John Nichols
aka: Johnno - New
Zealand
I
live in Motueka which is a small town in Northwest Nelson, New Zealand.
I am now (2001) in my late 30's and started to tie flies when I started to fly
fish way back in the mid 1970's.
The one thing that really appeals to me about fly tying is that you can never stop learning. There will always be some new fly, some new technique, or some new material to play about with.
If I was ever in the awful position to choose between fly fishing or fly tying, I think the fly tying would win out. I love fly swaps, and never cease to delight in opening a package from somewhere else in the world to reveal little masterpieces from some distant tier's vice.
New Zealand's first trout flies were made by settlers from Great Britain in the mid to late 1800's and the early patterns reflected the styles used there. As time evolved New Zealand fly tiers started to perfect their own styles and as a result some unique patterns and techniques have emanated from our shores. For example, the 'Matuku', 'Killer', and 'Pukeko' styles of streamers, amongst others, came about as a result of local fishermen needing to imitate the small bullies, Koura (Freshwater Crayfish) and smelt that abound in our waters.
I like to solve fly fishing problems. I have a local river that has a significant mayfly emerger hatch. The browns are incredibly fussy in what they will and will not take. The biggest joy is trying to find out what the fish are taking and why.
I have started with a basic emerger pattern and am constantly changing, altering and trying to improve an as yet inconsistent pattern. That to me is fly tying at it's best. You have to look at so many things that factor in making a fly successful: thread, size, colour, movement, materials and so on. One day I might find the right pattern, but in a way I hope I never do.
Select One of Johnno's Flies:
Booby
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Tier:
John Nicholls
Notes:
The Pukeko is a local swamp hen, and is a very pretty blue colour, as per the feather on this fly.
Often the wing is substituted with blue dyed Mallard Flank, but I don't think these have the same hue as the original. This wee number is a good night fly.
Can also be tied with the feathers (x2 to x4) tied flat on top of the fly.
This creates a fly that would be not unlike a freshwater crayfish (or "Koura" if you
are a NZer!!) in silhouette. There are a number of flies tied in that
particular style, which is a "Pukeko" style, and again, most are night flies. Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls
Tail:
Marabou fibres with a little Flashabou included. Body:
Ice, estaz, or crystal chenille. Eyes:
Two polystyrene balls wrapped in nylon stocking material. Coat with water
based cement for durability. Notes:
The
movement of the fly in the water will drive rainbows crazy. Popular
colours include white, orange, black, and olive. Can also add a marabou
wing or collar if you desire. An easy method for the eyes is to use
cylinders of foam punched out of a thick sheet. Can also paint eyes on the
polystyrene, but be sure to use a cement and paint that will not dissolve the
foam! Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls
Select
Another Fly:
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Tier: John Nicholls
Select
Another Fly:
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Tier: John Nicholls
Select
Another Fly:
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Tier: John Nicholls
Commercial patterns
leave out the tippets, which is a shame I think. The duck flank feathers from a variety of different ducks are used in similar
patterns. Tremendous pattern for lake fishing down here in New Zealand.
I assume trout in other areas would take it for a dragonfly nymph. Use two feathers each side for this fly.
It creates a little more bulk. Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls
Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls
I think this is one of the prettiest of the Killer
family but is a little devil to tie because of the softness of the woodcock feathers.
It can use up to ten feathers to get a good shape. Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls Mrs. Simpson was developed around the time a certain king abdicated
for the love of a woman. It's tied in the "Killer" style, distinctive by the flat wings alongside the body. It's a New Zealand bred style.
Indeed, other than a fly called Walker's Killer from South Africa, and your
Hornburg, I know of no other pattern of this style from the rest of the world.
Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls
This one is as close to the original
as I can get. The modern tying is as follows: Note:
As you can see, even in 1924 there was still an influence of the old English and Scottish Salmon flies
prevalent in NZ, in the early days of our trout, with the topping. A number of older flies have them in their original ties. Select
Another Fly:
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Introduction.
