Good general-purpose nymphs?

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

While I was in Missouri recently I realized my nymph box basically had no flies in it in the sz. 12-16 range.

[M. Wood]

Whitlock’s Fox Squirrel nymph has been a great go to nymph for me- several variations from rubber legs to bead heads, etc.

[John Stanley]

The prince in 12-16 is a great cold weather nymph.

[Neal Osborn]

Hare’s ear nymphs – size 14-18, in tan, black, green.  It’s a great pattern and should be in everyone’s nymph box.  I think people forget how effective this fly can be – and tying a few dozen will hone the general tying skills.

Other basic/classic go-to nymphs might include . . .

Fox Squirrel (as mentioned above)
Copper John
Lightning bug (killer pattern on the Hootch)
Red tinsel/wire midge larva

;)If you want a good nymph pattern for the local tailwater (i.e. the Hootch), there is one that reigns supreme – Kyle’s Copperhead – invented by Kyle Burrell.  Here is a link to the recipe and instructions.  This is now my go-to nymph. Use a gold beed instead of copper.
http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/week-83-weeks-fly-kyles-copperhead-t32547.html?s=06abc74697e141cd8251a65d418aba92&t=32547

[Grant Wright]

Copper Johns in a variety of colors (including black) and Hare’s Ear, the fly f/k/a prince is a another favorite.

[Tim Angeli]

The North Fork Special is an awesome pattern.

[chad copsy]

Zach,

All the above flies are great and I have to give a shout out to the hare’s ear as well. I recently started using it again on the little red and it has been killer at times. Check out this vid by Davie MacPhail it is a great tie as are all his videos. I love his accent ” touchin turns”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjy93L17uuY

Happy tying.

Chad

[brian aherne]

This is a nymph designed by a guide in Tasmania named Ken Orr. I have been using it a lot the last last few years with great results. As a general purpose nymph it is dynamite. I tie it from a #10 down to a #20

007 Nymph

Tail- Red wool or hot orange glo-bug yarn
Body- Black seals fur or sub
Rib- Blue wire
Thorax- Black seal or sub
Wing case- Black crow

[Rich Kovars]

I usually use Pheasant tails in the smaller sizes from about 16 down and Hare’s Ears for the larger sizes.  I like the Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear with a bead and a soft hackle.  

[kdcompton]

Zach,

Here is a general purpose, attractor nymph you may or may not have seen in Randy’s box.

Tungstenhead; Coq de Leon fiber tail; Olive Benecchi 12/0 thread body; ribbing: black synthetic ribbon trailed by fine gold wire; Siman Synthetic Peacock Dubbing (Bronze color) thorax. #12-18.

[regan c. kenyon jr.]

The dark lord, anderson’s bird of prey, any prince variation

[none]

Very nice suggestions here.
However what’s a general purpose nymph by the way?

Are we talking general nymphs that suggest a very common insect spices like a mayfly and a caddis? Or a nymph pattern you can toss anywhere no matter what insect spices are or aren’t in the water you’re fishing?

My way of fishing is keeping it simple in terms of numbers of patterns in my fly box. I carry 3-4 nymph patterns in various weights (most being sizes of bead heads). This way I can keep the materials needed for tying limited as well as only needing one box of nymphs.

So, what do you mean by ‘general’ Zach?  ::)

[mick mccorcle]

Doug Prince’s Prince Nymph
John Barr’s Copper John and Tung Teaser
Dave Whitlock’s Red Fox Squirrel Hair Nymph (all versions)
Frank Sawyer’s Pheasant Tail Nymph (all versions)
Ed Story’s Crackleback (with and without bead, in several body colors)

[greg mitchell]

The zebra midge (tungsten bead head) in various sizes and colors is a good one to stock. It’s a killer here in MO and in Arkansas.

Greg

[Kelly Glissmeyer]

Here’s one of my favorites developed for my home waters, but it’s proven to be a killer everywhere I go:

KG’s South Fork Special

Hook:  DaiRiki 125 size #14
Thread:  8/0 Olive/Dun
Bead:  Copper 3/32 – two to three wraps of .015 non-lead wire tucked under bead
Tail:  8-10 Pheasant-tail fibers – natural or dyed olive
Rib:  Chartreuse UTC wire – small
Abdomen:  Ice Dub – pearl (not red hue)
Thorax: Ice Dub – olive brown
Wingcase:  Pheasant-tail fibers pulled forward from tail
Wing/Legs:  Olive Hen Feather

P.S.:  Just don’t let it near whitefish  😎

Kelly.

[jeremy kurtz]

Zach, here is a PTN, and Hares Ear variation that I really like a lot.

http://www.flyfishohio.com/hot_spot_nymphs.htm

Jeremy

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