How to Tie the Steely Dan Nymph

In this tutorial, our shop manager Kramer Bookman ties a simple mayfly nymph. The nymph highlights the Semperfli Perfect Quill, which is one of the few peacock quill substitutes we've found useful for small nymphs and perdigons.
You can find the recipe for this fly and purchase the materials at
tacticalflyfis...

[@CAP10CAVEMAN]

Excellent tie, Kramer. I appreciate you explaining the ‘why as you tie.’ Your inverting beads are wonderful and I’ll be shifting to twisting up more BHN/Perdigons for Fall and Winter fishing.

[@johnwermers2234]

The Steely Dan nymph should be extremely creative and unlike any other nymphs, in a good way. This is a nicely tied quill bodied nymph on a jig hook.

[@kl5090]

Thanks. Easy to follow, easy to understand. I liked your suggestion to use it as a template.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Thanks for watching. Happy tying and fishing.

[@anablakp3200]

Very nice fly, I didn't have Semperfli Perfect Quill so went with Hareline Tapered Synthetic Quill, very similar, and slightly adhesive on one side. Works & looks great. Thanks for sharing all.

[@andyt5833]

Thanks for using comment about using fewer animal products. I have been trying to move to full synthetic in my tying and it is great to see use of synthetics in these kinds of flies too!

[@thomasenos9602]

Nice looking fly!

[@wvlongshooter3912]

Great 👀 jig !! Thanks!!

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Nice fly! I definitely can fish in my homewaters!

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Happy tying and fishing

[@bwelty100]

Ricky. Don't Lose That Number!

[@icedaft]

Is the UVcraft glue a good substitute to Solarez bone dry?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Yes. It’s become my resin of choice where I would have previously used bone dry.

[@wvlongshooter3912]

Either I’m putting the inverted bead on backwards or you are. Not that it matters at all and I honestly am not trying to be mean or a smart butt. Which way is correct ? Thanks!!

[@anablakp3200]

Hi WV Long Shooter, you can tie the inverted bead either side. It's tied here with the concave side facing the front to allow the bead to lean a bit more forward. Tight lines bud from eastern Canada.

[@kramerbookman512]

Kramer here, Anablak P is right. The normal way to tie is with the countersink back, I flip them around to elongate the profile a touch and because I like finishing the fly against the back of the bead better.

[@wvlongshooter3912]

@@kramerbookman512 thank you very much.

[@justaman3333]

Is that a 3.5mm inverting bead on the size 14 hook?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Kramer can confirm but yes I believe so.

[@patricksasaki880]

It's not critical to use an inverted bead, correct? Regular bead, slotted is what I have on hand... my guess is size(silhouette) is more important-

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

It’s not critical. The inverting bead weighs about 10-20% more for the same size and assures the fly flips if you’re not using a jig hook. I tie most of my flies with a mix of slotted and inverting beads to fill in the weight gaps. Slotted beads are just fine to start with though.

[@justinbrough3607]

Curious as to his reasoning behind moving away from animal products for tying materials?

[@kramerbookman512]

Hi Justin, Kramer here. It's simply a personal preference. I'm far from tying with strictly synthetics, but I do like substituting when I can. Seems a little funny to me that fly anglers tie with dozens of dead animals and then pride ourselves on catch and release for fish. :)

[@justinbrough3607]

@@kramerbookman512 totally makes sense, thanks for the reply!

[@johnathaneads7385]

I CAN'T! We have to be woke tying flies now? If that is were this is going I have to bow out! There's no way I can deal with being told that my tying materials are harming animals or bad for the environment or some silliness I'll freak out! Great tie, love the video, but if this is going where I fear it may....... I'm out!

[@kramerbookman512]

Definitely not Jonathan. 😂. Just a preference on my nymphs especially. A lot of the natural materials are getting expensive or hard to get and are not as durable as the synthetic alternatives. For example, the synthetic tails last far longer than any CDL will. If theres a viable, durable alternative to animal parts ill use it, but i still have a good collection if those too. 😃

[@jameskelso2334]

Curious if you’re aware of the raunchy origins of the term “Steely Dan”? Look up William S. Burroughs. 🫢

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Didn’t know that myself. Maybe Kramer has been reading interesting materials while listening to 70’s classic rock 😁