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 Pale Micro-Nymph – J:son Mayfly Nymph 4 Sulphur (Hook #14) The Sulphur Nymph 4 in size #14 is our most delicate imitation for matching smaller swimming nymphs from the Ephemerellidae family, such as late-season Ephemerella dorothea (Sulphurs). Its pale, yellow-olive to amber coloration perfectly mimics the translucent appearance of these nymphs as they inhabit riverbeds and weedy lake margins. In this micro-size, the fly is an essential tool for technical fly fishing when trout and grayling are keying in on specific, lighter-colored prey.
Tied on a precision size #14 hook, this model is unweighted, allowing for an exceptionally natural and slow descent through the water column. J:son’s anatomical design ensures that even at this small scale, the fly maintains a perfect segmented silhouette and lifelike leg profile. This fly excels in clear water and slow-moving currents where a subtle, non-intrusive presentation is required. Fish it on a fine leader with a dead-drift or use a very gentle lift to simulate an emerging nymph rising toward the surface.