I was picking up some supplies at the fly shop and they had a package of tan “Nymph Foam” in the half off bin. I picked it up (as well as several packs of CDC in different colors all for about $1 per pack). The foam is pretty soft and is pre-cut into strips about 3/16" wide.
I got home and started thinking “Nymph Foam”? Foam floats and nymphs sink. I could maybe tie some hoppers from it if it’s closed cell foam and floats. But if it’s open cell foam then it’s essentially a sponge and will soak up water and sink.
So what kind of nymph pattern would I tie with nymph foam? I gotta know before my wife ask me why I’m buying materials at the fly shop that I don’t even know how to use.
Use a bit of it as a wing case in a variant of your go-to nymphs. It will resemble a nymph that’s just about ready to pop. I’d tie it without weight incorporated, and with some added flash. Either fish just a bit under the surface, or put a bit of shot on the line and the foam will keep the fly just up out of the muck on the stream bottom.
If she doesnt share your passion for fly tying, you could tell her anything (not that I would ever do that!). If she doesn’t… sounds like your screwed!
Lady_Bug doesnt share my fly tying passion, but I’m very fortunate that her passion for scrapbooking supplies rivals my tying supplies. We quit questioning each others purchases years ago.
There’s still some Rainys’ nymph foam in one of the materials boxes, even though haven’t tied many nymphs lately. It’s used to form an underbody by wrapping it up & down the hook, thereby making the body wider &/or fuller like the double wire nymph hooks shaped like triangles. Also comes in handy to make a floating nymph suspend just off the bottom with split shot, but it has to be waterproofed with tying cement to get it to float for any length of time. Can also use it under some dry fly patterns ! :idea:
