Tied by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies on YouTube
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This version of the Gold Bead Head Possie Nymph is tied by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies and was originally found in John Van Vliet’s 1994 book, The Art of Fly Tying. Van Vliet named the fly the Possie Nymph, in honor of its primary ingredient — Australian possum fur.
If you’ve never tied with possum, Matt recommends giving it a shot. It’s spiky, coarse, and dubs with just the right amount of uneven texture—perfect for buggy nymphs that don’t try too hard to look precise. That said, you can easily sub in squirrel, hare, or whatever other varmint fur you’ve got lying around. It might not be technically correct to call it a Possie Nymph after that, but the fish won’t mind.
The finished pattern is simple, durable, and effective—ideal for prospecting in riffles or running under an indicator. The gold bead adds weight and just enough flash to get attention without turning it into something flashy.
Material
- Hook: Size 12 1x Long Nymph Hook
- Bead: 2.8mm Tungsten Bead - Gold
- Weight: 0.015 Lead Wire
- Thread: Gray 70 Denier
- Rib: Copper Wire - Brassie size
- Tail: Opossum guard hairs or long opossum fibers
- Body: Australian Opossum Fur or Awesome Possum Dubbing