Tier: John Nicholls
Tail:
Hackle fibres (usually red or orange). Body:
Red chenille, wool, or dubbing. Rib:
Oval gold tinsel. Wing:
Strip of natural rabbit fur tied "Matuku" style. Hackle:
Natural brown or blue dun. Select
Another Fly:
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Tier: John Nicholls
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Another Fly:
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for your tying needs.
Tail:
Black squirrel.
Body: Black thread.
Wing: Pukeko flank feathers, overlaid with jungle cock eyes. 
Hook:
1/0 to 10 - long shank is best. 
Hook:
Wetfly #10 to #16.
Tail: Brown fibers.
Body: Brown dubbing.
Rib: Copper wire.
Flashback: Brass colored flat tinsel.
Thorax: Spun brown dubbing.
Bead: Brass colored tungsten bead.
Note: This fly catches more fish for me than almost any other. Also good in
brown body with a black thorax, or olice/brown, or black/black. I often have a small general nymph as a dropper 18" behind the flashback but #8-#10 the
Flashback is the successful of the two flies. 
Hook:
Wetfly #2 to #6.
Tail: Glow bug yarn.
Butt: Fluorescent epoxy (activated when shown with
torch).
Body: Chenille or dubbing.
Wing: Marabou tuft (midsection and head).
Notes: Butt made with flouro epoxy that comes from Japan.
Good on
moonless nights in lakes off stream mouth drop offs where rainbows abound. 
Hook:
Wetfly #10 to #16.
Tail: Golden pheasant tippets.
Body: Purple dubbing.
Rib: Fine gold wire.
Hackle: Black starling.
Wing: Grouse hackle tips.
Note: Fished upstream or cross and down in the evenings when a caddis
hatch is on. The Grouse and Purple has a good following down in New Zealand. 
Notes:
This fly was originally tied with olive green dyed partridge
feathers, but now tied as described below.
Hook:
Partridge D3ST #6 to 12.
Tail: Olive marabou.
Body: Green sparkle chenille.
Rib: Gold oval tinsel.
Wing: Olive rabbit fur (tied in Matuku style with Green Krystal
Flash).
Hackle: Olive marabou.
Head: Dark olive chenille.
Eyes: Yellow/black or red/black dumbell eyes.
Note: Also tied in brown and black. Twitch this one around deadfall
on lake margins and see what happens. 
Tail:
Black squirrel tail.
Body: Black thread.
Wing: Woodcock flank feathers.
Notes: If you can find them, try using the darker coloured woodcock flanks.
Unfortunately they are rare as hen's teeth here in New Zealand though. 
Tail:
Black squirrel.
Body: Tying thread (Usually Black).
Wings: Rump feathers of the ringneck pheasant.
Note:
Often the church window feathers get used instead of the rump feathers. A number of other similar flies use pheasant feathers from
both male and female Ringneck, and Golden Pheasants, and also peacock and peahens.
The secrete to this fly, and indeed all killer lures is to ensure the feathers are flat and even along the body, otherwise the fly has a tendency to spin.
Thus the bodies are made from the tying thread, or thin wool, in order to keep the wings flat.
Great wee fly to imitate a bully, or possibly dragonfly nymph. 
It is the golden fly both
in colour and in quality." This fly, and it's versions, have probably caught more fish than any other in New Zealand
in the past 75 odd years.
Tail: Red whisks.
Body: Yellow chenille (or red, green, purple,
etc.).
Rib: Oval gold tinsel.
Wing: Honey grizzle or cree.
Hackle: Honey grizzle, matuka style (one pair each
side).
Hook:
2 to 10.
Hook:
Dryfly #10 to #16.
Body: Black deer hair (clipped to shape).
Wing: Clear white sparkle yarn.
Hackle: Black (clipped underneath).
Head: Black dubbing (in front of hackle).
Note: This is a really good fly for when those blow flies are flying around.
I like to "splat" it down onto the water.
for your tying needs.