Tips of 3 cock pheasant tail fibres.
Dorsal surface of abdomen: Narrow section of brown turkey tail fibres.
Abdomen: Light tan Antron.
Rib: Pearl Flashabout, 1 strand, which also ties down the turkey tail section.
Thorax: As abdomen.
Wing cases: Very dark turkey, epoxied.
Legs: Grouse hackle palmered along the thorax in three turns.
Head: As abdomen.
SHELL-BACK NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 14–20.
Thread: Light brown or olive.
Tails: Tips of 3 cock pheasant tail fibres.
Dorsal surface of abdomen: Medium or dark dun goose quill slips.
Abdomen: Fine, light tan or light olive fur (e.g. rabbit).
Rib: Thread, darker than abdomen.
Thorax: As abdomen.
Wing cases: Goose quill slips, continued from dorsal surface of abdomen.
Legs: Brown speckled partridge or dyed olive grey partridge.
The large cream-coloured mayfly nymphs live their lives in burrows in lake- or river-beds until the moment comes when they must swim to the surface where the dun emerges. So for most of the year trout are unlikely to encounter these nymphs and, from autopsies of feeding trout, it seems that during a hatch they prefer to eat the emerged duns rather than the nymphs. Nevertheless, these large burrowing nymphs have been imitated and, remarkably, they do catch trout the year round, and in waters where the real nymph does not live!
MAYFLY NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 8–10.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Tips from 4–5 cock pheasant tail fibres.
Abdomen: Cream-yellow angora wool.
Rib: Thick brown thread.
Thorax: As abdomen.
Wing cases: Cock pheasant tail fibres.
Legs: Tips of cock pheasant tail fibres used to form wing cases.
NOTE: This fly, designed by Richard Walker, should be heavily weighted, and fished very close to the bottom.
Real nymphs are usually well camouflaged and blend into their habitat, the bed of rivers and lakes. However, some, like the next four patterns, are much brighter and are great attractor patterns.
ORANGE NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–14.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Few fibres brown speckled partridge.
Abdomen: Orange wool or fur.
Rib: Fine silver wire.
Thorax: Brown wool or fur.
Wing cases: Brown speckled partridge.
Though this imitates New Zealand’s pepper-winged olive, it will take trout in rivers on the other side of the planet. It is very good when the water has a slight peat tinge. The same can also be said of the following – another New Zealand pattern.
RED-TIPPED GOVERNOR
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–14.
Thread: Black.
Tails: Dyed red hackle fibres.
Abdomen: Red floss.
Thorax: Peacock herl.
Wing cases: Hen pheasant tail slip (dark section).
Legs: Few fibres red hen hackle.
FAISAN ET ORANGE (ORANGE AND PHEASANT)
Hook: Wet fly, 10–12.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Tips of about 5 cock pheasant tail fibres.
Underbody: Copper wire.
Body: Orange floss.
Rib: Finest oval gold tinsel.
Shellback: About 10 cock pheasant tail fibres.
Besides trout and grayling, this nymph, by Raymond Rocher, has also accounted for several Atlantic salmon.
The next four are New Zealand patterns and imitate upwinged fly nymphs found in the rivers there. They can also be usefully used in North American and European streams and lakes, as they match several natural nymphs in those continents.
SULPHUR NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 12–14.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: Grey partridge fibres dyed yellow.
