A fly box with an assortment of flies.
Tying a size 18 nymph can be a bit challenging even for experienced fly tiers if they have not tied small patterns before. A good place to start would be with a fairly simple, standard nymph pattern like the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear. This old standby has been a popular nymph imitation for many years and works well in all kinds of water. The following is the recipe for the Hare's Ear with some slight modifications.
Instructions
1. Secure a size 18 wet fly or nymph hook in your tying vise and tie in tying thread just behind the hook eye. Wind the thread back along the shank to the bend.
2. Tie in a small bunch of pheasant tail fibers for the tail. Make several tight wraps of thread, then secure a piece of copper wire at the same position. The copper wire should be long enough to form a rib to the hook eyes. Trim off any excess tail fibers and wire.
3. Dub the thread with a blend of hare's ear and brown rabbit fur to form a tapered rope, and wrap the dubbed thread forward to form a tight tapered body. Stop a quarter of the way from the hook eye and take several wraps of thread to secure the fur dubbing. Let the bobbin hang at that point.
4. Wind the copper wire forward at an angle to form a rib. Leave some space between winds. Stop at the point where the thread is hanging. Secure the wire with several turns of thread and cut off any excess wire.
5. Tie in a small piece of turkey quill at that point. The width of the quill should be in proportion to the hook size.
6. Dub the thread with a course mix of hare's ear and rabbit fur and wrap a thick, tight thorax just to the hook eye.
7. Bring the turkey quill forward over the thorax and secure it with a few wraps of thread. Cut off any excess.
8. Make several more turns of thread and tie off with a half-hitch knot or whip finish. Add a drop of cement to the head to complete.
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