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 Delicate Sulphur – J:son Mayfly Nymph 3 Sulphur (Hook #12) The Sulphur Nymph 3 in size #12 is a technical imitation tailored for the smaller swimming nymphs within the Ephemerellidae family. While size #10 is great for early hatches, the size #12 hook is often the secret to success during the peak and tail-end of the "Sulphur" season, matching species like Ephemerella dorothea. Its pale, creamy yellow-olive hue mimics the natural translucency of these nymphs as they prepare to emerge.
This nymph features the signature J:son anatomical detail: a segmented, flexible body and lifelike legs that create the correct silhouette and movement in the water. Because Sulphur nymphs are often found in the drift just before a hatch, this fly is best fished on a dead-drift or with a very gentle lift toward the surface. The size #12 profile provides the realism needed for clear-water fishing and selective trout that are focused on smaller, paler prey.