Description
Mayfly Nymphs – Life Below the Surface
Mayfly nymphs are the engine of the river and lake ecosystem. They are active year-round and represent a constant, reliable food source for trout and grayling from early spring to late autumn. To fish a mayfly nymph successfully, you must understand their behavior. They are categorized into three main types: Digging, Swimming, and Clinging nymphs, each adapted to specific environments.
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Digging Nymphs: Found in lakes and slow-moving river sections with soft or sandy bottoms. These include some of the giants, like the Green Drake (Ephemera danica).
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Swimming Nymphs: Agile and active, these are found in both still and moving water. They are often drift-feeders, like the Claret Dun (Leptophlebia).
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Clinging Nymphs: The "bodybuilders" of the mayfly world. Short, compact, and powerful, they live on rocks in the roughest currents, like the Yellow May Dun (Heptagenia).
Our Commitment: Anatomical Accuracy & Performance Since mayfly nymphs spend most of their lives tucked away near the bottom, they only become truly vulnerable when they lose their grip, drift to find food, or begin their journey to the surface to hatch. This is when the fish strike.
Our commitment is to provide imitations that match the specific silhouette and behavior of these three categories. By using J:son’s unique materials, we create nymphs with the correct proportions, lifelike legs, and balanced weight.
The Summer Swimmer – J:son Mayfly Nymph 3 Light Olive (Hook #12) The Light Olive Nymph 3 is a masterful imitation of slender swimming nymphs from the Baetidae family (such as Baetis) and certain Ephemerellidae species (like Serratella ignita / Blue-Winged Olive) that exhibit a lighter, more translucent olive tone. In sizes #12, this fly perfectly replicates the active nymphs found darting between aquatic weeds and rocks in both rivers and still waters.
Tied on precise size #10 or #12 hooks, this imitation captures the delicate, almost glowing appearance of a natural nymph in clear water. J:son’s signature anatomical design features a segmented body and lifelike legs that provide a convincing footprint from below. The light olive coloration is a "must-have" during the warmer months of the season when light-colored hatches are frequent. For maximum effectiveness, fish this nymph with a dead-drift through sunlit riffles or use a very subtle, pulsating retrieve to mimic the natural swimming action of a Baetis nymph moving through the water column.