied wet fly. All Teeny Nymphs are tied with ring neck pheasant tail feather fibers. The original nymphs used only naturally colored feathers, but more recently, a variety of dyed feathers are being used.

Presentation is very important with this fly. Jim doesn't tie the fly with weight, but rather gets it deep using a sinking line. He feels that the fly looks more natural as it drifts in the current if it is not weighted, and I agree. I don't fish with weighted lines, but choose to add weight on the tippet about 8" above the fly. Use a dead-drift presentation with this fly. Teeny casts across stream or quartering upstream and makes one or more upstream mends to sink and keep the fly near the bottom.

Teeny has since started his own business, and developed some great fly lines, and developed other fly patterns using his personally designed hooks made for him by Eagle Claw.

MATERIALS

Hook - Eagle Claw Teeny custom black, Daiichi 1120, Mustad 3399, or equivalent.
Size - 2-14.
Thread - 6/0 Brown.
Body - Natural Ringneck Pheasant tail fibers.
Legs - Tips of fibers used for body.

TYING STEPS - click on pictures for larger view

1 - Pinch down or roll over the hook barb, if desired. Place the hook properly in the vice. The bend only, and not the point, should be in the vice jaws. Use only enough pressure to hold the hook securely. Too much pressure on the hook, especially the point, will fatigue the metal, and it could very well break from the pressure of a nice fish! Now attach the working thread to the hook shank just behind the eye. Using close, tight wraps, lay on a nice thread base rearward, stopping above the barb. Tie a half hitch.
2 - Remove approximately 24 long fibers from a natural Ringneck Pheasant tail feather. Adjust the length and amount of fibers to the size of the fly. Larger sizes may require a second bunch of fibers. The fly pictured is a size 10. Using your fingers, or better yet, a pair of tweezers, align the tips of the feather fibers. Then trim the butt ends the same length as the shortest fiber. Tie the butts of the fibers in above the hook barb using a soft loop, then tighten and securely finish tying in the fibers. More or less even up the thread base as you take the thread forward, stopping almost to the hook eye. Tie a half hitch.
3 - Grasp the fibers between your thumb and first two fingers, and slightly twist the fibers in a clockwise direction. Wile continuing this, palmer the fibers up and over the top of the hook shank, keeping the fibers touching , and continue palmering the fibers forward to form the body. When the body gets to a hook eye or so space from the eye, tie off the fibers with the tips under the shank. Tie a half hitch.
4 - Now hold the fiber tips rearward to form the legs. The legs should be the length of the hook shank. Secure the fibers in this position with the working thread ,and tie a half hitch. Form a head with the thread, and tie a couple of half hitches next to the feather fibers. Now tie a whip finish from the feather fibers forward to the hook eye. Remove the working thread, and apply some head cement.

The Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Inc is a non-profit corporation organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Ohio for the preservation, conservation and wise use of our fishing waters and game fish; and to assist in the protection and improvement of our natural resources