Steel Back Nymphs
Custom Made Flyfishing Nymphs By Renowned NZ Fishing Guide Alan Campbell
“SO GOOD THEY MAY HAVE TO BE BANNED!”
As a professional fishing guide, (since 1995) and specialising in sight fishing, I get to see at first hand how trout react to presented flies. Sometimes the pattern is less of a factor than the actual drift, depth etc. but when a good drift at the right depth doesn’t produce a reaction then it’s time to change your fly!
I have fished nearly exclusively with my SBN’s since 2010 safe in the knowledge that only a handful of anglers are using them and, more importantly, because they are absolutely lethal! I have seen brown trout refuse to take a size #18 hare’s ear nymph only to grab a similar size SBN after a change of flies. Of course, if you have already caught that trout recently, you are going to need to change your pattern no matter what fly was used.
Come and join the exclusive steelback club!
THE SBN SUB-MERGER
New Flies
Proven Winners
THE NYMPH
I’m convinced the SBN has that X factor to rival the use of beads which revolutionised weighted nymph fishing. With SBN’s, the weight is distibuted more evenly along the hook shank. Most anglers use a bead pattern in order to get their nymph down.
The SBN provides trout with a totally different profile and, let’s face it, is there a trout on the planet that’s yet to see a bead head nymph???
A client recently showed me his nymph box and every single nymph had a bead head!
He then proceded to list the various insects each was supposed to represent. I’m not knocking beads, and I still use them under certain conditions, but the SBN provides a more natural alternative in my opinion.
You can also add weight (lead or lead free wire, copper wire, tungsten strips etc.) to the shank of a hook but to keep proportions, it means that only the larger sizes have significant sinkability or you end up with a smaller bulky nymph which will be refused by educated trout.
In my view less is best. Adding weight to the leader is good allowing the use of lighter, slimmer nymphs but this method is not popular because it is fiddly to set up.
THE FEATURES
Features of the SBN are:
1. Very distinct and bold profile.
2. No loss of space behind eye of hook at tie off point.
3. Weight evenly distributed along hook shank.
4. Choice of “bling” or matte finish steel backs with several colour options.
5. Curved appearance with hook setting advantage of straight shanked hook.
6. Back attached to hook by stainless steel wire and then soldered.
MODELS, SIZES and COLOURS:
Steel backs are available in natural stainless (shiny) and natural stainless (matte). Colours include Black, Brown, Grey, Red, Blue, Green, Olive. Sizes #16 and #18.
HOOKS:
Steel back numphs are tied on Tiemco #3769 or Kamasan #B175 heavy wire barbed hookes. For those who prefer barbless, it is a simple task of crimping the barb over on these hooks.
BODY MATERIALS:
Include ribbed tying thread, dubbed and ribbed, tinsel and rib, copper wire (Copper John style).
THORAX and LEGS:
Standard dubbing material including: natural fur, CDC and synthetics. Fine rubber legs feature on most S.B.N’s.
Newest Nymphs
SBN Orange
- BODY: Synthetic dubbing
- THORAX: CDC orange
- STEELBACK: Matte Orange epoxy finish.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN Yellow
- BODY: Synthetic dubbing
- THORAX: CDC yellow
- STEELBACK: Matte yellow epoxy finish.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN Pink
- BODY: Synthetic dubbing
- THORAX: CDC pink
- STEELBACK: Matte pink epoxy finish.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN White
- BODY: Synthetic dubbing
- THORAX: CDC white
- STEELBACK: Matte white epoxy finish.
- Size #16 shown.
Proven Performers
SBN002
- BODY: Rabbit/hare dubbing
- THORAX: Rabbit/hare dubbing
- STEELBACK: matte straw colour
- SIZE #16 shown.
SBN003
- BODY: Mustard coloured synthetic dubbing with stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing mix with fine rubber legs.
- TAIL: ginger hackle fibres
- STEELBACK: Matte with mustard colour epoxy finish
- SIZE #16 shown
SBN010
- BODY: silver copper wire
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with super fine rubber legs
- STEELBACK: matte with brown epoxy finish
- Size #16 shown
SBN011
- BODY: Synthetic dubbing
- THORAX: seals fur
- TAIL: bright red hackle fibres
- STEELBACK: Matte red
- Size #18 shown.
SBN013
- BODY: yellow copper wire,
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with super fine rubber legs
- STEELBACK: Yellow mustard
- Size #16 shown
SBN014
- BODY: copper wire,
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with super fine rubber legs
- STEELBACK: matte with dark brown epoxy finish
- Size #16 shown
SBN020
- BODY: yellow ice dubbing with stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with super fine rubber legs
- STEELBACK: Light yellow
- Size #16 shown.
SBN031
- BODY: green/black tinsel or scudback (depending on size) with stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: hare’s ear.
- STEELBACK: matte black.
- Size #16 shown
SBN032
- BODY: violet pearl scudback with stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with krystal flash legs.
- STEELBACK: matte with purple epoxy finish.
- Size #16 shown
SBN040
- BODY: orange fluo bright edge with stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with super fine rubber legs.
- STEELBACK: matte with purple epoxy finish.
- Size #18 shown
SBN041
- BODY: yellow fluo bright edge with stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: synthetic dubbing with super fine rubber legs.
- STEELBACK: matte with olive epoxy finish.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN050
- BODY: black tying thread/stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: ultra thin rubber legs/synthetic dubbing.
- STEELBACK: Black epoxy over matt stainless steel.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN051
- BODY: dark brown tying thread/stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: ultra thin rubber legs/synthetic dubbing.
- STEELBACK: dark brown epoxy over matte stainless steel.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN052
- BODY: tan tying thread/stainless wire rib.
- THORAX: ultra thin rubber legs/synthetic dubbing.
- STEELBACK: tan epoxy over matte stainless steel.
- Size #16 shown.
SBN Kit
10 pre-soldered hooks and 10 stainless steel backs per kit.
