Three Dollar Dip (Variant) #6 of 150

The Three Dollar Dip pattern was devised by the late Nick Nicklas of Blue Ribbon Flies.  It is a variation of the renown Serendipity. The differences between the two patterns are the body and wing pad  (thorax).  "The Dip" is tied with a thread body to keep the body thin vice twisted Z-lon used on the Serendipity.  Additionally, "The Dip" uses bleached deer hair vice natural color.  However, some anglers tie "The Dip" in either natural and bleached depending on their taste.  I typically use natural color deer for nearly all my patterns.  The exception is imitating midges and PMD's in the cream to creamy-yellow colors I'll utilized bleached hair.

This particular variation adds Krystal Flash to the wing pad for extra attraction.  For sizes 14-18 one strand of Krystal Flash is added to each side of the wind pad.  In sizes 20-24 a single strand of Waspi's Midge Flash is tied in over the top of the wind pad.  In crystal clear water I cut a significant amount of this overwing wing away usually to the end of the wing pad.  If I feel this is still spooking fish I'll remove even more.

On the Three Dollar Dip the tier has a choice of either allowing the butts of deer to remain visible or hidden under the thread wraps.  In small midge sizes I elect the latter.  I feel it makes for a much cleaner fly.

Tying notes

1.  Body and ribbing color combinations are numerous!  Have fun experimenting on your home waters.  I typically keep things pretty simple in black, brown, olive. and cream,  However I do fish a cream with red or yellow ribbing every so often.

2.  Make every attempt to keep your thread as flat as possible.  Many anglers, including me, believes this makes the pattern that much more effective- especially in midge sizes.  Additionally, a smooth body is the foundation for even ribbing wraps!

3.  Here's a great tip for a neat and clean head on this pattern.   Remove the hair from the skin.  Ensure all under fur is removed.  You now have butt ends and a tips of the hair.  Use the hair just under the tips and cut a new butt secion.  This hair is more narrow and not quite as thick, coarse and hollow as the butt section.   

Materials

Hook:  Any curved or standard nymph hook, sizes 14-24. (Pictured TMC 2488, size 22)

Body:  Thread (Size is appropriate to the hook).  Color of choice.  (Brown 14/0 Veevus pictured.)

Ribbing:  Appropriately for the size of hook.  (Hend's 0.09 in copper is shown)

Wind pad/Thorax:  Bleach or natural deep hair clipped to half body length on curved shanked hooks.  Just under the mid body length on straight shank hook.

Overwing:  1 or 2 strands of pearl Krystal Flash or Midge Flash.  See above.