m&M: - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

SIM-FECTIVE NYMPHS
THAT'S right-SIM-FECTIVE-nymphs are SIMPLE to
tie and EFFECTIVE when fished. Skeptical? Read on
and see if you aren't convinced enough to tie a few and
give them a try this season.
I believe fly fishermen will agree that one of the most
effective and consistent ways to take trout is with the
nymph. No matter what pattern or how perfectly tied,
the nymph continues to remain high on the successful
list. Perhaps it's because more than 70% of the trout's
natural food is found under water.
Nymph life of the hundreds of Mayflies, caddis flies and
stone flies that inhabit your favorite stream. Crawfish,
freshwater shrimp, cress bugs and other forms of underwater
life. Ants, beetles, inch worms, hoppers and other
land bred insects that find their way into your trouts
favorite cafeteria. Nymphs can be used to imitate many
of the above.
Enough of trying to inform and convince—on with how
to tie and use SIM-FECTIVE nymphs.
The fly is literally what the name implies-SIMPLE.
No tail, no whisks, no feelers, no legs, no wing cases,
nothing but a natural dubbed fur body. Tied on hooks
from size 10 to 20. The nymph is an attractor type rather
than an imitator. It will suggest by shape, size and color
more than a half dozen of the natural insects on which
a trout feeds.
Three types of fur are used . . . muskrat, weasel and fox.
These give the basic shades or colors used on most flies.
Gray, for dark colored flies early in the season. Brown
for medium colored flies during the mid-season. Cream,
for light colored flies during the late season. A standard
wet fly or nymph hook such as #7957-'B or 7948-A should
be used. #7957-B for sizes 8 through 14. #7948-A for
sizes 16, 18 and 20. On the dark nymph tied with muskrat
fur use black or gray thread. Brown thread is used on
the weasel fur nymph. Black or brown thread may be
used on the fox fur or cream colored nymph.
TYING the nymph. First, tie on thread at the rear of
the hook shank directly above the barb (Figure 1). Next,
dub on a small amount of fur without removing the guard
hairs (Figure 2). Small amounts of fur are used so an
even body taper may be attained. This dubbing procedure
may have to be repeated three or four times, depending
on the size of the fly. The body is tapered
(Figure 3) from the bend of the shank, forward to within
1/32" of the eye. Build up the head, whipfinish, lacquer
and your nymph is finished.
During the early season and in high water sizes 8, 10
20
By ED KOCH
1<
and 16's. During the late season the best sizes are 16>
and 20.
EFFECTIVE—yes, provided the angler is willing
observe and do a little practicing. Patience will also P''
off. First, check local streams for the type of insect "
found there. Once you have a basic knowledge of \ r
streambed and streamside insects available you can e» sl
determine what size and color fly will come closest
imitating the general size, shape and color of the r
thing.
No hard fast rule as to how to fish a nymph can be 5 '
down for any particular place or stream, nor for a '
particular time of the season. Generally start by fishing
nymph deep, rolling it along the bottom, This is acc°
plished by using split shot or twist-on lead about 10 in cl /
ahead of the fly. This seems to be the accepted method
90% of the nymph fisherman. When it doesn't prod 11
they are quick to switch to wet flies or streamers. Ra" 1 ,
the next step should be to fish the nymph about half vV '
down. To get the fly in position for this method, rem 0 ^
small amounts of your weight at a time until the desi f
depth is reached. rf
Remember when fishing nymphs cast directly upst re .^
and allow the fly to drift toward you. The current s ^° l \0
provide all the natural action needed. All you have to
is mend line and keep your eye glued to the spot vvl 1
your line or leader enters the water.
The third method of nymph fishing is in the surface 0
Fish the nymph just as though it were a dry fly. Cast
- - nil'
upstream, let the line and nymph drift toward you, ic
urally with the current. The nymph should be someW
between one and six inches beneath the surface film­
1
/o"
Make short casts covering every inch of water as ) ^
move either up or down stream. Maximum casts s ' l0 .j)
be kept under forty or fifty feet. Hold the rod tip "'^
and keep the line between the tip of the rod and the »r (
where your line enters the water as straight and ]8
as possible. Watch this spot at all times for a te ,'