Umpqua Prince Nymph Gold Bead Fly

Overview

The Prince Nymph Gold Bead is the bead-head version of Doug Prince's classic Prince Nymph, an attractor nymph that has stayed in trout fly boxes for decades.

Umpqua says it is best for imitating caddis, drake or stonefly nymphs. Peacock herl has a natural iridescence trout respond to, and white biots across the back flicker as the fly tumbles in the current. The gold bead adds weight and flash. It catches fish in rivers and lakes, and it is a reliable searching nymph when you don't know what fish are eating.

Euro Specs

• Hook: Standard nymph hook.
• Role: Both; lead fly in 12 and 14, dropper in 16 and 18.

How to Fish It

• Indicator rig: lead with a 12 or 14 and trail a small mayfly nymph or midge.
• Dry-dropper: hang a 16 or 18 under a foam dry in riffles and pocket water.
• Stillwater: fish it under an indicator or on a slow retrieve near weed beds.
• Season: year-round, especially in spring and summer stonefly and caddis water.

Choosing Color and Size

Choose 12 for heavy water and stonefly imitation, 14 as the all-around size, 16 for caddis and clearer water, and 18 for small streams, pressured fish and light dry-dropper rigs.