From its heavy bead head to the shimmer of its holo tinsel body, the Maholo Nymph isn’t just attractive, it’s drop dead gorgeous. Rob Anderson used his innovation and creativity to modify the already deadly Pheasant Tail Nymph and turned it into the Black Widow of Pheasant Tails. If you ever intend to fish the trophy waters of Pryamid Lake, the Maholo Nymph belongs in your fly box.
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| Group of Maholo Nymphs |
During the Pyramid Lake Celebration this last February, Rob stated that the Maholo Nymph is “just a Pheasant Tail nymph with a holographic tinsel body.” He said that the name came from the holographic tinsel body, hence Ma”holo” and the Hawaiian term Mahalo, which means thank you.
Tying the fly is fairly straight forward and simple. Just slap the bead on the hook, tie in the Pheasant Tail for the tail and tie in the ribbing and holographic tinsel. Then wrap the holo tinsel around the hook shank to the head and then wrap the ribbing. After that tie in some pearl or opal tinsel, dub the thorax (I prefer Ice Dub in Pheasant Tail or UV Cinnamon colors), tie in Pheasant tail fibers on both sides of the fly for the legs and fold the mirage tinsel over to create the wing case. Lastly, whip finish and the Maholo Nymph is complete. I personally tie this fly in size 12 and 10. I like to use the medium holo tinsel from UTC. I have used holoshimmer from Sulky but I have found that when using it I needed to wrap the tinsel up and down the fly at least three times to get the abdomen completely covered. (Starting at the bend of the hook going to the head then down to the bend and back up to the head) I also tried using large holo tinsel and found that the large tinsel didn’t allow the tinsel to overlap so that abdomen remained smooth. I found that using medium tinsel on the Maholo Nymph and overlapping the wraps of tinsel allows me to only have to go from the bend of the hook to the head once and still have a smooth abdomen.
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| Maholo Nymph courtesy of Rob Anderson |
Fishing the Maholo Nymph can be accomplished in multiple ways. My favorite is under an indicator. I find great excitement watching the indicator go under the surface of the water. One might also fish it behind a Wooly Worm or other streamer type fly with a slow retrieve. One might also put a Popcorn Beetle behind it while retrieving the Maholo Nymph. The weight of the Maholo Nymph allows the Popcorn Beetle to float just off the bottom of the lake, allowing the Popcorn Beetle to "bob" up and down under the water, driving the Giant Lahontan Cutthroats crazy.
For more information about the Maholo Nymph please go to: Maholo Nymph
Please enjoy this tutorial, tie up some Maholo Nymphs and let me know what you think in the comments below. Please remember to stay up to date with Fishbait's Fly Box and follow fishbaitsflybox.com by submitting your email address at the top of the right hand column of the site. “Like” Fishbait’s Fly Box by clicking like at the top of the right hand column or by clicking here and then "Like" or "Follow" and subscribe to Fishbait’s Fly Box on YouTube by clicking HERE and then click subscribe.
| Maholo Nymph - Albino Wino | |
|---|---|
| HOOK: | TMC 3761 size 12 |
| BEAD: | 1/8" - White |
| WEIGHT: | .020 Lead Wire |
| THREAD: | UTC 70 - Wine |
| TAIL: | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
| RIB: | Ultra Wire - Br - Silver |
| ABDOMEN: | Holo Tinsel- Wine |
| WING CASE: | Mirage Tinsel - Opal - Lrg. |
| THORAX: | Ice Dub - Pheasant Tail or UV Cinnamon |
| LEGS: | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
| Maholo Nymph - Red | |
|---|---|
| HOOK: | TMC 3761 size 12 |
| BEAD: | 1/8" - Copper |
| WEIGHT: | .020 Lead Wire |
| THREAD: | UTC 70 - Red |
| TAIL: | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
| RIB: | Ultra Wire - Br - Copper |
| ABDOMEN: | Holo Tinsel- Red |
| WING CASE: | Mirage Tinsel - Opal - Lrg. |
| THORAX: | Ice Dub - Pheasant Tail or UV Cinnamon |
| LEGS: | Pheasant Tail Fibers |
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