How to Tie the Bread and Butter Fly Pattern

Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. We are not a blog or a review site. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us

One of those confidence patterns that you can bring almost anywhere you're fishing and have success, the Bread and Butter Nymph is an effective jig-style nymph. While the Bread and Butter Nymph doesn't look exactly like any one specific food source, it's a reliable pattern whether you're matching mayflies, caddis, crustaceans, or just want a solid attractor. Nice and heavy, this fly gets down quickly, and whether you're using it as a point fly in a multi-nymph rig, or fishing it on its own, it's sure to help you find fish.

Material List

Hook: Gamakatsu J20B Hook (size: 12; can be tied 8-20)
Thread: UNI-Thread (size: 8/0; color: camel)
Bead: Tungsten Bead (size: 3.8mm; color: gold)
Weight: .020 Lead wire
Tail: Whiting Coq De Leon Tailing Pack (color: dark pardo)
Body: Hare's Ear Dubbin (color: natural)
Ribbing: UTC Ultra Wire (size: medium; color: copper)
Thorax: Spirit River UV2 Seal-X Dubbing (color: brown sugar)

Step 1

Start by sliding your tungsten bead onto the hook and moving it up to the hook eye.

Step 2

Wrap .020 lead wire around the hook shank 3–5 times to add weight and help hold the bead in place.

Step 3

Start your thread behind the bead and wrap it back over the lead to the bend of the hook to begin forming the abdomen. Take one Whiting Coq de Leon feather, strip 4–6 fibers from the stem, and tie them in on top of the hook shank so they extend about 1/2 inch past the bend of the hook for the tail. Trim the butt ends of the fibers behind the bead.

Step 4

Tie in UTC Ultra Wire along the side of the hook shank and secure it with tight thread wraps back to the tail.

Step 5

Take a small pinch of Hareline Hare’s Ear Plus Dubbing in Natural and make a dubbing noodle by spinning the dubbing onto your thread with your thumb and forefinger.

Step 6

Wrap the dubbing noodle forward to build up a tapered abdomen, stopping a little behind the bead.

Step 7

Wrap the UTC Ultra Wire forward over the abdomen with even, open turns to create a ribbing effect. Tie off the wire behind the bead and trim the excess.

Step 8

Make another dubbing noodle using a slightly darker Hareline Hare’s Ear Dubbing color. Use a smaller pinch this time to avoid too much bulk around the head.

Step 9

Wrap this dubbing noodle to form a neat, slightly shaggy thorax and fill the space behind the bead. Finish with 2–3 whip finishes behind the bead.

Tip: For extra durability, you can add a small drop of super glue to your thread before whip finishing.