A very generic representation of a mayfly nymph tied on a Czech nymph type hook. A good buggy looking fly that also has a hot spot emerging wing of UV material.

Mayfly are of the order ephemeroptera and are common throughout the year but with the greater concentrations occurring from September through to March. They inhabit both running and still water and are a significant food source for most trout often reputed to represent up to 30% of a trout’s diet.

This fly whilst not being representational of any particular mayfly is a good buggy looking fly that when tied with sufficient weight will stay in the fish catching zone and incorporates a hot spot in the form of a coloured ultra violet (UV) emerging wing.

Tied in a number of colour and material combinations a selection of mayfly nymphs is a must fly for any river fly box.

Materials

Process

A	Most beads have a large opening at one end and a smaller opening at the other. Slide a tungsten bead over the point of the hook small opening first and position it behind the eye of the hook. Wind the thread in touching turns to the bend of the hook. Understanding hooks If your going to add extra weight do that now . On this size #10 fly I have added 12 wraps of .15 mm lead to the front half of the hook shank. Adding weight to a fly Tie in a tail equal 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the hook shank. Resist the temptation to make the tail too bulky and too long. Tie in a length of copper wire.

B	Dub on a slim tapered body along the length of the fly.

C	Wind the wire ribbing along the body of the fly forming 5 or 6 segments. Segments on flies Take several touching turns of the copper wire behind the bead head before worrying off the excess wire.

D	Take a small bunch of UV dubbing and tie it in just a little behind the bead. This is only a subtle hot spot so resist the temptation to tie in too much. Pinch the excess dubbing off leaving just a small amount to represent an emerging wing bud.

E	Roll a small amount of the dubbing onto the thread and dub on a collar between where the wing bud is tied in and the back of the bead. Take several tight wraps of thread directly behind the bead. Whip finish behind the bead, trim the thread and varnish the thread behind the bead and the bead itself. If you don’t varnish the bead it will tarnish quite quickly.