Fly Tying Tutorial: Black Balloon Nymph

In this tutorial, Hogan Brown ties the Black Balloon PMD, a simple, fast-sinking mayfly nymph that pays homage to Andy Burke’s classic HBI pattern. Designed as a true guide fly, this pattern is quick to tie, durable, and deadly effective for PMDs, Baetis, and other small mayflies. Hogan walks step-by-step through the tie, sharing tips on proportion, taper, and how to craft the fly’s namesake black balloon wing case. With its buggy profile, subtle flash, and natural coloration, the Black Balloon PMD is a proven producer from freestones to tailwaters. See a full materials list at: https://loonoutdoors.com/blogs/fly-tying-videos/black-balloon-nymph 00:00 – Introduction: Hogan Brown & the Black Balloon Nymph 00:25 – Inspiration: Andy Burke’s HBI & Jason Lozano’s Influence 00:55 – Hook, Bead & Thread Setup 01:30 – Tails and Legs: Gold Wood Duck 02:05 – Adding Flash and Copper Wire Rib 02:40 – Dubbing the Body (Cinnamon Caddis) 03:20 – Creating Taper and Wrapping the Crystal Flash Rib 03:55 – Adding Copper Rib for Segmentation 04:20 – Preparing the Black Balloon Wing Case 05:15 – Cutting and Shaping the Balloon Strip 05:50 – Tying in the Wing Case 06:30 – Building the Thorax and Adding Flash Accent 07:10 – Adding Mallard Flank Legs on Each Side 07:45 – Pulling Over and Securing the Black Balloon Wing Case 08:15 – Trimming Flash and Finishing the Fly 08:40 – Final Thoughts: The Black Balloon PMD & HBI Legacy SUBSCRIBE to see more videos - http://bit.ly/loon-youtube Follow us on INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/loonoutdoors/ Like us on FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/loonoutdoors