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 Technical Micro-Sinker – J:son Tungsten Mayfly Nymph (Hook #18) The Tungsten Nymph in size #18 is the ultimate technical tool for challenging conditions. When fish are keyed in on tiny hatches or "micro-nymphs," standard flies often lack the weight to reach the bottom, while bulky bead-heads ruin the delicate profile. Our #18 model solves this with discreetly integrated tungsten weighting, allowing this tiny imitation to sink quickly while maintaining its incredibly slim and realistic silhouette.
This micro-nymph is a perfect match for the smallest species of the Baetidae family (Blue-Winged Olives) or early-stage nymphs of larger species. Despite its miniature size, it features J:son’s legendary anatomical precision, including a segmented body and delicate, lifelike legs. It is a "must-have" for clear-water stalking, slow-moving spring creeks, or as a dropper fly when fish are being extremely selective. When a #14 or #16 is simply too large, this #18 tungsten nymph provides the perfect combination of stealth and depth.