f dark grey wool with a back of
dark brown or black lacquer. Wings, small red-brown wood duck breast
feathers, feelers dark brown hackle, and a large black head.

{39}

THE HELGRAMITE
(SEE DIAGRAM 7)

The Helgramite Nymph, larva of the Dobson Fly, is such an excellent bass
and trout food, that the making of this nymph deserves special mention.
As my personal way of making this particular nymph differs considerably
from those previously explained, I consider it advisable to go into
further details concerning the construction of this pattern.

I personally like the winged style. That is, with small imitation wings
and horns, or feelers. This represents the nymph in its final underwater
stage, just before emerging from the water as the Dobson Fly. I find
black skunk tail the most satisfactory material for the body of this
nymph. Either light grey swan sides, or light grey pigeon breast
feathers for the wing and legs.

{40}

[Illustration: Diagram 7. Page sized diagram showing drawings of
helgramite construction.]

First wind the waxed tying silk up the shank of the hook beginning
opposite the barb. Clip the fibers closely from a couple of hackle
feathers. These are to form the horns. Bind these hackle quills
to the top of the hook, so that the tip ends project about 1 1/2"
in front of the eye. Take a bunch of black skunk tail about the
size of a match and bind it to the top of the hook, with tip ends
towards the eye of the hook as in Diagram 7, Fig. 1. Next fold the hair
forward and bind down tightly as in Fig. 2. Again fold the hair back and
tie down as in {41} Fig. 3. Then again as in Fig. 4. Notice that each
time the hair is folded back upon itself and tied down, that it forms a
segment of the body, and that each segment increases in size, until your
nymph looks like Fig. 5. At this stage turn the nymph over and tie a piece
of light grey feather about 1/8" wide across the bottom, separate the
fibers with the tying silk to form the legs. Now cut a small light grey
pigeon feather with the centre quill, as dotted line in Fig. 6. Give this
a coat of clear lacquer: when dry, tie flat, on the back of the nymph to
form the first set of wings, as in Fig. 7. Cut another feather and treat
the same way, tie these slightly forward of the first set of wings, and
you have a Dobson Nymph that is very lifelike in appearance.

{42}

BASS FLIES
AND FEATHER STREAMERS

It will appear obvious from a study of Diagram 8, pa