Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 9

Tying the
Beadhead
Prince Nymph
by Carl Haensel

photos by the author

Looking for a fly to tie on your line for opening day? The Beadhead Prince
Nymph has been a go-to fly in early spring for many years. Roughly
imitating a small stonefly nymph, it combines multiple types of flash along
with good weight to get down deep. The bright white goose biots are key
triggers that induce many trout to hit. Tie up a couple dozen of these flies
before heading out, and you won't go wrong.
The Beadhead Prince Nymph is a great fly to tie for many reasons.
Materials to tie it can be used on a number of other common patterns,
particularly the peacock herl. Using similar materials for different flies
makes your tying more efficient. Improving the tying techniques used
in this fly will help you with many other similar patterns. For the hackle,
try a variety of different materials to see what works best for you. Some
anglers like to fish a version with softer hackle that moves more in the
current, others like a stiffer collar. Experiment with hackle lengths as
well, and see what works best for you when you tie the Beadhead Prince
Nymph. You may find that you like the soft hackles short, or possibly
more than double the length of gap of the hook.

Beadhead Prince Nymph materials

Hook: Nymph hook such as a TMC 3761, sizes 12 to 16
Thread: Black flat waxed
Bead: Gold, sized to fit
Hackle: Furnace hackle, small saddle hackle or dyed partridge
Tail: Brown or reddish goose biots
Wing: White goose biots
Body: Peacock herl
Rib: Medium gold wire

1 Add the bead to your hook; making sure the small opening is toward the
eye of the hook. Place it in the vise, and attach the thread to the center
of the hook.

2 Wrap your thread to the bend of the hook. Tie in the brown goose biots.
3 Tie in the wire facing to the rear to avoid getting in the way of the fly as
you tie. In the same direction, tie in three strands of peacock herl.

4 Wrap the peacock herl toward the bead. Taper the width of the body so

that it becomes larger as it approaches the bead. Tie off the peacock herl
behind the bead and cut off excess. Wrap the wire forward over the herl,
secure and trim it.

5 Tie in the white goose biots facing rearward. Cut off excess.
6 Tie in the hackle, and wrap it around the fly just behind the bead.
7 Tie off the hackle, add a few wraps at the base of the bead, and finish the
fly. Add head cement or glue behind the bead to make it more durable.

PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2014

9



http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 13
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover3
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT4
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