This month, we focus on … CZECH NYMPHS. Style of patterns, a typical step by step dressing and then materials available in the online shop.

Czech nymphs are weighted flies, generally tied on grub style hooks, designed to imitate fresh water shrimps or case-less larvae of caddis flies. The patterns can also be Imitative as well a flashy attractor – mostly in size 8 – 16.

Their characteristic design is a curved shanked hook that is weighted with lead wire or even a Tungsten bead. The body is created from natural or synthetic dubbing – with a dull body, usually a bright “hotspot” at the thorax and a dark brown or black head. Another typical feature of a Czech nymph is the back, made from either latex strips or a similar material. For ribbing to give the pattern strength and a little flash, both tinsel or coloured wire plus monofilament is used.

The golden rule is to try to achieve a slim pattern so that it will sink quickly in the river column and get down to the fish quickly.

Brilliant for Autumn fishing for Trout; add some brighter colours such as pink or Orange or Peach and you have a killer Winter pattern for Grayling. Add some spiky dubbing on the body and brush it out to form legs and you have a great Shrimp pattern!

A TYPICAL CZECH NYMPH PATTERN:

Step 1: Hook in the vice and add a layer of thread (colour to compliment the pattern) from eye to half way round the hook bend.
Step 2: Add a thin strip of sticky back lead or a layer of round lead from an eyes worth behind the eye, to just before your parked thread.
Step 3: Tightly cover the lead with your thread to the eye and back down the shank again.
Step 4: Tie in your Mono, ribbing (wire or tinsel) and shellback in that order.
Step 5: Dub the abdomen from the hook point end to 2/3 rds of the body, dub a hot spot for 1/6 of the body then dub the head to just before the eye.
Step 6: Fold over the Shellback along the hook shank and catch down behind the eye and trim off the waste. rib the body with the tinsel/wire then the mono and catch down behind the eye.
Step 7: Trim of the waste tinsel / wire and mono and whip finish.