Steve Thornton's Emerging Heptagenid Nymph

[stevekale]

Another one of Steve Thornton's creations, designed to hang about 6 inches under the surface film:

[sculpin_crusader]

Nice work Steve, not really been a fan of those Heptagenid head plates, I do prefer OE's Heptagenid pattern, but it don't float!!

[stevekale]

Yeah they really do look oversized. I've been thinking about making my own version of the various head plates (stones and heptagenid etc). OE's pattern is definitely not an emerging pattern.

[sculpin_crusader]

Make sure you show us the results. The rivers I tend to fish don't have many Heptagenids, i've seen the odd Yellow May dun as well as stoneclinger nymphs and although the nymph is a good pattern (I think the fish think it looks so edible) an emerger pattern or dun wouldn't be overly productive.

[maharg]

Nice work Steve, its a scary looking ****** all the same

[dwiltshire]

Nice Steve

Reminds me a little of Ulf's SRM: SRM Emerger

[North Country Angler]

Originally Posted by stevekale

OE's pattern is definitely not an emerging pattern.

Interesting point, that. Most of the heptagenid/ecdyonurus/rithrogena species don't emerge in open water, choosing instead to crawl out onto semi-submerged stones/stems etc....and so aren't really on the fishes collective menu.
The notable exception is the nymph of the yellow may which is unusual in that it is thought to go through a sort of 'semi-pupal' stage where the partially formed adult ascends to hatch just sub surface in the manner of most baetids.

That said, I have definitely had fish to an more conventional OE type pattern when they have taken within a couple of seconds of the fly touching down and their interest has been betrayed by a just sub surface bulge, so I've no doubt your pattern will be successful!

M