AANZ is often asked to recommend a selection of “go to” nymph patterns for the streams and rivers in the North Island of New Zealand. Patterns such as the Gold ribbed Hare’s Ear and Pheasant Tail are ubiquitous and proven all around the globe. Tied on # 12 – # 16 hooks, with or without bead heads, they are without peer. Leaving them out of any selection would be a mistake. Alongside these two flies are five quirky patterns which provide variation when the fishing is difficult. All are proven fish takers.

1. Gold ribbed Hare’s Ear

Classic pattern which needs very little explanation.

Hook: Tiemco 2457, Kamasan B110 or Mustad C67S  2XH (pictured). Size # 14.

Body: Hares Ear.

Rib: Gold or Hot Yellow Ultrawire.

Tail: Pheasant tail fibres.

Bead: Gold Tungsten facetted.

2. Fox’s Poopah variant (modelled on a Peter Carty description in Fish & Game NZ – April 2011)

This pattern was originally designed by Tim Fox in California in the early 1990’s. It is designed to be impressionistic which means that it is mistaken for many things but modelled on nothing in particular. The Ostrich herl thorax flattens and pulses when wet which adds movement and authenticity.

Hook: Tiemco 2457 or Kamasan B110. Size # 14.

Body: Pearl flashback or Mylar. This is coated in Bug Bond UV epoxy after the chenille is ribbed with the wire.

Rib: Black wire.

Tail: Micro chenille (or Ultra chenille) in Tan or Dark Green. End tapered with a cigarette lighter to prevent fraying.

Thorax: Ostrich herl.

Bead: 2.7 mm Lucent Tungsten. Green or Coffee.

3. Glass bead Caddis

These glass bead patterns come to life when wet. The Antron glistens and the glass beads reflect light just like the naturals that they are endeavouring represent. Simple to tie.

Hook: Tiemco 2457 or Kamasan B110. Size # 14.

Body: Light Grey (left) or a 50:50 blend of Light Olive and Medium Olive (right) Antron dubbing.

Tail: Olive Deer hair.

Head: Matt Green 11/0 Toho glass seed bead coated in Bug Bond UV epoxy.

Beads: Smoke or Clear 11/0 Toho glass seed bead.

4. Glass bead Egg cluster

A small fly intended to represent an egg cluster. The Ice Dub UV dubbing glistens in the light and this, coupled with the orange glass beads, makes the fly look very realistic in the water. Performs like a lightly weighted Glo-bug.

Hook: Tiemco 2457 or Kamasan B110. Size # 16.

Tag: Danville Fluorescent pink. Hot spot.

Body: Hareline Dubbing Ice Dub UV Shrimp Pink.

Beads: Orange Toho 11/0 glass seed beads.

5. Rigor Parrot

This fly gets it name from the parrot feather which is used to construct it. When a neighbour’s parrot toppled of its perch (and “shuffled off this mortal coil”) my father managed to secure the wing feathers for fly tying. While it is not immediately evident from the image the blue outer side of the parrot feather breaks up the yellow underside to give the body a variegated green – yellow appearance. Deadly.

Hook: Kamasan B175 or Mustad 3666. Size # 12.

Tail: Parrot feather (Dark blue on one side, yellow on the other).

Body: Parrot feather.

Rib: Gold or Hot Yellow Ultrawire.

Thorax: Hares Ear Antron dubbing.

Wing case: Turkey wing sealed with a spot of Zap-A-Gap.

6. Ostrich herl

The Ostrich herl nymph is nearly always my point fly on a tandem nymph rig. Once again, it is designed to be impressionistic which means that it is mistaken for many things but modelled on nothing in particular. The Ostrich herl flattens and pulses when wet which adds movement and authenticity. Unweighted it could also be classified as a “wee wet”.

Tail: Several deer hair fibres.

Body: Dark grey Ostrich herl.

Rib: Bronze Ultrawire.

Hackle: Russet (dark brown color with a reddish-orange tinge) cock hackle.

7. Pheasant tail variants

Classic pattern designed originally by Frank Sawyer which is known worldwide. Three variations of the same pattern are shown above. My preference is to run the tail fibre over the wire forming the thorax rather than leaving the wire exposed. The tungsten bead head is used when extra weight is needed to get the fly to the bottom. In the middle pattern I’ve added a drop of Bug Bond UV epoxy to protect the wing case from damage.

Tail: Pheasant tail.

Body: Pheasant tail.

Rib and underbody: Copper wire or Bronze Ultrawire.

Thorax and wing case: Pheasant tail.