Alaska Fly Fish "Fly of the Week"

	The Fox Squirrel Nymph Courtesy of Max aka FlashBackMax Editorial by FlashBackMax Materials: Hook: #10-18 Nymph Hook, I’m using a #12 Daiichi 1560 Bead: 1/8 dia gold or black Thread: 8/0 in whatever color you like, I’m using dark olive cause I have a ton of it! Tail: Fox Squirrel Guard Hairs Body: The original calls for the lighter colored hair on the sides of the squirrel skin mixed with antron. That’s too much work for too little reward in my book. I just used a packaged antron/rabbit dubbing. However, just about any cream/tan colored dubbing will work. Rib: Small Opal Mirage Tinsel, or pearl flashabou Collar: Fox Squirrel Guard hairs Fox Squirrel Nymph: i.e. Grayling crack! I’m not sure quite what it is about this fly. However the one thing I am sure about is grayling and trout love it! My take is slightly different than the Dave Whitlock original that called for a soft hackle feather wrapped around the front. I feel with the really spiky squirrel dubbing and an old trimmed down toothbrush you can make a buggier and sturdier fly. Step 1 - Thread the bead onto the hook and secure the hook in the vice. Step 2 - Lay a base of thread and tie in a tail. The tail should be shorter than the traditional type nymph tail, only about one-half the length of the hook shank. Step 3 and 4 - Tie in a piece of the tinsel at the rear next to the tail and dub yourself a nice fluffy, but not too fluffy body. Step 5 - Wrap the tinsel in nice even turns towards the head and secure with the thread. Step 6 - Dub on a nice coarse collar of guard hairs. Then secure the thread with a whip finish and cement. Step 7 - Break out your toothbrush(preferably trimmed down so the bristled are short and stout), gun brush, or dubbing comb and pick the heck out of it. This pulls out all the looser fibers and makes them stick out like legs, gills, or whatever. The end result is a super buggy, fish catching machine you’ll be “hooked” on! In Clearwater and Brushkana creeks this past fall it was just murder. I prefer to work off the whole skin of the squirrel. These can be found in most fly shops or by mail-order. If you have a relative who lives in fox squirrel country they might be able to help too! For the tail just cut off a bunch of hair, discard the excess under fur, and tie the remaining fibers in. As for the collar, clip off a bunch off hair and mix the guard hairs and the under fur together in the palm of your hand. When you go to dub them they can be a little unruly sometimes. So a good wax or wetting your finger can really help. Your done! Courtesy of Max aka FlashBackMax**

The Fox Squirrel Nymph

Courtesy of Max aka FlashBackMax

Editorial by FlashBackMax

Materials:

Hook: #10-18 Nymph Hook, I’m using a #12 Daiichi 1560

Bead: 1/8 dia gold or black

Thread: 8/0 in whatever color you like, I’m using dark olive cause I have a ton of it!

Tail: Fox Squirrel Guard Hairs**

Body: The original calls for the lighter colored hair on the sides of the squirrel skin mixed with antron. That’s too much work for too little reward in my book. I just used a packaged antron/rabbit dubbing. However, just about any cream/tan colored dubbing will work.

Rib: Small Opal Mirage Tinsel, or pearl flashabou

Collar: Fox Squirrel Guard hairs**

Fox Squirrel Nymph: i.e. Grayling crack!

I’m not sure quite what it is about this fly. However the one thing I am sure about is grayling and trout love it! My take is slightly different than the Dave Whitlock original that called for a soft hackle feather wrapped around the front. I feel with the really spiky squirrel dubbing and an old trimmed down toothbrush you can make a buggier and sturdier fly.

Step 1 - Thread the bead onto the hook and secure the hook in the vice.

Step 2 - Lay a base of thread and tie in a tail. The tail should be shorter than the traditional type nymph tail, only about one-half the length of the hook shank.

Step 3 and 4 - Tie in a piece of the tinsel at the rear next to the tail and dub yourself a nice fluffy, but not too fluffy body.

Step 5 - Wrap the tinsel in nice even turns towards the head and secure with the thread.

Step 6 - Dub on a nice coarse collar of guard hairs. Then secure the thread with a whip finish and cement.

Step 7 - Break out your toothbrush(preferably trimmed down so the bristled are short and stout), gun brush, or dubbing comb and pick the heck out of it. This pulls out all the looser fibers and makes them stick out like legs, gills, or whatever.

The end result is a super buggy, fish catching machine you’ll be “hooked” on! In Clearwater and Brushkana creeks this past fall it was just murder.

** I prefer to work off the whole skin of the squirrel. These can be found in most fly shops or by mail-order. If you have a relative who lives in fox squirrel country they might be able to help too! For the tail just cut off a bunch of hair, discard the excess under fur, and tie the remaining fibers in. As for the collar, clip off a bunch off hair and mix the guard hairs and the under fur together in the palm of your hand. When you go to dub them they can be a little unruly sometimes.

So a good wax or wetting your finger can really help.

Your done!

Courtesy of Max aka FlashBackMax