Shell Back material for Czech Nymphs?

[flymph]

Chewey skin, Thin Skin, Flexibody, Scud Back, Magic Shrimp Foil, just to name a few . . . What is your preference and please tell me which you feel is the most "durable".
Flymph

[jindra]

I honestly believe that the materials you listed are equal to the task - it even could be that many of them are the same stuff sold under different trade names. I would not lose sleep over the brand choice - you can even try tying a few nymphs with shellback from a strip of a heavy duty plastic bag you cut yourself, thus asserting your independence on the fish tackle industry

In the old times (before Internet and open borders) people over here used all kinds of stuff for the shell back - surgical gloves, latex condoms, sausage skin, dried mackerel skin to name but a few - and boy did they catch fish!

[casts_by_fly]

I've used surgical gloves, but they are a little too thin and delicate for my ham fists. I've since just bought a piece of latex sheet that works fine. Cut to shape with big scissors. If I want a light colored shellback that's what I use. I like flashback too when I want some flash in a nymph. I use thinskin now and then, but I think it is a little thicker than I'd like so I save it for bigger flies. I also use swiss straw. They all work well. Swiss straw is a little less durable, but it can look awesome if you get it right.

Thanks
Rick

[dwiltshire]

Originally Posted by casts_by_fly

Swiss straw is a little less durable

I agree with Rick about the idea of using Swiss Straw / Raffine. I use this alot for the shell backs on CN's and Shrimps:





To improve durability, cover with a layer of head cement / varnish.

Hends Shell back is also worth a look:


http://www.irishflytying.com/index.p...mart&Itemid=68

[Chris Reeves]

Swiss straw + varnish for me, almost indestructible!

[palindromic_bob]

I made a few using the plastic from veniard bags cut to width with a razor blade. Nice and strong and worked a treat. The straw ones look beautiful though.

Forgot to add I used a very light wiped on coating of mettalic nail varnish. This added a nice irridesence. Hard to describe the technique basically a paint on wipe off affair.

[neilb]

i like the hends shell back. using it defo made a positive increase to my catch rate