Quill jig nymphs are of the most simple but effective river nymphs to tie. It’s a fly that can be tied in all manner of different colours, by changing the colour of the quill or adding a hot spot collar to entice takes, especially when the river is a little coloured. I absolutely love tying with stripped quill’s, not only for nymphs but for dry flies too. It gives flies a nice segmented look when you get a nice tapered body.
You can fish this Quill Jig as either a single fly or part of a team of flies whilst euro nymphing. This river fishing method is extremely effective, allowing you to get down to them pesky fish fast, stay in contact with the flies and feel everything as your flies come through the drift.
How to tie the Quill Jig
Hook: Fulling Mill Jig Force S16
Thread: Textreme Lt Brown
Bead: Silver 3.2mm Slotted Tungsten
Tail: Coq De Leon
Body: Polish Quill, Natural
Thorax: Hares Ear
Step 1: Pop the hook in the vice and secure the bead. The hook I’m using is the Fulling Mill jig size 16, accompanied by a 3.0 slotted tungsten bead.
Step 2: take the thread to the bend of the hook and tie in the Coq De Leon fibres, I usually use between 4 to 6.
Step 3: trim away the waste Coq De Leon, tie in the quill. You should do this so you’re tying in the smaller end of the quill so that the black line on the quill is on the bottom, like the picture below. This ensures you get a lovely tapered/segmented body effect!
Step 4: Time to wind the body! Take your hackle pliers and carefully start to wind the quill up towards the bead, making touching turns ensuring no gaps or over lapping. At this point you can make a half hitch and add varnish/super glue or uv resin to protect the quill.
Step 5: Once you get to the bead, leaving a little space for the thorax make a nice spiky dubbing rope of hares ear, I love spiky dubbing for the thorax on my nymphs, adding movement and bringing the fly to life.
Step 6: To achieve a nice spiky thorax I wind the thread round and on each turn with my left hand draw back the fibres . I was once told by a fellow fly tier that if you think you have too much dubbing, you probably do. In fly tying it’s much easier to go back and take it off rather than rush a fly!
Step 7: Apply a dab of varnish to the thread and whip finish. Et voila!
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