ZAK Nymph Fishing Fly

I previously posted a series of pictures on tying the Fly ZAK Nymph, which, on reflection, could be improved on. The Zak, as Ian Cox rightly points out in a letter in the October November 2011 issue of Flyfisherman, is more a style of tying than a precise pattern, so there is room to use a variety of materials. However, the tying principles remain the same. We are after a dark, buggy, life-like fly that will represent a host of Baetid nymphs and have certain key triggers – movement, the right profile with a sparse, long tail, sloping abdomen, a clear thorax and a suggestion of legs.

MATERIALS

Hook: Hanak H230 #14

Bead: Glass, brass or tungsten; again your choice

Thread: 6/0 black

Under-thorax: Wool or lead wire if you are tying really heavy patterns.

Tail: Preferably the finer, barred fibres from a water mongoose skin. Alternatively use jackal or grey squirrel. I think cock hackles are too straight and stiff for the fly.

Body and thorax: Three peacock herls stripped of all flue, one plain peacock herl, purple DMC thread (green, or red, or blue DMC if you can’t get purple) and copper fuse wire.

Legs: Dun or any dark hackle, preferably genetic so the fibres are not too long.

TYING STEPS

Add a bead and dress the shank with silk.

Select the finer barred fibres from a water mongoose skin and pull them out with your fingers. This is better than using scissors when you tend to end up with too many fibres.

Fly ZAK Nymph continues here.