Perdigon nymphs have become one of my favourite flies to tie over the last year. originated from Spain, these mini bullet look flies have fast become nymphs that have found a home in many anglers fly boxes. The thing I love the most about them is that the list is endless for the different colour variations you can tie them in. You can use all manner of materials like Trans Brite, tinsles and my favourite, polish quills!

Invented by Spanish competition Anglers these flies are designed to be fished in fast flowing rivers and sink very quickly. When fishing with perdigons I set up with a 10ft 4wt rod, a French leader and either 2 perdigons or a Perdigon on the point and a lighter nymph such as a simple hares ear just above, I’ve found this to be the most productive in recent outings.

Below I have put together a simple step by step on how I tie a Perdigon nymph.

Hook – Partridge Wide Gape Jig size 16

Thread – Textreme Lemon 8/0

Tail – coq de Leon

Bead – slotted nickel 3.0

Body – Oliver Trans-Brite

Collar – Textreme Fluo hot orange

UV resin – Deer creek fine

Step 1

Place the hook in the vice and secure the bead in place with thread wraps.

Step 2

Take your thread down to the bend of the hook with touching turns.

Step 3

Take some coq de Leon and catch ontop of the hook shank, you want your tail to be approximately as long as the body.

Step 4

Run your thread back towards the bead and catch in one strand of trans Brite.

Step 5

Wind your trans Brite down to the tail, then create a nice tapered body by going back and forth. Trans Brite is quite a stretchy material, with it being transparent the more you wind it over it’s self the darker it gets so you can taper your body to get the look of the invertebrates that you find in the river!

Secure in place and whip finish.

Step 6

I like to add an orange collar, not massive just a little one. Just enough to cover where you have whip finished.

Step 7

Make another whip finish and then apply uv resin, a nice tapered coat is what your looking for.

A quick zap with a uv torch and you’re good to go. When I tie with resin I like to leave the flies on a windowsill during the day to make sure they go rock hard then into the fly box they go!
I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year,

Tight lines and I hope to see many of you at shows or on the water in 2019