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Marabou P.T. Nymph
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Marabou P.T. Nymph
By Jim Schollmeyer
Excerpt from Nymph Fly-Tying Techniques by Jim Shollmeyer, Published by Frank Amato Publications.

The fluffy characteristic of marabou feathers gives flies a lifelike movement when retrieved through stillwaters or drifted in streams. Select marabou feathers that have long, dense barbules that extend to the ends of the barbs.

Materials: Marabou P.T. Nymph

    Hook:  Nymph, 2X heavy, 2X long, sizes 10 - 16, weighted.

    Thread:  Brown.

    Tail:  Three pheasant tail fibers, natural or dyed to match body.

    Optional shellback:   Thin Skin strip, olive, brown or black.

    Rib:   Copper wire.

    Abdomen:   Marabou fibers, olive, brown, or color to match natural.

    Wing case:   Pheasant tail fibers, same color as tail.

    Thorax:   Peacock herl.

    Legs:   Pheasant tail fiber tips from wing case.

Tying Steps:

1. Mount a hook in the vise. Use the underbody lead direct wrap method (p. 20) to add weight to the hook shank. Advance the thread to the rear. Mount 3 pheasant tail fibers at the rear tie-in position and trim the excess.

2. Strip 4-10 barbs from a marabou feather. Mount the bundle of barbs a short distance back from their tips. Mount a length of copper wire at the tie-in position. Trim the excess barbs and wire.

3. Advance the thread to the middle of the hook shank. Gather the barbs and grip them with hackle pliers. Gently twist the bundle of barbs clockwise to consolidate them..Wrap the barbs to the forward tie-off position.

4. Secure the barbs with 3-4 thread wraps and trim the excess. Counter-wrap the copper wire forward, in evenly spaced wraps, to the forward tie-off position. Rock the wire back and forth while wrapping it to help release any trapped barbules.

5. Secure the wire and trim the excess. Select and align the tips of 8 - 12 pheasant tail barbs. With your right fingers measure them to the length of the hook shank as shown.

6. Transfer the bundle to your left fingers, pinching them at the measured length. Use the pinch wrap method (p. 18) to mount the barbs on top of the hook shank at the tie-in position.

7. Trim the excess barbs. Mount 2 peacock herls a short distance back from their tips, then trim the excess. Use the loop twisted method (p. 34) to form a chenille, and wrap the thorax area. Secure the peacock behind the hook eye.

8. Trim the excess peacock herl. Gather the pheasant barbs and pull them forward over the thorax. Secure them with 3 thread wraps at the tie-off position.

9. Divide the barb tips and fold them back along the sides. Take 3 thread wraps over them to hold them in position. Tie off the thread and finish the head. Jim Schollmeyer

Credits: From Nymph Fly-Tying Techniques by Jim Schollmeyer, Published by Frank Amato Publications. We appreciate use permission.


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