PMD Split Back · Nymph
A small dark shape before the hatch
A dark brown PMD Split Back nymph in size 20, with a pearl-striped turkey wing case, for trout on the Owyhee in autumn.
A size 20 pale morning dun nymph tied dark, with a split wing case and swept brown legs. Dark brown rabbit dubbing, a silver wire rib, a turkey tail back with a pearl stripe and a black thread head.
- Pattern
- PMD Split Back
- Imitates
- Pale morning dun nymphs, typically drifting mid-day before the hatch comes off
- Hook
- size 20
- Tippet
- 7Xrule of three
- Size 20 dark brown PMD nymph
- Pearl stripe splits the turkey wing case
- Silver wire rib segments the body
- Soft brown hen legs move in current
- Black thread head
On the water
Brown pheasant tail fibers trail off the bend. The body is dark brown fur, banded by thin silver wire. Over the thorax sits a dark turkey back split by a single pale pearl line, and soft brown legs sweep under a black head.
Fish it on the Owyhee through the middle of a November day, before any duns show. Dead-drift it near the bottom and let it swing up at the end of the run. The dark local tie owes its roots to the guides and writers behind idahoangler.com, trroutfitters.com and owyheeflyfisher.com.
Turkey tail and pearl Flashabou make the split back. Tie the pearl strip down on top of the turkey, pull both forward together, and the pale line should sit dead centre over the thorax.
Rigging
- Tippet
- 7Xhook size divided by three
- Leader
- Nine feet, with fluorocarbon tippet to get it down
- Use 6X fluorocarbon tippet to suit the size 20 hook.
- Add a small split shot a hand above the fly to reach the bottom in steady runs.
- Dead-drift under a small indicator, then let it lift at the end of the drift.
Where and when
- Hatch
- Pale morning dun nymphs, typically drifting mid-day before the hatch comes off
- Target
- Trout
- Water type
- Tailwater runs and riffle seams
- Also fishes
- Any spring creek or tailwater with pale morning duns, fished deep under an indicator or as the dropper below a dry.
Make it yourself
Intermediate8 materials · 11 steps
- Pattern
- PMD Split Back
- Style
- Nymph
- Hook
- Nymph hooksize 20
- Thread
- Black 8/0
Materials in the order they go on the hook
- TailPheasant tail fibers
- RibFine silver wire
- BodyDark brown rabbit dubbing
- Wing caseDark turkey tail
- Back stripePearl Flashabou
- ThoraxDark brown rabbit dubbing
- HackleBrown hen hackle fibers
- HeadBlack thread
Details
- Imitates
- Pale morning dun nymph
- Colors
- Dark brown, Black, Silver, Pearl
How to tie it
The steps, from first wrap to whip finish (11)
- Mount the size 20 nymph hook and lay a thin base of black 8/0 thread back to the bend.
- Tie in four pheasant tail fibers as a tail, about half the hook shank long.
- Tie in the fine silver wire at the bend along the underside.
- Dub a slim, tapered body of dark brown rabbit to just past the midpoint of the shank.
- Wrap the silver wire forward in five or six even turns and tie it off.
- Tie in a slip of dark turkey tail at the front of the body, shiny side down, pointing back.
- Lay one strand of pearl Flashabou on top of the turkey and tie it down.
- Dub a slightly fuller thorax of dark brown rabbit, stopping two eye-widths behind the eye.
- Tie in a small bunch of brown hen hackle fibers on each side as legs, reaching to the hook point.
- Pull the turkey and pearl strip forward together over the thorax and tie them off.
- Trim the excess, build a small black thread head and whip finish.
Proportions (5)
- Tail: about half the shank length.
- Abdomen: rear 55 to 60 percent of the shank, slim and tapered.
- Thorax: front 40 percent, a little fatter than the abdomen.
- Legs: reach back to the hook point, no farther.
- Head: small, about one eye-width.
Tips (3)
- Spin the dubbing thin on the thread; a size 20 body needs far less than you expect.
- Coat the turkey slip with a thin layer of flexible cement before tying it in so it pulls over without splitting.
- Leave room behind the eye before the thorax goes on; the wing case and head need it.
Common mistakes (4)
- Overdubbing the body makes a fat, shapeless nymph. Use a pinch of fur and taper it from bend to thorax.
- Pearl stripe drifting off centre. Tie it squarely on top of the turkey and hold both tight as you pull forward.
- Crowding the eye. Stop the thorax two eye-widths back so the head stays small.
- Long tail fibers that foul around the bend. Keep the tail to half the shank.
