The Brassie (tiny numphs)
from Skip Morris' book, "The Art of Tying the Nymph, 1993"
The Brassie can be tied in a wide range of sizes, but because it is so simple - just a bit of wire and a bit of dubbing - it makes an especially good tiny fly. Besides, the Brassie looks like a chironomid larva, and these are usually tiny.
There isn't a lot of metal in this pattern, but there isn't much to add buoyancy or bulk, so the Brassie sinks well regardless of hook size. The Brassie also resembles some case-building caddis larvae, some small, some large.
The Brassie was created by Gene Lynch. Fish it well down, usually in streams.
BRASSIE
HOOK: Heavy wire, regular shank, 1X long, or 2X long, sizes 20 to 10 (the hook shown is an Eagle Claw D57)
THREAD: Black 8/0 or 6/0
ABDOMEN: Copper wire, size is dependent upon hook size
THORAX: Muskrat fur with guard hairs
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1. Start the thread about one-quarter down the shank from the eye. Secure one end of some copper wire at the threads starting point with tight thread turns. Lift the wire slightly above the shank and spiral the thread down both to the bend. The thickness of the wire will determine both the fly's sink rate and the thickness of its abdomen, so chose with this in mind.
2. Advance the thread to its starting point; wind the wire in close tight turns to that point and secure it with tight thread turns. Trim the wire closely.
3. Dub a short thorax of muskrat; leave the guard hairs intact. Build and complete a thread head. You can pick out some of the fur and guard hairs with a hatpin, scissors tip, or a bodkin. If the guard hairs are too long, trim them to length.