Something I used to tie

[troutpocket]

I got a reminder today from @Matt B about a pattern I used to tie and fish a lot. It’s one of those patterns that’s been displaced by others because it takes some time, effort, and rather specific materials. I’ve become a lazy tier, basically. But dang, it’s a good fly, so I found the stuff I needed and cranked out a few.

The process is a little chaotic:


But they do come together nicely.


I went through a phase about 10 years ago of adapting Denny Rickards patterns for jig hooks. This is where I landed for the Stillwater Nymph. It’s really good (sometimes) under an indicator.

 

[Zak]

Where does the olive Marabou end up?

 

[troutpocket]

Where does the olive Marabou end up?

It’s a shell back. Basically along the entire top side of the pattern from hook bend to bead.

 

[Matt B]

However, having fished a damaged fly to great success recently, I’ll suggest that just tying in a free-waving tuft of olive marabou up at the collar could be a viable alternative.

 

[troutpocket]

Yes, after a few fish the olive marabou shell back gives out at the hook bend. You end up with this, which still fishes just fine:

 

[Matt B]

Yes, after a few fish the olive marabou shell back gives out at the hook bend. You end up with this, which still fishes just fine:
View attachment 13695

Maybe better? Tied on a loop knot, the action of this thing is unreal.

 

[troutpocket]

Spent a little time over the weekend reacquainting myself with these things.

 

[Tom Butler]

Spent a little time over the weekend reacquainting myself with these things.
View attachment 13809

Those look really good.

 

[Matt B]

Where does the olive Marabou end up?

For me the other day, it kept ending up in fish’s mouths!

 

[Matt B]

Yes, after a few fish the olive marabou shell back gives out at the hook bend. You end up with this, which still fishes just fine:
View attachment 13695

Here are my variants tied with materials on hand, and letting the former shellback fish wild and free. I didn’t like the looks of the natural blood marabou so I went for webbier, pinched-off marabou for more “breathing” movement, theoretically anyway. I also played around with mixing and mottling marabou colors.