Calibaetis Quill Nymph

Size 12 to 18 1x or 2x long 1x heavy hook I prefer a tiemco 3761 hook Black or Gray 8/0 Copper, gold or silver bead sized to match the hook. Grizzly hackle fibers Stripped brown hackle stem Pheasant tail fibers 2 or 3 strands of peacock herl Grizzly hackle This is my favorite stillwater callibaetis pattern, and it seems to be very highly though of by the Grayling in Yellowstone...

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Hook Thread Bead Tail Body Wingcase Thorax Hackle Notes

Click on the picture next to the corresponding step for a larger image. Step 1:  Place bead sized to match the size of the fly on the hook, and start the thread about 3/4 of the shank behind the eye of the hook.  Next wrap back to the half way point, strip some fibers from a Grizzly hackle feather.  Measure the fibers so that they are about the hook shank length, and secure then with the thread, begining at the mid point and wrapping back to the bend.  If find that if you secure the tail in the way, there is less splaying of the hackle fibers. Step 2: Tie in a quill from a stripped brown hackle feather, with the skinny tip end tied to the hook shank. Step 3:  Wrap the quill up the hook shank and tie off at about 1/4 of a shank length behind the hook.  Some times it is a good idea to add a little super glue before wrapping the quill, to increase the durability of the fly. Step 4:  Tie in 6 to 8 pheasant tail fibers, where you left off with the quill and wrap back over the quill to about the 65% point on the shank to give enough room for the thorax. Step 5:  Tie in 2 to 3 strands of peacock herl, and one grizzly hackle sized to match the hook.  I prefer to find as soft of a hackle feather as possible for more movement.  Step 6:  Wrap the peacock herl forward and tie it off, then make 3 or 4 wraps of grizzly hackle over the top of the peacock herl.  After tying of the peacock herl, pull the pheasant tail fibers forward to form the wing case and secure them with the thread.  Whip finish, head cement, and go fishing!!