Every kit size
Materials only
Size 20 · Materials only · 12 flies
$48.50
$4.04 a fly
Includes Nymph hook · and 9 more
Every item in this kit · 10 items
Hooks & beads
- Nymph hook$6.50
Thread & wire
- Black 8/0 thread$2.95
- Fine silver wire$3.25
Materials
- Pheasant tail fibers$4.95
- Dark brown rabbit dubbing$4.50
- Other material: Dark turkey tail$4.50
- Pearl Flashabou$3.95
- Brown hen hackle fibers$11.95
Finishing
- Head cement$5.95
Guide
- Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded
Size 20 · Materials only · 48 flies
$87.69
$1.83 a fly
Bought separately $92.30 · you save $4.61
Includes Nymph hook · and 9 more
Every item in this kit · 10 items
Hooks & beads
- Nymph hook$13
Thread & wire
- Black 8/0 thread$5.90
- Fine silver wire$3.25
Materials
- Pheasant tail fibers$9.90
- Dark brown rabbit dubbing$13.50
- Other material: Dark turkey tail$9
- Pearl Flashabou$7.90
- Brown hen hackle fibers$23.90
Finishing
- Head cement$5.95
Guide
- Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded
Size 20 · Materials only · 144 flies
$210.45
$1.46 a fly
Bought separately $239.15 · you save $28.70
Includes Nymph hook · and 9 more
Every item in this kit · 10 items
Hooks & beads
- Nymph hook$35
Thread & wire
- Black 8/0 thread$17.70
- Fine silver wire$9.75
Materials
- Pheasant tail fibers$24.75
- Dark brown rabbit dubbing$36
- Other material: Dark turkey tail$22.50
- Pearl Flashabou$15.80
- Brown hen hackle fibers$71.70
Finishing
- Head cement$5.95
Guide
- Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded
With vise & tools
Size 20 · With vise & tools · 12 flies
$198.50
$16.54 a fly
Includes Nymph hook · and 18 more
Every item in this kit · 19 items
Hooks & beads
- Nymph hook$6.50
Thread & wire
- Black 8/0 thread$2.95
- Fine silver wire$3.25
Materials
- Pheasant tail fibers$4.95
- Dark brown rabbit dubbing$4.50
- Other material: Dark turkey tail$4.50
- Pearl Flashabou$3.95
- Brown hen hackle fibers$11.95
Finishing
- Head cement$5.95
Tools
- Rotary pedestal vise$79
- Ceramic bobbin$14
- Fine-point scissors$16
- Whip finisher$9
- Hackle pliers$7
- Bodkin$5
- Bobbin threader$4
- Dubbing wax$4
- Canvas tool roll$12
Guide
- Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded
Size 20 · With vise & tools · 48 flies
$230.19
$4.80 a fly
Bought separately $242.30 · you save $12.11
Includes Nymph hook · and 18 more
Every item in this kit · 19 items
Hooks & beads
- Nymph hook$13
Thread & wire
- Black 8/0 thread$5.90
- Fine silver wire$3.25
Materials
- Pheasant tail fibers$9.90
- Dark brown rabbit dubbing$13.50
- Other material: Dark turkey tail$9
- Pearl Flashabou$7.90
- Brown hen hackle fibers$23.90
Finishing
- Head cement$5.95
Tools
- Rotary pedestal vise$79
- Ceramic bobbin$14
- Fine-point scissors$16
- Whip finisher$9
- Hackle pliers$7
- Bodkin$5
- Bobbin threader$4
- Dubbing wax$4
- Canvas tool roll$12
Guide
- Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded
Size 20 · With vise & tools · 144 flies
$342.45
$2.38 a fly
Bought separately $389.15 · you save $46.70
Includes Nymph hook · and 18 more
Every item in this kit · 19 items
Hooks & beads
- Nymph hook$35
Thread & wire
- Black 8/0 thread$17.70
- Fine silver wire$9.75
Materials
- Pheasant tail fibers$24.75
- Dark brown rabbit dubbing$36
- Other material: Dark turkey tail$22.50
- Pearl Flashabou$15.80
- Brown hen hackle fibers$71.70
Finishing
- Head cement$5.95
Tools
- Rotary pedestal vise$79
- Ceramic bobbin$14
- Fine-point scissors$16
- Whip finisher$9
- Hackle pliers$7
- Bodkin$5
- Bobbin threader$4
- Dubbing wax$4
- Canvas tool roll$12
Guide
- Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded
The creator
How it was made
1 iteration led here; the saved one is marked
1 Saved
Remixes
No remixes yet — make your own version.
Where this came from
“a fly tied for Owyhee River, Oregon”
fly pattern · made
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- pmd
- pale morning dun
- nymph
- split back
- size 20
- dark brown
- turkey wing case
- pearl
- pheasant tail
- silver wire
- trout
- tailwater