Whitlock's Red Fox Squirrel-Hair Nymph

pszy22 · Dec 7, 2013

Back in the day, one of the most innovative and creative fly fisher / tyer was a fellow named Dave Whitlock. One of Dave's great ties was a fly called the Red Fox Squirrel Hair nymph. It's a generic looking nymph that looks a little bit like alot of different things. It can be effectively used for most fresh water fish we pursuit with a fly rod.

It's fairly easy to tie, and works better the more chewed up it gets. Best of all, you are only one road kill away from having all the materials you need to tie the fly.

I don't recall seeing much mention of this fly lately, if you've never seen or tried one before, it is well worth a google.

have fun,

Rip Tide · Dec 7, 2013

Dave is pretty much the father of modern bass fly fishing.
I tyed with him once, but his bass bugs and streamers are way above my normal skill level.

r reese · Dec 7, 2013

Is this it. I like this fly and fish it quite often

a470/richardreese/DSCN1235.jpg[/IMG][/URL].

---------- Post added at 04:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:40 PM ----------

try again. love this fly!!

fq13 · Dec 7, 2013

I have a whole redfox tail if you want to get serious. Ard gets right of first refusal, but the price is $15 TYD.

bigjim5589 · Dec 7, 2013

fq, I think you're reading that wrong! Whitlocks fly is tied with Red Fox Squirrel fur, not Red Fox.

fq13 · Dec 7, 2013

bigjim5589 said:
fq, I think you're reading that wrong! Whitlocks fly is tied with Red Fox Squirrel fur, not Red Fox.

Tomatoes Tomatos.

Its a dead redish animal, whats the difference.ROFL!

Rip Tide · Dec 7, 2013

Seriously ???
Is that what you know about fly tying and OMG why did you even consider adding this post.
Fly fishing and tying didn't miraculously appear when you decided to grace us with your presence .
Please be respectful of what came before you

fq13 · Dec 8, 2013

Rip Tide said:
Seriously ???
Is that what you know about fly tying and OMG why did you even consider adding this post.
Fly fishing and tying didn't miraculously appear when you decided to grace us with your presence .
Please be respectful of what came before you

Dude, it was a joke. I misread the OP, got called on my brain fart, and offered a joking mea culpa. Please take it in the spirit it was intended. I mean there is not a one of us that hasn't posted something and thirty seconds later said, DOH! No need to get upset over it.
Peace
FQ

itchmesir · Dec 8, 2013

I've tied them but really got no faith in them... Never worked before... That's ok though... The abdomen dubbing works for backstabbers.

two_nymph_rig · Dec 8, 2013

Rip Tide said:
Seriously ???
Is that what you know about fly tying and OMG why did you even consider adding this post.
Fly fishing and tying didn't miraculously appear when you decided to grace us with your presence .
Please be respectful of what came before you

wow.
I guess I won't post any questions or pictures because I don't know enough about fly tying yet.

ia_trouter · Dec 8, 2013

I was going to try to tie one tonight but it looks like I am missing the proper dubbing ingredients. It really looks like a good multi-species fly.

pszy22 · Dec 8, 2013

ia_trouter said:
I was going to try to tie one tonight but it looks like I am missing the proper dubbing ingredients. It really looks like a good multi-species fly.

It's easiest to get one dead (or I guess live) fox squirrel. The pattern uses fibers from two different parts of the pelt - the back and the belly. Some folks like to add in some dubbing such as antron to provide a bit of sparkle. Here's a link to Dave's recipe -

Dave Whitlock's Standard Red Fox Squirrel-Hair Nymph

Regarding the material source debate above, perhaps this picture will help clarify

have fun

r reese · Dec 8, 2013

The one I pictured has a soft hackle, it is tied a little different than Whitlocks. A friend of mine tied these for me. I like soft hackle nymphs.

craigthor · Dec 8, 2013

ia_trouter said:
I was going to try to tie one tonight but it looks like I am missing the proper dubbing ingredients. It really looks like a good multi-species fly.

I've got the Red Fox Squirrel Belly Fur it is one of the ones I use in my orange scud body mix.

---------- Post added at 08:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:30 AM ----------

Also, a quick pic based on the std recipe.

ia_trouter · Dec 8, 2013

Thanks Pszy. That recipe is easier to understand than the one I found. And squirrels are easy enough to find if I don't want to purchase it. I'm relieved we don't need Redd Foxx back hair and belly hair. That could've been a problem

flytire · Dec 8, 2013

Dave Whitlock's Red Fox Squirrel-Hair Nymph

two_nymph_rig · Dec 8, 2013

ia_trouter said:
I was going to try to tie one tonight but it looks like I am missing the proper dubbing ingredients. It really looks like a good multi-species fly.

yeah, I wouldn't try to tie it with what materials you have on hand, that would show a total lack of respect to this fly that we use to have fun.

Tie it up man, might end up turning into something great. Tie whatever you want with whatever you have.

ia_trouter · Dec 8, 2013

two_nymph_rig said:
yeah, I wouldn't try to tie it with what materials you have on hand, that would show a total lack of respect to this fly that we use to have fun.

Tie it up man, might end up turning into something great. Tie whatever you want with whatever you have.

Don't do that man. Riptide is good people and a longtime contributor of quality (and friendly) info. He misunderstood Jays (FQs) tone and got a little testy. I'm certain it'll be all good real soon.

I don't have any dubbing that has the spikey texture the fly appears to need. I'm not overly concerned with perfect color match as the fly has likely been successfully tied with variations many times.

craigthor · Dec 8, 2013

ia_trouter said:
Don't do that man. Riptide is good people and a longtime contributor of quality (and friendly) info. He misunderstood Jays (FQs) tone and got a little testy. I'm certain it'll be all good real soon.

I don't have any dubbing that has the spikey texture the fly appears to need. I'm not overly concerned with perfect color match as the fly has likely been successfully tied with variations many times.

I should mail ya some that'll get the job done.

unk:

ia_trouter · Dec 8, 2013

craigthor said:
I should mail ya some that'll get the job done. unk:

Or I could just reload the bird feeder and grab the .22 I wouldn't even have to put my shoes on to have the materials I need.

Whitlock's Red Fox Squirrel-Hair Nymph

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