Step by Step Guide: Fly Tying for Beginners The Frenchie
Featuring : Screamin Reels
The Frenchie—a go-to pattern for any real trout fisherman. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned angler, this tutorial covers all you need to know to craft this simple yet effective nymph.
Let's dive in and master this essential trout pattern!
Materials Needed:
Hook: Size 10-16 nymph hook.
Bead: Tungsten or brass bead to match hook size.
Thread: 6/0 or 8/0 thread in a suitable color (e.g., black, brown, or olive).
Tail: Coq de Leon or other soft, fine feather fibers.
Body: Fine copper or lead wire.
Ribbing: Fine copper or silver wire.
Dubbing: Synthetic or natural dubbing in various colors (e.g., UV ice dubbing, hare's ear).
Thorax: Peacock herl or synthetic substitute.
Hackle: Hungarian partridge feather or similar soft hackle.
Step 1: Secure the Bead
Slide the bead onto the hook and secure it in place at the front of the hook shank. Start your thread wraps behind the bead, securing it firmly.
Step 2: Tie in the Tail
Take a small clump of Coq de Leon or other feather fibers and tie them in at the rear of the hook shank, extending backward to approximately half the length of the hook. Trim any excess.
Step 3: Add the Body Wire
Tie in a piece of fine copper or lead wire at the base of the tail. Secure it along the hook shank with tight thread wraps, stopping just before reaching the bead.
Step 4: Create the Body
Begin wrapping the wire forward in tight, touching turns, creating a slim, tapered body. Secure the wire behind the bead and trim any excess.
Step 5: Rib the Body
Take a piece of fine copper or silver wire and tie it in at the base of the tail. Wrap the wire forward in evenly spaced turns, creating segmentation along the body. Secure the wire behind the bead and trim any excess.
Step 6: Dub the Thorax
Apply a small amount of dubbing to your tying thread, creating a dubbing noodle. Wrap the dubbing around the hook shank just behind the bead, building up a slightly thicker thorax compared to the body.
Step 7: Add the Hackle
Select a Hungarian partridge feather or similar soft hackle. Strip away the excess fibers from the base of the feather, leaving a small section of bare stem. Tie in the feather at the base of the thorax, with the shiny side facing forward.
Step 8: Wrap the Hackle
Palmer the hackle feather forward around the thorax, making 2-3 wraps. Secure the hackle behind the bead with several tight wraps of thread. Trim any excess hackle stem.
Step 9: Finish and Trim
Make a few whip finishes behind the bead to secure the thread, then trim it off. Optionally, apply a small drop of head cement or UV resin to the thread wraps for added durability.
Step 10: Final Touches
Trim any overly long fibers from the tail or hackle to achieve the desired proportions. Your Frenchie fly is now complete and ready to tempt trout in streams and rivers!
Below is an amazing video you have to see from Screamin Reels
From: Screamin Reels
The Frenchie Material list any size hook and bead red thread CDL Copper wire Pheasant tail Hot pink ice dub