I'm still deep in the throes of the winter rummage and sort through the fly boxes... preparing the squad, and a few possible team sheets for next season. There's been a few casualties... and the upcoming transfer window will no doubt see a few more! There are, however, many many evergreens, classics, and out-and-out essentials that perform above and beyond the call, year in year out. Thought I'd share a few with y'all..... don't leave home without 'em!
This one comes from the Bewlmeister himself - Bob Barden, from an era when anorexia was all the rage. Along with the likes of John White, Dave Shipman etc, Bob made us look and think again about buzzers, nymphs and emergers; how to tie them and indeed how to fish them - for years there was hardly a trophy on the scene safe form these guys. Open any fly box in the country, comp angler or pleasure, and I'll bet you a pound to a penny there will be a host of patterns that owe their existence in one way or another to the thinking and tying of Mr Barden & Co.
Simplictity and subtle suggestion is the key with these types patterns. A vague impression of a readily available food source or two, will, more often than not, drive the fish bonkers and out-score more imitative offerings. If you can capture the spirit and the essence of a critter in a simple pattern and place it before a fish, then it's likely 'Fait Accompli' - the fishes mind will do the rest and fill in any gaps.
The Barden 'Killer Nymph' is such a fly. Three materials in perfect harmony wreaking havoc with the mind of the trout.... "Is it a nymph? A buzzer? A pin-fry? A damsel?" "Who cares? It's bound to be one or the other!" I'm not convinced that the killer wasn't originally tied specifically with the damsel in mind, but somehow I doubt that I was the first to tie it in smaller sizes and fish it as an all round nymph.
Fishing it? Well, there ain't that much will dilute the efficacy of this 'nymph' either.. fish it singly on a floater, or in a team combined with other nymphy offerings... spiders, wets, buzzers, Diawls. Behind a blob, or even a team of three as I have done on occasion! Sizes? 12's and 10's do most of the damage for me, but 14's and 8's have their place too (think buzzers - damsels).
The Barden 'Killer Nymph'
Hook: B175 - 8,10,12,14
Tail: Olive cock
Rib: Copper Wire
Body: Olive Seals fur (mine is a mix of 3 shades)
Thread: Olive
I think maybe Bob's original may have actually called for two or three hackle points for the tail. Variants aplenty too - JC splits, glister/ice dube etc. Basic colour. You won't improve on perfection, but you might just make it more appropriate/suitable for conditions, locale etc.
Essentials - Barden Killer Nymph
will need your help to learn how to take such good close up photo's
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