Czech nymph question

[mouche]

hi,
I'm thinkig of tying some cZechish nymphs this weekend but was wondering if I really need to use something like scud back on them?

Cheers
Paul

[g1zmo]

You can use all sorts of things to make the backs from thick polythene to 'proper' scudback material. I've been using strips cut from latex gloves (cheap to buy) its stretchy so you can get the back tensioned to give the shell effect and takes a permanent marker well (either on the inside or the outside). Try to get the natural coloured ones.

[mouche]

Cheers for that. I actually have some latex gloves but they're covered in talc and are an off White colour. Will they do the job? Or can I just forget the shell covering?
Haven't got any polythene at the mo but will see what else I can find . Oh, finally I've got my Pantone pens too which is nice

[mouche]

Cheers for that. I actually have some latex gloves but they're covered in talc and are an off White colour. Will they do the job? Or can I just forget the shell covering?
Haven't got any polythene at the mo but will see what else I can find . Oh, finally I've got my Pantone pens too which is nice

[g1zmo]

I can't see why not. Try it and see, brush the talc off first though or your scuds will look like they've got dandruff

[darwin]

some folk use plastic bags and the like.

[lhomme]

Originally Posted by darwin

some folk use plastic bags and the like.

Yes, and if you take a clear one you'll end up with a nice shiny back and the dubbing colour of your nymph. No markers needed, unless you want a darker back. But in that case I'd go over the dubbing with a darker (indelible) colour.

Enjoy your opening day, Paul.
Johan

[flytire]

ive used clear plastic sandwich baggies or zip lock baggies since the 80's. works great!

[andreb]

latex gloves and condoms don't last on CZ nymphs. While it works, and can look great, the latex is very thin, and tends to scuff and break from the fly bouncing along the rocks at the bottom of the river. Try a thicker, more durable material for better results.

[jindra]

Latex condoms and surgical gloves were among the the first materials used for shellback of the CZ style nymphs (together with dried mackerel skin and sausage skin and what not). Czechoslovakia in the 1980's was not a very rich and well supplied place; you had to make do with what was available.
An interesting read on the very early Czech style nymphs written by Mr. Křivanec (who was directly present) is here: https://www.flyfishingpoint.net/#/ar...he-czech-nymph