The Flymph: Not Quite Nymph…Almost Adult

A Flymph is a great fly pattern for the beginning tier and serviceable as a fishing pattern for all fly fishers. A combination of the nymph and what we now call the ’emerger’, it entices with movement and general shapes. It suits my ‘impressionistic’ almost, but not quite tying style (some might call it sloppy/lazy) and it is productive in streams and lakes. More here re flymphs

 

Here, I dubbed a tapered fly from the rear (abdomen) up into the thorax, creating a buggy/leggy/winged front end. Flymphs can be/maybe should be tied with a bit cleaner style with a clearly defined tail/abdomen (nymph like) and then a wet fly style thorax/head. Presentation, as always, is important. The wet fly swing or Leisenring lift (rising, emerging insect) are traditional presentation options for flymphs/soft hackles/wets. Here Oliver Edwards offers his suggestions that contradict the ‘swing’/down and across presentation. On lakes, I have simply cast to rising fish or used as a searching pattern with a straight forward cast it out and slowly work it back letting the fibers work their twitching magic. (Additional information)

Fly Tying Materials: Innovative Euro Products

An excellent source for Euro Fly Tying Products is Performance Flies USA

The below Soft Hackle Pattern was tied with Synthetic Ice Quill Body materials purchased at Performance Flies USA in Cleveland, Ohio

Fly Tying: A Brace of Wet Flies

A little experimentation with Flexi-Floss and heavier wire ribbing for a more pronounced segmentation effect. The wet flies were tied on a size 14 and a size 16 Mustad 3906 hook. Love this hook. The verdict is out on how the body material will impress fish. To the naked eye it looks ok and as usual to the macro it looks a bit troubled. I would normally use a finer copper ribbing but I thought I would see how the larger ribbing came across. For those that like a cleaner appearance, the patterns look a bit clunky. Yet, I bet they will fish just fine. A dubbed thorax separated the abdomen from the Starling wing. It a simple fly to tie; could even be simpler. Any number of combination exist for the simple wet fly, soft hackle, flymph….call it what you will in your fair corner of the earth.

I know...a bit weak in the bum.