Nymph Patterns
Grey Nymph
 One of
the David Collyer trio of nymphs for the reservoirs –
probably the most famous of the three as this fly was
used to catch the fly caught record rainbow trout back
in the early 1970’s.
In my tying I have substituted the
very precise description of ‘grey with white tips
ostrich herl’ for just plain white ostrich herl. I also
prefer slightly longer tails than some may tie or
consider in proportion but I think this gives the fly
slightly more ‘wiggle factor’.
With either of these
modifications the fish don’t seem to care!
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Hook:
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Size 10 Heavy Wet Hook (e.g.
Kamasan B175) |
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Thread:
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Black
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Tail:
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Tips of 4 or 5 strands of heron
herl. These are the tips of the herl that are
tied in to form the body. |
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Body:
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4 or 5 strands of heron herl.
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Rib:
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Silver oval tinsel
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Thorax:
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Grey with white tips ostrich Herl.
The waste ends of the heron herl are tied over
the back to create wing cases.
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Blue-Winged Olive Nymph
.jpg) A BWO
nymph version devised by John Veniard (there are
literally dozens of BWO nymph variants out there and it
was only a matter of time before one incorporating heron
appeared).
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Hook:
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Size 14 Medium Weight Wet Fly
Hook |
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(e.g. Drennan Trad Wet Fly) |
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Thread:
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Olive |
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Tail:
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Fibres from a grizzle cock hackle
dyed yellow |
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Body:
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Thread under body wrapped with
Heron herl |
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that has been dyed olive green. |
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Rib:
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Fine Gold Wire |
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Thorax:
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Dark Olive seal’s fur. A yellow
dyed Goose |
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breast is tied in over the |
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back to
create wing cases. |
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Legs:
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One turn only of short-fibred
grizzle |
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hen hackle dyed yellow. |
Irish Shrimp
(Not Illustrated)
An interesting Irish pattern that uses heron feather
slips rather than the herl to create the shell-back on a
shrimp pattern - the blue-grey heron's wing feathers are
laid
back along hook and held down at bend of hook by first
turn of tinsel ribbing to suggest the curved back of a
shrimp.
If a quicker sinking version is desired,
wire can be wound on the body before it is dubbed with
fur.
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Hook:
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Size 8 or 10 Medium Weight Shrimp
Hook (e.g. Kamasan B100). |
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Thread:
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Ash Coloured (e.g. Uni-Thread 8/0
Grey). |
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Tail:
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A few fibres of bronze mallard
drake scapular feather. |
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Body:
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Blue grey seal's fur mixed with
hare's ear. |
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Rib:
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Silver tinsel. |
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Thorax:
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Blue-grey heron's wing feathers. |
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Hackle:
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A few turns of soft grizzle cock
hackle dyed olive-grey. |
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