The Floss Pick Nymph // Easy to Tie... Catches Fish Year Round

Most fly names are straightforward—“Pheasant Tail,” “Hare’s Ear”—but this one’s a little different. I call it the Floss Pick because the early versions used exclusively floss for the body, and I liked the joke about sliding the hook in to “floss” a trout’s teeth before release. The name stuck.

At its core, the Floss Pick is a basic beadhead nymph: slim body, soft hackle collar, and just enough flash to get attention. It’s quick to tie and consistently productive. I started tying these years ago for clients when local fly shops were scarce. The original relied on floss for its shine and durability. Today, with better hooks, tungsten beads, and modern threads, it’s cleaner and more effective than ever.

What makes it useful is its versatility. Adjust the hook size for midges or larger imitations. Change body color to match local hatches—olives, blacks, browns, or whatever’s drifting that day. Experiment with thorax dubbing, bead color, or hackle (CDC or hen both work well). It’s a pattern that invites variation rather than demanding precision.

I’m not including tying steps here—there’s a video for that. My only advice: keep the body slim and let the hackle move. If you’re looking for a reliable, no-fuss nymph you can adapt to your waters, tie a few Floss Picks. They’ve accounted for plenty of fish over the years, and they’ll likely do the same for you.

Ingredients for the Floss Pick Nymph:

The beauty of this tie, is you can so easily change the body color for minimal cost. Get a couple of different thread and wire colors, or swap dubbing and you'll create unique variants that might fish better certain days or times of the year. 

• Hook Size #14 (in video) 
  Umpqua X Series Perdi Jig 
• Bead Size 3.3 MM Silver (in video) 
  Umpqua Tungsten Slotted Bead
• Thread (floss or glossy thread) 140 Chartruese (in video) 
  UTC Thread 140
• UTC Ultra Wire (silver in video)
• Scud-Lisios Dubbing (olive)
• Solarez Bone Dry UV Resin
• UV Light (for curing the UV Resin) Loon Bench Light