Czech nymphs take one

[mouche]

Right, after asking all of two questions about czech nymphing I'm now an expert and ready to tie my own! OK, so maybe not but still I've tied some czechish nymphs.
Sorry for the colours of the pictures, took them last night after Comic Relief and a couple of glasses of Oban.

Please let me know what you think, you should be able to see the first and the last I tied......

Tight lines,

Paul

[andreb]

Some of the expert tyers are going to probably comment on one or two things regarding technical issues, but as far as I am concerned, they have all the crucial elemnts of real fish catching flies. Nice and buggy, resonably good proportions, and probably are pretty good immitations of river scuds. I have no doubt that they will work just as well as any other fly tied by an expert.
Do yourself a favour, and google some of the naturals that your flies are immitating, and judge for yourself, but I think that they are great.

I find it very interesting that it is called Czech "nymphing" where most of the flies immitate scuds, which are actually not nymphs, but a type of shrimp like, crustacean. A nymph is the immature or aquatic stage of an insect life cycle, whereas, scuds are 100% aquatic... interesting.

Here is a decent site, ok, as decent as any American site can be, but it gives some good info on scuds which is a help in understanding the tying of scud immitations.
Scud's, all about scuds :: A scud fly for fishing all season long :: "It's all about scuds." :: A great Gammarus :: Ian's scud.

[corky]

I have tied and fished with good results very similar efforts to yours so I think they are definite fish catchers.
Ferg

[lhomme]

Originally Posted by andreb

A nymph is the immature or aquatic stage of an insect life

To entomologists a nymph is the intermediate aquatic stage of an aquatic larva metamorphosing in a fly. Only trichoptera and diptera have this intermediate stage. Most other aquatic larvae become flies without going through that stage.

Paul, because you gave your "nymphs" a distinct darker thorax shield (or pronotum and mesonotum) your imitation cannot be regarded as gammarus pulex for this aquatic insect has no darker coloured thorax area. I would say they are (deserving) imitations of trichoptera larvae, and because you made them rather thick and used a shiny bead (imitating the air bubble the nymphs use to surface) they can be seen as real nymphs. My only concern is you might be a little early using them now, still I hope you catch some fish on them this weekend.

Tight lines,
Johan

[andreb]

Originally Posted by lhomme

To entomologists a nymph is the intermediate aquatic stage of an aquatic larva metamorphosing in a fly. Only trichoptera and diptera have this intermediate stage. Most other aquatic larvae become flies without going through that stage.

Yes quite right. I was talking quite simplistically. As you say, entomologically, it's not quite as simple as I wrote, but a safe broad statement, is that the nymphal stage of aquatic insects, is pre adult, and almost always occurs sub water surface.. i think that is what i was getting to.
You sound like you know your stuff, so thanks for pointing that out.

[jindra]

Paul, your flies have the mean look of merciless fish catchers

In your next series of flees you might want to try for a slightly tapered look (some trout, like some humans, do not quite appreciate a fat butt on their nymphs) but that is just a polishing move. What hook size are you using? I found out that it is easier to get the profile right on larger sizes, and fish don't mind a bigger treat. My favorite CZ nymph is size 8, which seems huge to some people (but OK to most of fish).

And I would never get into the entomological debate - I bet that in just slightly colored water the pink nymph will outfish the rest at least two to one, and it does not imitate anything.

Cheers, and thumbs up on your new Czechish venture!

Jindra

[lhomme]

Originally Posted by jindra

And I would never get into the entomological debate - I bet that in just slightly colored water the pink nymph will outfish the rest at least two to one, and it does not imitate anything.

Neither would I, Jindra. Entomology is a factual science and not open for random interpretation. Determining macro-invertebrates is also part of fly fishing and fly tying. I was merely saying that imitations with a darkened thorax shield cannot be seen as a scud imitation (or at least not a good one) as they don't have one. Wouldn't want anybody to think gammarus pulex looks like a trichoptera nymph.

As for the colour pink in cloudy water, I completely agree with you. This colour might not imitate anything (unless your water is fished a lot with pinkies), but the form or shape of the fly does. If it is only the colour triggering a fish to bite try a ball of pink dubbing on a hook, or an inversed triangular shape. Then that should work too, or not?

Regards,
Johan

[andreb]

I think the darkened thorax is to make the fly look more like a caddis larva. I think if you asked most Czech nymph anglers if they are fishing scud or caddis imitations, I wonder how many would be able to answer.
caddis larvae - Google Search

[andypandy]

IMO these are going to catch fish on the rivers thats for sure..

i have used a very similiar on as your natural/red czech nymph and catch close to 50 fish in 2 months using that pattern..

I think the key to a good czech is making it look nice and buggy, so lots of body fibres teased out and the realistic back with black marker brushed on at the head to make the thorax..

Andy

[mouche]

Thanks to everyone that has commented on my flies, I'll certainly be taking note of the tips and hints like making them slimmer and more tapered.
I do have to say for my first post of my own tied flies I'm chuffed with the reaction. Just goes to show that anyone can make fish catching flies!

I think, can't remember as I'm at work, that the hooks are size 12s so I'll try and pick up some size 8 anchors and work on them for the coming weeks.

For information I tried them at the weekend, a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon and lo and behold I blanked! Seems that the stretch of river I fished had been hammered all morning and I only saw one fellow pull a stockie out with a streamer.
Still I was able to try my new rod and enjoy the scenery.