How It’s Tied
The Daddy Long Legs Fly is tied in sizes 8 to 14, depending on the target species and crane fly variation. The body is crafted from dubbing, synthetic fibers, or natural materials like deer hair or chenille. Its signature long legs are made of rubber, silicone, or monofilament, while wings are constructed from hackle feathers, synthetic fibers, or thin foam.
What It Mimics
This fly imitates adult crane flies—commonly called "daddy long legs"—a key food source for freshwater fish, especially in late summer and fall. Its lifelike profile and movement make it highly effective. Available in various sizes and colors, it can match regional crane fly species, appealing to a wide range of fish.
Where It’s Used
Primarily effective in freshwater streams and smaller rivers, the Daddy Long Legs Fly excels when fish are surface-feeding during crane fly season. Since its success depends on matching the hatch, it’s less productive when crane flies aren’t active. Target species include trout and other surface-feeding fish.
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The Pheasant Tail Nymph
A classic and versatile pattern, the Pheasant Tail Nymph mimics mayfly and stonefly nymphs with its slender profile and natural movement.
How to Tie the Pheasant Tail Nymph
- Hook: Use a standard or curved nymph hook (sizes 10–22).
- Tail & Abdomen: Wrap pheasant tail fibers around the hook shank.
- Ribbing: Secure with fine wire or thread for segmentation and durability.
- Thorax: Build with peacock herl for contrast and iridescence.
- Optional: Add a bead head for extra weight and flash.
The Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
This variation enhances the traditional pattern with a reflective strip (pearl tinsel or mylar) under the wing case. The flash mimics the gas bubble of emerging nymphs, making it deadly during hatches—especially in clear water or when fish are selective.
Tying Steps (Same as Standard PTN, Plus Flashback):
- Construct the tail, abdomen, and wing case as usual.
- Before forming the thorax, add the flashback material between the thorax and wing case.
What It Mimics
The Pheasant Tail Nymph replicates mayfly, caddisfly, and midge nymphs. Its natural hues, slim body, and lifelike movement make it a go-to pattern. Adjust size and color to match local insect species.
Where to Use It
- All freshwater environments: Streams, rivers, and lakes.
- Techniques: Euro-nymphing, indicator fishing, or sight fishing in clear water.
- Target Species: Primarily trout, but effective for most non-predatory freshwater fish.
Pro Tip: Watch for trout subtly inspecting an unweighted PTN drifting downstream—it’s pure angling magic!
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The Brown Drake Nymph is a fly pattern designed to imitate the nymphal stage of the large Brown Drake mayfly, a key food source for trout and other freshwater fish.
How to Tie It
To tie a Brown Drake Nymph, use a size 8–12 nymph or 2XL nymph hook. Start with a lead or tungsten wire underbody for weight. The abdomen is made from a blend of brown and cream dubbing, often topped with a strip of dark thin skin to mimic segmentation.
For the gills and legs, use a fluffy dubbing loop or soft hackle. The tail is crafted from biots or pheasant tail fibers, while dark bead-chain eyes add realism.
What It Mimics
This pattern closely resembles the nymphal stage of the Brown Drake mayfly (Ephemera simulans). As a large, protein-rich prey, it’s a favorite of trout, making the Brown Drake Nymph highly effective during mayfly hatches.
Where to Use It
Fish this nymph in rivers and streams where Brown Drakes thrive, though it also works in stillwaters. It’s especially productive in late spring and early summer, just before the hatch, and excels in deep pools.
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Hare’s Ear Nymph
A classic nymph pattern that imitates various insects, featuring a hare’s ear fur body and adaptable sizes/colors.
How to Tie the Hare’s Ear Nymph
The Hare’s Ear Nymph is tied on a standard nymph hook, typically in sizes 10 to 18. The tail is made from soft hackle feather fibers or guard hairs from a hare’s mask. The body consists of hare’s ear fur, either dubbed directly onto the thread or using a pre-made dubbing blend.
GRHE: Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
GRHE (Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear) is a popular variation of the Hare’s Ear, often called the Flashback Hare’s Ear. It features a shiny tinsel ribbing for added flash and sometimes includes a bead for extra weight (as seen in the classic Hare’s Ear above).
The flashback mimics the gas bubble that forms on nymphs just before they hatch—a stage when insects are highly vulnerable and eagerly targeted by fish.
Tying the Flashback Hare’s Ear follows the same steps as the standard version, with the key addition of flashback material after forming the body but before creating the thorax. This ensures the material sits neatly on the fly’s back, imitating the natural gas bubble.
What the Hare’s Ear Nymph Imitates
This versatile pattern mimics various aquatic insects in their nymphal stage, including mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. Its buggy appearance and adaptable design make it an excellent "searching pattern" when fish aren’t targeting a specific insect. It can be tied in different sizes and colors to match local nymphs.
Where to Use the Hare’s Ear Nymph
Effective in nearly all freshwater environments, the Hare’s Ear Nymph works well for trout, grayling, and panfish. It can be fished using multiple techniques:
- Dead drifting under an indicator
- Tight-line nymphing (Euronymphing)
- Swinging through riffles and pocket water
Its versatility and proven success make it a must-have in any fly angler’s box.