December 2004 Fly of the Month

Dark Lord Nymph (Variant) by Rick Bolda Many of us love fishing the Prince Nymph. The Dark Lord has a similar silhouette. Yet, the color variation of this nymph seems to work well. I caught six good size fish (15-19 inches) in early March last season using this variation. Fly fishing expert, good friend and mentor, Ron Eagan told me there was a small black stonefly hatch occurring. It was 5 degrees when we left in the morning, but it reached 30 degrees that afternoon. My fingers were numb and ice kept forming on the guides. Yet, that day warmed my spirit for many months. What beautiful fish! Note: This fly also works well later in summer (size 18) when anything small and black seems to work.
	Hook: #12-18 Tiemco 3761 or Mustad 3906B (1X Long Nymph hook) Bead: Black tungsten bead, sized to the hook (5/32" size 12, 7/64" on sizes 14 or 16, 3/32" on size 16 or 18) Thread: Black 8/0 or 6/0 Tai: l Goose biots - reddish brown on the variant, dark brown on the original Dark Lord Rib: Wire or oval tinsel, red on this variant, gold on the original Body: Black dubbing (SLF) Wing: Black goose biots Hackle: Black soft hackle (brown as a substitute)
	1) Pinch the barb down and place the black bead on the hook. Attach the tying thread and wrap back to just above the barb location. Create a small thread ball at the top of the bend. This will be used to splay the biot tail. Wrap forward slightly.
	2) Tie in the biot tail. If you find biots uncooperative, tie them in separately. You can master tying them both on at once with practice. Place one biot on the far side of the hook and firmly attach it in front of the thread ball but not back to the thread ball. Attach the other biot on the near side with firm wraps. Now holding both biots wrap back to the thread ball. Trim the butt ends and secure. .
	3) Tie in the ribbing material and prepare to dub the body.
	4) Dub a tapered body, but leave some room behind the bead for the biots. SLF fibers tend to be long. You may have to trim long loose fibers with your scissors. Wrap the ribbing forward and tie off
	5) Measure two black biots about the length of the shank. Tie them in just behind the bead, while holding them in a v-shape that resembles an open scissors. Fold over the butt ends with your thumbnail, trim and wrap tightly.
	6) Tie in a black hackle (or dark brown).
	7) After two to three wraps of hackle, tie it off and cut the excess. Wrap back slightly to cause the hackle to lean back. Apply a whip finish and head cement. You may prefer to place a tiny bit of dubbing behind the bead before finishing it off.