The recent arrival of the Marc Petitjean "Magic" tool has taken the fly tying world by storm.  Not too often does a tool come along that allows for as many possibilities and variations as MP's magic tool.  From CDC to dubbing, the magic tool enables the fly tyer to palmer almost anything onto a fly via a dubbing loop.  Simple - yes; but just imagine putting a new twist on an old favorite that just wasn't possible before.

I first saw the MP dragon nymph at a recent fly fishing show in Toronto.  Renowned fly tyer, Tom Adamchick, was demonstrating the various uses of the magic tool in front of a very interested crowd.  Dragon fly nymphs are one of my favorite flies for still water trout.  After seeing this pattern, and realizing the potential of a marabou body underwater, I just had to take a magic tool home and and give it a try.

Please note that this pattern requires the Marc Petitjean magic tool, and an intermediate knowledge of fly tying techniques, such as the standard dubbing loop.

Tying the MP Dragon Fly Nymph

1.  Secure a size 2 curved nymph hook in the vise.  If you do not have a curved nymph hook, bend one to shape using pliers (it's best to use heavy wire hooks if you need to manually bend them).



2.  Wrap heavy lead or tungsten stretch lace over the shank of the hook.  Dragon fly nymphs are found on the bottom and that's exactly where you want your fly to be.



3.  Cut 4 narrow strips of furry foam and tie 2 strips along each side of the hook shank. Make sure that the strips stay to the side of the shank and do not slip or rotate on top or underneath the shank as you apply pressure to the thread. These strips provide the flat, yet wide profile that dragon fly nymphs are known for.



4.  Tie in the second strip of furry foam opposite of the first.



5.  Repeat steps 3 and 4, adding the third and fourth strips of furry foam.



6.  Move the thread to the back of the hook, past the furry foam underbody.  Create a standard dubbing loop approx 3" to 4" long.  Apply dubbing wax to the thread.



7.  Attach a dubbing twister to the bottom of your dubbing loop.  Many styles of dubbing twisters are available these days, and it really doesn't matter which style you use, as long as you are familiar with the functionality.



8.  Select a barred olive chicken marabou feather and place it in the magic tool.  The size of the feather will determine which tool to use.  Slide the feather into the tool with the spine of the feather into the slot first.



Next Page >>

Written By: Nick Pujic, © April, 2004
Photographs By:  © Nick Pujic