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.
-
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).
-
Swimming Nymphs: Agile and active, these are found in both still and moving water. They are often drift-feeders, like the Claret Dun (Leptophlebia).
-
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 Barbless Micro-Sulphur – J:son Mayfly Nymph 5 Sulphur (Hook #18 BL) The Sulphur Nymph 5 BL in size #18 is our most technical tool for imitating the smallest swimming nymphs in the Ephemerellidae family. This "super-micro" imitation is indispensable when trout and grayling focus on tiny, pale-colored nymphs in the drift. The light yellow-olive tone perfectly replicates the natural translucency of small Sulphur nymphs in clear water.
By using a barbless (BL) hook, extreme realism is combined with conservation-minded fishing. Barbless hooks often provide superior penetration on the strike and allow for a quick, gentle release of the fish. This model is unweighted, giving it an extremely natural and slow drift in the current—just like a real insect. J:son’s anatomical precision, with its segmented body and lifelike legs, is maintained even in this minimal format. This is the fly to choose when fish are at their most wary, requiring a perfect presentation on a fine tippet.