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 Versatile Swimmer – J:son Mayfly Nymph 1 Light
The High-Contrast Swimmer – J:son Mayfly Nymph 3 Black (Hook #12) The Black Nymph 3 is a specialized imitation designed to match the swimming nymphs from families like Baetidae and Leptophlebiidae when they appear in their darkest stages. In many waters, nymphs of species like Leptophlebia vespertina (Claret Dun) or Baetis rhodani (Large Dark Olive) become almost coal-black just before they are ready to hatch. This black version provides a sharp, high-contrast silhouette that is easily spotted by fish, even in peat-stained water or deep, shaded pools.
Tied on high-quality size #12 hooks, this fly offers an incredibly realistic profile with J:son’s signature anatomical accuracy. The segmented body and lifelike legs create the perfect "swimmer" silhouette that triggers a predatory response. Whether you are dead-drifting it along a dark riverbed or using a slow retrieve to mimic an ascending nymph in a forest lake, the Black Nymph 3 is a powerful tool for technical situations where a distinct silhouette is key to success.