Hex Nymph

From WikiTyer

Tying the Hexagenia Nymph

Wrap a lead-free base around hook bend.

Beginning wrapping thread in front of the lead and continue back to the bend of the hook. Tie on a section of pheasant tail about a 1/4" wide.

Attach a ~5" of fine wire.

Attach a white ostrich filo plume feather.

Dub a rough body forward- here I'm using a mix of scraps from the tying bench (rabbits foot under-fur left over from another project, the hair from the top of the rabbits foot, and some yellow "Oregon Cheese" egg yarn) chopped small and mixed by hand.

Warp the ostrich filo plume forward.

Fold the pheasant tail section over the top of the hook shank and counter wrap the wire forward.

Top view of the back after wrapping the wire forward (I forgot to counterwrap this one).

Attach another 1/4" wide section of pheasant tail.

Tie on a large soft hackle feather for palmering later.

Dub thorax the same as the body.

Palmer soft hackle forward, carefully folding back barbs as you go to prevent any from getting trapped under successive wraps.

Fold pheasant tail section forward, parting soft hackle legs to either side, to create shellback.

Using a "Figure 8" wrap, tie the "eyes" onto hook just behind the hook eye. For eyes, I'm using small diameter black chenile, being careful to take several wraps underneath the eyes to prop them up.

Dub a small amount of dubbing around eyes to hide thread. Tie off the fly with a whip finish. Add a drop of Zap-a-Gap to the shellback and eyes being careful to not get any in the hook eye.

(Side view) (Bottom view) (Front View)

Trim legs to size. I try to trim from different directions to keep them "buggy" looking.

Finally, go have fun fishing it.