Solar Panel Nymph

Cheech - July 20, 2016

This pattern is a culmination of some experiments with materials I had never put on the same hook before, vinyl nymph rib and speckled flashabou. In the mess of my fly tying dungeon I have had several spools of half round nymph rib sitting in a drawer for over 10 years, but I had never really played with the small stuff on a mayfly nymph with it. I had just finished using the speckled flashabou on a streamer pattern, so it was on the desk taking up space when I decided to tie a vinyl rib mayfly. The Solar Panel Nymph was the result and it has been a great producer on the river ever since. It can be tied in a wide array of colors due to the translucent nature of the vinyl ribbing, and many colors of flashabou could be added. Overall, this is a pattern that is perhaps a bit more realistic than a pheasant tail or a hare's ear, and it's not difficult to tie at all. The tip with the lighter was a modification of a technique I saw from Mak-Flies on YouTube. It's a pretty slick way of tying it in with no bulk at the back of the fly.

~ Cheech

Material List
  • Hook: Daiichi 1560 - Traditional Nymph Hook - 14
  • Thread: 6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed - Camel
  • Bead: Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Jet Black - 3/32" (2.3mm)
  • Tail: Flash Sale Hackle 77 - Whiting 4B Hen Saddle - Variant (Speckled Brown)
  • Body/Wing Case: Speckled Flashabou - 6933 - Gold
  • Body: Hends Body Glass - Round - Light Brown
  • Thorax: Hare'e Ice Dub - Tan
Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors
Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors

Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors

$7.90
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed
6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed

6/0 UNI-Thread Waxed

$3.50
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub

Hare'e Ice Dub

$3.25
Speckled Flashabou
Speckled Flashabou

Speckled Flashabou

$5.99
Daiichi 1560 - Traditional Nymph Hook
Daiichi 1560 - Traditional Nymph Hook

Daiichi 1560 - Traditional Nymph Hook

$6.99
Hends Body Glass - Round
Hends Body Glass - Round

Hends Body Glass - Round

$2.99