Fishing with Nymphs -- Part II

Further mistakes:

• That is prime panfish water and he could probably haul some nice bluegills or crappies out of there, but he would be better off using dry flies or poppers in all those weeds, rather than nymphs.
• Nymphs (in this case, Limniads) are effective with most species of panfish; but they aren't really necessary. It's obvious that this angler buys his nymphs wholesale, and while the quality looks good, he didn't get a very broad selection -- I would expect to see a few blondes and at least one red-head.
• While he is wearing a traditional Greek fishing vest, he has not dressed his nymphs at all properly. (For dressing nymphs consult my first post -- books on fly-tying have it all wrong.)

There are several reasons why you should dress them in an oversize flannel shirt, a baggy pair of waders, and a felt hat with the brim crushed. First is economy, you already have all that apparel and your wife is threatening to throw it away; second is warmth, you really don't want a nymph around the house with post-nasal drip; and finally, there is absolutely no way a nymph (or any standard woman) so attired will think of anything remotely libidinous. The angler, of course, doesn't need to concern himself with possible erotic fancies, as he is a fisherman and probably doesn't even notice that the nymph is female (Note in the picture how his only concern is netting that one-pound bluegill); however, nymphs just adore fishermen, they can't keep their hands off them (see illustration) and this could seriously cut into your fishing time.

So use nymphs properly, dress them correctly, use only one at a time, have a good selection -- and good fishing.

©Reed F. Curry 2006