Fishing with jig nymphs is not new but has recently gained in popularity as Euro Nymphing techniques take hold. Fishing with traditional nymphs, bead-heads and indicators can still be effective, but you’re always adjusting the indicator and/or nymphs to get your rig to the right dept, which is on, or near, the bottom. Once your rig is on the bottom, there are the inevitable snags and lost flies. Whether you tie your own flies or not, it gets expensive. Jig nymphs ride hook point up thereby reducing snags and lost flies, even when they’re ticking across the bottom.
Jig flies use special jig hooks like Firehole Outdoors 516’s, Fulling Mill FM5045, and Tiemco TMC413J. You’ll also need a slotted tungston bead, that fits perfectly on the 60 degree vertical hook eye. You can tie stoneflys in size 8 and 10, pheasant tail variations from 12 to 18, caddis pupae and larvae, the variety is endless. You can even tie jig streamers.
Some of the best YouTube videos are on channels from Fly Fish Food, TightLine Video, and The Fly Fiend. This month we’ll tie jig flies. There’s no particular pattern we’re suggesting, so tie up 8 of your favorite pattern and bring them to the March meeting. For examples check with John Hildenbrand, Mark McBeth or Dave Suroweicki.
