This has become a modern-day favourite for both grayling and trout. Often fished by the Czech nymphing style it is a really good catching fly. It represents shrimp and hog lice and I suspect caddis worm also that are major staple foods for our native fish.

The dressing is as follows:

• Hook: Kamasan B110 or any similar grub hook. Size to suit conditions and naturals.
• Underbody: Lead wire or flat lead strip
• Silk: Power silk or uni nylon 70 denier
• Ribs: 4/5lb nylon gold wire
• Shellback: Flexibody. Latex or Cinnamon body stretch
• Body: Hares ear or squirrel dub in olive.
• Head: Olive or brown

Attach the hook into the vice and apply the lead underbody.

The lead layer is wound on in touching turns. A second layer is then added on top of the first but is started 3 turns in from the first and ends 3 turns in from the front so we create a pyramid effect.

If you want a really fast sinking fly you may add a third layer in the same manner. Now add a drop of super glue and attach your tying thread.

Wind the thread over the body creating a smooth profile winding the thread to fill in the gaps and smooth out any bumps.

Attach the nylon rib by tying it on the underside of the body. Remember that the material that is tied in first is the material that will be set in last. Now attach the second rib again on the underside of the body.

For this example, I have tied the fly with a latex shell back. This has been cut from a sheet of latex in a small narrow strip of 4 to 5 MM wide. The one end has then been cut to form the taped shape in the photograph.

Tie in the latex by this taper at the rear of the fly.

Check your fly at this stage to make sure that the rear of the fly tapers and does not have a swelling at the back like a boil!

Now dub the body material and wind it over the hook shank in touching turns. I always use a darker coloured dubbing to form the thorax.

You can change this to orange dubbing if you want or a combination of any shades is acceptable. Again it’s your fly and you are the one who will be fishing with it.

Wind through the gold rib first and then fold over the shell back stretching it tight and tie that in at the head.

Remember not to cut the shell back until you are sure that it won’t fly off or pull free as it is really hard to tie it in when it’s shorter than a shorty thing!.

Now rib over the shell back with the nylon ensuring that it follows the gold rib and lies next to it. This gives the segmented effect that you want in the shell back.

Tie off the rib and whip finish and varnish the head.

If you want to brush out some of the fibres from the dubbing which will give the fly a leggy effect.

Good fishing.

If you want to ask any questions or want help just contact the forum.