Isonychia Soft Hackle
Isonychia hatches are among the most exciting events of late summer and fall in the East and Midwest, with large fast-water mayflies swimming to the surface in a frenzied migration that drives trout into a frenzy. The Isonychia Soft Hackle, tied on a Fulling Mill 5085 hook in size 12, captures the elongated dark profile of the nymph with the swimming action that makes wet fly fishing so exhilarating. Fish it on an upstream reach cast and then swing it down through the fast water where Isonychia nymphs migrate.
- Type
- wet fly (Mayfly)
- Hook sizes
- #10–12
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best seasons
- summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Nymph hook #10–12 (Fulling Mill 5085 or equivalent)
- thread: Claret or burgundy 8/0
- tail: Dark dun hen or rusty pheasant tail fibers
- body: Dark claret or mahogany dubbing
- ribbing: Fine silver wire
- thorax: Same or slightly darker dubbing
Tying steps
- Mount a 1X or 2X long nymph hook size 10–12 and start claret or burgundy thread at the bend.
- Tie in a tail of dark dun hen hackle fibers or rusty brown pheasant tail fibers.
- Dub a tapered abdomen of dark claret or mahogany dubbing (Isonychia-blend) from bend to 2/3 point.
- Rib the abdomen with a single strand of fine silver wire for segmentation.
- Dub a slightly bulkier thorax of the same or slightly darker dubbing from abdomen to shoulder.
- Select a mottled Hungarian partridge feather or dark hen back; wind 2 turns as a wet hackle collar.
- Sweep fibers back, build a neat thread head, whip finish, and cement.