TYING MONTANA NYMPH

The Montana Nymph has to be one of the best-known fly patterns. The nymph pattern is a stonefly nymph imitation, but the fly can also be used as an attractor nymph. Lew Oatman tied the original with a palmer hackle over the chenille thorax. We are going to tie it with just a front hackle and a dubbed thorax.

• Materials
• Video Instructions
• Slideshow
• How to Fish the Montana Nymph

Materials for Montana Nymph

Part:	Materials:	Size/Color:
Hook:	Akita	AK562BL #8
Weight:	Lead Wire	0.010”
Thread:	Veevus	Black 14/0
Tail:	Rooster Hackle	Black
Body:	Micro Chenille	Black
Wingcase:	Micro Chenille	Black
Thorax:	Angora Goat Dubbing	Yellow
Hackle:	Rooster Hackle	Black

Video Instructions on How to Tie a Montana Nymph

Video coming soon.

Slideshow on How To Tie a Montana Nymph

Step 1 – Tie In the Tail and Create the Body

Make a few wraps onto the hook shank with lead wire to add weight. Leave room for the head. You will need 1 to 2x the length of the hook’s eye. Tie in your tying thread close to the hook’s eye and make even thread turns to build a thread base and, at the same time, secure the lead wire.

Take a few fibers of black rooster hackle and tie them in. The length should be approximately 2/3 of the hook shank. Tie in one strain of micro chenille and move your thread to the thorax area. The body should be 3/5 of the hook shank. Make even wraps with the micro chenille and tie it off. Remove any excess.

Step 2 – Build Up the Thorax

Tie in a new strain of micro chenille by both tips on top of the hook for the wingcase. Make a dubbing noodle and build up the thorax on the stonefly nymph. Leave some space for the head, approximately 1x the hook’s eye.

Tie in a rooster hackle feather by the tip and the shiny side facing you. Make a few wraps with the hackle feather and tie it off. Fold the micro chenille loop over the thorax and tie it off. Remove any excess and build up a head before you secure your tying thread with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and some varnish.

How to Fish the Montana Nymph

You can fish the Montana Nymph dead drift as you would fish most nymph imitations or fish it like a streamer. The Montana Nymph is versatile as you can use it to imitate the dark large stonefly nymph or use it as an attractor fly when searching for fish. The heavier versions work well as the top nymph in a nymph rig.