Tiger Nymph

Pattern: Hans Weilenmann, Fly and photographs: Hans Weilenmann

“Yield to temptation. It may not pass your way again.” – Robert A. Heinlein


It was this quote which flashed through my mind when, on a February 2003 trip, my B.C. host Keith Dyer asked me whether I would be interested in petting a Siberian tiger. A live tiger, that is, not a rug ;-)

“Sure!”, I replied, any trepedation about this encounter swept aside by excitement.

Such it came to pass that I made my acquaintance with the beautiful Kisa, an encounter depicted above. A meeting between one of the world’s supreme predators and a Low Countries flytier, which in its aftermath spawned the creation of the Tiger Nymph.

Hook: 2XL medium wire hook, #12
Thread: Tan
Tail Cree hackle fibers
Ribbing: Black 6/0 tying thread, doubled
Abdomen: Cat underfur, dark reddish tan
Wingcase: Peacock herl
Legs: Pine squirrel back guard hair, two sets
Thorax: Cat underfur, dark reddish tan

(The materials are listed in the order they are tied in. Instructions assume right handed tier.)

    Tying instructions:


    1. Run the thread down the shank, tie in a, shortish, bunch of cree hackle fibers and a doubled section of black 6/0 tying thread.

    2. Trim the butts to half shank and tie down to make a level underbody. Dub on a thin noodle of cat underfur.

    3. Wrap a slenderabdomen coverin the rear half of the shank.

    4. Rib the abdomen in evenly spaced turns.

    5. Trim excess.

    6. Tie in four or five peacock herl strands.

    7. Cut a small bunch of guardhair from the back of a pine squirrel pelt. Remove most, not all, of the underfur and hand-stack the tips if needed. Tie in the bunch of squirrel on top of the herl tie-in position, tips pointing back over the abdomen, at desired legs length.

    8. Trim squirrel butts.

    9. Dub some more cat underfur, slightly heavier noodle.

    10. Wrap a thorax, making sure to leave some space for the front legs and head.

    11. Cut a small bunch of guardhair from the back of a pine squirrel pelt. Remove most, not all, of the underfur and hand-stack the tips if needed. Tie in the bunch tight up against the thorax, tips pointing back over the thorax, leg length slightly longer than rear legs.

    12. Trim squirrel butts.

    13. Parting the bunches of squirrel in equal halves, each in turn, by pressing the edge of your thumb nail down on them, pull the peacock herl over to form a wing case. The hearl and thorax will make for a permanent separation of the leg portions. Tie down the peacock hearl at the eye.

    14. Trim the peacock herl, and form a neat head. Finish off the Tiger Nymph with a whip finish, trim thread and a touch of head cement.

    15. Top view.

    16. Bottom view.


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© 2003 Hans Weilenmann
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