Black Prince (Black Forked Tail Nymph)

Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Prince Nymph and soft hackle flies, et al,  have lasted the "test of time,"  but there are so many other great patterns that don't come close to receiving the recognition the aforementioned receive.  Why?  

One searching pattern I use quite often as a dropper is the Black Prince (or the Black Forked Tail Nymph) popularized by the late Doug Prince.

Materials:

Hook:  Daiichi 1260 (or any 2X long nymph hook), sizes 8-16, weight to suit

Thread:  Black  (10/0 Veevus utilized for this blog)

Tail:  Black goose biots

Ribbing:  Flat silver (narrow Lagartun pictured)

Body:  Ostrich herl

Hackle:  Hen hackle, black (pictured is rabbit guard hairs)

Step 1:

Pinch barb and secure hook in vise.  Start thread one eye length behind the eye and wind rearward to position pictured.

Step 2:

Select two black goose biots, align tips with tips curved away from one another and tie in along each side of the shank   This will give you the forked tail appearance.  Length of tail is approximately one gap length, but I prefer the tail a little longer.

Step 3:

Tie in tinsel to opposite side of hook shank.

Step 4:

Select two or three ostrich herls from stem.  Cut away 1-inch or more from the tips.  Tie in tips and draw the herl straight down and parallel with thread.

Step 4a:

Twist herl and thread together forming a chenille-like appearance.  I use a mascara brush to brush along the stem to remove any trapped fibers.  This also stands the fibers out 90-degrees from the stem.

Step 4b:

Wind herl forward in close tight wraps and secure.  Leave yourself plenty of room aft of the eye.  I would recommend dampening fingers and draw the fibers rearward as you are wrapping forward.

Step 5:

Wrap tinsel forward in 5 even turns.

Step 6:

The original called for two or three wraps of black hen hackle.

I utilized rabbit guard hair to form a collar.  Simply cut a small bunch of hair from skin keeping the tips of the guard firmly pinched between fingers.  Comb or pull under fur out until the majority of the hairs are guard hairs.  Split the thread with bodkin and insert rabbit.  You should have a little more than an inch of rabbit in the thread (two to three wraps)

Step 6a:

Twist/Spin thread until guard hair stand out at 90-degrees.

Step 6b.

Wrap to form hackle/collar. 

Step 7:

Select two white goose biots.  Form a "V" shape with the tips curving up and tie in with a couple of softer wraps of threads.   You can maneuver the biots, if needed.  When satisfied with the position of the biots, slowly tighten/secure by lifted the bobbin straight up.  Complete wraps, whip finish, and apply head cement.

Tight lines!