MP's "Tucker Nymph"

Tucker Nymph, size #10 above, #18 below

The Tucker Nymph has already reached "infamous" status; folks I've never known are searching high and low for the pattern. No delay, this MP original pattern is now available to EVERYONE!

The Tucker Nymph is kinda like a soft-hackle BH Goldrib Hare's Ear. I would NOT be surprised to find out that this pattern, when dubbed with rabbit fur or other, has a different name. This pattern is my STANDARD go-to fly for inland trout. I tied up some as size #10 and on it's first outting whacked a Jack Chinook. Add on a few steelies, Kamloops on the North Shore, and MANY MANY testimonials from folks who've tried it, including Chromeseeker who fished it side by side with a Hare's Ear Nymph - the Tucker took 60% of the fish, regardless if it was the lead or dropper fly. Pretty much this is a pattern you need to have in your box.

I generally fish this a few different ways. First, it is deadly on a drift with the occasional twitch. I low clear water a dead drift is usually most appropriate. In murky water a swing with occasional twitches usually does the trick. Fast Water I've even skittered it across the surface and taken fish. When fish are rising sporadically, I can sometimes nail them by casting the fly directly into the riseform for a pounding surface strike that occurs instantly. Sometimes in still water PLUNKING the nymph down with a hard splash draws the attention of fish...and induces a strike.

The original pattern is as follows:

Hook - Daiichi 1270 (3x long, curved shank, straight eye), usually size 16 or 18.

Tail - Partridge, stripped from the quill of a back or rump feather. Usually 10-15 barbs, tied about the 3/4 the length of the hook shank.

Rib - Oval Fine Gold Tinsel - on smaller flies, 4-5 turns from tail to head.

Body - Dubbed underfur with occasional guard hairs from my cat (Tucker). It's basically a gray fur that dubs well (my cat is actually a brown/black combination...kinda like a Maine-Coon). Bags of Tucker Dubbing are available for $1.5 million :) The cat is NOT for sale. I swear this what makes this such an effective pattern; I can fish a Hare's Ear right along side a Tucker Nymph; I'll get 2-3X more takes on the Tucker. Something about that Cat Fur...it must smell appealing or something.

Hackle - Patridge, small feather from the neck / shoulders. Once hackled, feather barbs should extend to just before the bend of the hook when compressed towards the back.

Head - Gold Bead Head, appropriate size.

There is also a "Tungsten Tucker"; simply replace the Gold Bead Head with a Black Tungsten Bead (so you can easily tell them apart from the lighter "Tucker Nymph"). Furthermore, there is a "Copper Tucker"; replace the gold bead with copper and the oval tinsel with copper ultra wire.