2010 started rather painfully as my foot (one which has worked fine for the last twenty-eight years) decided it would act like a pansy and tear a few ligaments; much to my annoyance. This, of course, has meant that the last two weeks have seen me limping around like some sort of eighty-five year old, but more annoyingly, I’ve not been able to get out and fish.

In it’s place I would have thought that I would have, at least, been able to spend a little extra time at the vice, but again, the reality of a busy working schedule and building new web applications has meant most of my spare time has revolved around work. Thankfully though, today was different; a Saturday free of any web development (well, less anyway) has meant I’m finally able to spend some time tying. Hell, if I can’t get onto the river, I’m going to spend some time tying.

There has been a certain pattern circulating throughout internet-based blogs and forums for the last few months, and one which has one of my favourite materials as it’s primary ingredient; the goose biot.

I’ve used biot-based dries and nymphs for some time now, and they offer a fantastically realistic and efficient way of tying abdomens.

Tan Biot Paradun (size #24)

As you can see, biots offer a great alternative to dubbed bodies due to the segmenting properties that it’s makeup allows. Inspiration for the below patterns must, however, go to Dave Wiltshire of DW Fly Fishing & Tying. His patterns of this nature, and in particular, that of his Biot Nymph is beautiful.

A Saturday afternoon spent at the vice when it’s raining hard outside is always an enjoyable one; the river is currently up by 3′, and still the rain pours; 24 is on in the background and I’ve been somewhat productive.

Tying the biot nymph is, generally, straight forward due to it’s low number of ingredients. Personally (and others may agree), I think it’s important to taper the bodies of your nymphs as well as insuring their profile be kept slim; the weight is in the form of a tungsten bead, so the body doesn’t need to be large anyway.

Fishing-wise, it’s up to you; fished as a single fly, as part of a team, or using the duo/New Zealand method. What I do know is that this fly is another that works, be it for trout, grayling, on the main-stem, or the smaller streams.

To me, a slim body and tapered profile are musts, but do the fish care?

Biot Nymph – Olive Goldhead

Variants…

 
Biot Nymph – Tan Goldhead

Biot Nymph – Olive Pinkhead

…and a couple for the small-fly addicts, tied on #24′s

Biot Nymph – Micro – Olive Blackhead

Biot Nymph – Micro – Tan Pinkhead

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