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 Heavyweight All-Rounder – J:son Tungsten Mayfly Nymph 1 Olive Brown (Hook #4) The Tungsten Olive Brown Nymph 1 in the impressive size #4 is a powerful imitation of the largest species of swimming and digging mayfly nymphs. With its integrated tungsten weighting, this is one of our fastest-sinking flies, designed to punch through surface tension and reach the riverbed in deep pools and heavy currents where the largest fish hold.
The olive brown coloration is a universal favorite, mimicking the natural camouflage of nymphs in almost any freshwater environment. Despite the substantial size #4 hook, the fly maintains J:son’s uncompromising anatomical realism, featuring a clearly segmented body and robust, lifelike legs that provide a vivid profile even in turbulent water. This is the ultimate fly for targeting trophy trout and large grayling when you need maximum visibility, weight, and realism in a single pattern. Use it as a stable "anchor fly" in a rig or fish it alone along the bottom to entice the truly big specimens.