Although we’re already almost half way through January, happy new year! I’ve had a great start to the new year with some fishing thrown in and lots of fly tying.

Last week I fished with one of my very good friends Lisa Isles. We ventured out in some horrific wind In persute of some stocked rainbow trout at Barnsfold Trout Fishery. Take a look at her blog Here to see how we faired.

Over this winter I’ve been doing lots of fly tying in preparation for up coming shows. I’m so excited to be tying on the famous fly tyers row at the British Fly Fair, at Stafford on the 10th & 11th Of February. It’s a huge honour to be asked to tie amongst some of the worlds finest fly dressers.

I will also be making a trip toThe London Fly Fair in March, 23rd & 24th. where again I will be tying some of my favourite river nymphs and dry flies.

If you can, make sure you come along to these shows. I can’t recommend these events enough if you’ve just started fly tying. I have, and still do learn so much from the endless talent that is on

Here is a little step by step to how I like to tie the black and green quill Nymph.

Materials –

Hook – Partridge Standard Dry size 14/16/18

Bead – black tungsten to suit hook

Thread – Gordon Griffiths Sheer 14/0, Green/Olive

Tail – Coq De Leon

Body – Polish Quill Green

Thorax – Hends rabbit fur in green (code K, 26)

UV coating – Deer Creek Fine UV resin

Step 1:

Place the bead on the hook and secure the hook in the vice.

Step 2:

Start your tying thread off, secure the bead in place and run down to just before the bend of the hook.

Catch in 5/6 Coq De Leon fibres and trim away the waste.

Step 3:

Catch in the quill, I like to run my tying thread back towards the bead and tidy up a bit and create a nice tapered body for the quill to lay on, it’s important, that when tying with quill to have a nice flat base to bring the quill up on, to achive this I spin my thread so it opens up and lays flat, this making a nice smooth body.

Step 4:

Grap your hackle pliers and wind the quill up, ensuring you leave no gaps! You should end up with a nice segmented body on the fly.

Step 5:

I like to make a half hitch or a whip finish so that I can apply uv resin or super glue to the fly.

I don’t like to use too much resin as I like these nymphs to have a nice skinny but tapered profile.

Apply your resin and cure.

Step 6:

I like to make a sparse but “buggy” thorax, I find that the Hends rabbit fur gives a great look and finish to this fly.

You can fish this fly in a number of ways, as a team of a two or three cast set up or on the dropper when fishing the duo or trio!