THE NYMPH FLY

A nymph is generally considered any sinking fly that is a fairly specific imitation of an aquatic animal other than a minnow. For every species of insect or crustacean that fly fishers feel are important as fish food there is a pattern. However, you don’t need a thousand different fly patterns to catch fish on nymphs - a general representation of shape, size and color of whatever the fish are feeding on is all that is needed in most cases. 
 
Remember nymphs are available in a Trout stream twelve months out of the year so, nymphs have the potential to be the most useful flies fly fishers have in their box. On most streams, sizes 12 through 22 will serve one well but remember, with nymphs presentation is what’s important. 
 
The real keys to nymphing for Trout is to get the fly down to the level of the Trout drag free and knowing when to set the hook.

NYMPH PROPORTIONS

EMERGERS (floating nymphs) are nymphs that are tied on dry-fly hooks, to drift just under the surface or on the surface film. During a hatch, aquatic insects will drift just under the surface, trying to breakthrough the film and shed their nymphal skins at the same time. 
 
Emergers and floating nymphs have the body, color and shape of the nymph that is emerging and short, embryonic wings made of feathers or small balls of fur or polypropylene.
 
The nymph fly needs to look alive in the water therefore, exact imitations tied with hard unyielding materials are generally poor producers. There are times when a beadhead imitation will catch significantly more fish than the same fly minus the head This may possibly be because the beadhead gets the fly deeper while offering better visibility.

HARE’S EAR NYMPH
This is the most popular nymph pattern in North America. Trout probably mistake it at various times for a mayfly nymph, stone fly nymph, caddis larva or pupa, dragonfly nymph or scud. 
 
This pattern is effective almost anytime but it’s deadly when caddis are hatching. This fly should be (and usually is) tied in the ugliest, fuzziest, furriest manner possible - the uglier it looks the better it works.

PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH
This English pattern designed by Frank Sawyer is a simple yet intriguing pattern which has become a classic. 
 
The late Mr. Sawyer used it in the chalk streams of England to imitate the smallest of mayflies. Since then the pattern has proved highly effect in the, Western United States because of its natural appearance in the water: Its natural shape resembles many of its natural counterparts found in the west. 
 
It is sparse, easy to cast, readily sinks and retains a slim silhouette.

PRINCE NYMPH
This is an attractor pattern and not matched to any particular aquatic insect however, it is great at salvaging a slow day of fishing. Like many nymphs, this fly is best fished on a dead drift and always let it swing through before retrieving it. Often you will get hit on the retrieve by a fish “thinking” its morsel is escaping.

WOOLLY BUGGER
This fly is a variation of the Woolly Worm - it’s a Woolly Worm with a long marabou tail. This fly is in the “if I were limited to one underwater fly-” category. 
 
The Woolly Bugger started out as a wet fly but over a decade ago it started being treated as a nymph and a streamer. Here we will treat it as a nymph. 
 
At first glance we see an attractive bushy marabou feather but, when moved through water it becomes a sleek, undulating appendage for transporting an aquatic organism such as a leach which fish love. This pulsating. life-like motion is produced by stripping in the nymph with a 3-count pause between strips creating the swimming action of a leach or crayfish.
 
When the hatches are over and the fishing is off, this is when to call on the Woolly Bugger.

THE BITCH CREEK
This may be the most versatile nymph available today. Tied in different sizes and materials it could represent a variety of aquatic insects.  The wiggly rubber antennae and tail are definitely a fish enticer. 
 
The black and yellow Bitch Creek is said to be an especially good Brook Trout fly in high mountain lakes and streams. Use in lakes, streams or spring creeks in a variety of different sizes and colors such as yellow and green bodies with an orange or yellow thorax.

KAUFMANN'S STONE NYMPH
This stone nymph has become one of the most popular patterns with black, brown, golden brown and tan being the best colors. 
 
Stonefly nymphs are available to fish as they migrate along the bottom rubble and when they lose their grasp and drift and tumble with the current. Stonefly nymphs prefer high concentrations of oxygen and cover which is provided in fast riffled water. 
 
Because of ever changing currents, diffused light patterns, bubbles and foam, Trout only to have a split-second to decided what is edible and what is not. Therefore it seems logical that stonefly recognition is based first on size and shape and then color. This is the reason behind the creation of the Kaufmann's stone nymph

MONTANA NYMPH
This is basically a stonefly imitation but, in smaller sizes can be used to imitate other nymphs. 
 
The larger size Montana are effective in large, deep rivers of the Western United States by using a heavily weighted #6 nymph to reach down in deep holes.
 
Small sizes such as #12 and #14 are very effective on small creeks when using a dead drift. 
 
On slow or still waters, use short jerks when retrieving the nymph. In faster waters let the heavier nymph sink and swing around, which drops them into deep holes, and then retrieve with large (6inch) strips. Most of the time fish will hit on the swing.