Nymerger Flies and Photos by Martin Westbeek, Oisterwijk, Netherlands
If you want a small, basic and very effective pattern with a
minimum of materials, the Nymerger may be the way to go. A friend
of mine went to fish the Sierras in summer, and I sent him a couple
of Nymergers to try out in low-water conditions. The pattern took
fish where other patterns failed. And if the trout are sipping
small stuff from the water, the Nymerger is my first choice. The
colors I use are tan, natural grey, black, and olive. For
visibility the tan one is the best. I learned about the Nymerger
from Darryl Martin’s Micropatterns, and it’s a fun
no-frill tie. A hook, thread and CDC, and we’re ready to go
Materials: Nymerger
- Hook: TMC 102Y #19.
- Thread: 8/0 tan.
- Everything else: Tan CDC.
Tying Steps:
- Start the thread halfway down the shank and tie in 8-10 CDC barbs for a tail.
- Clip the tail in a V-shape, turn the bobbin anti-clockwise to
make the thread untwist, and take the thread back to the halfway point.
Originally published June 10, 2002 on Fly Anglers Online by Martin Westbeek.