Umpqua Psycho Prince Jig Tungsten Nymph Fly

Overview

The Psycho Prince Jig is the competition version of Mike Mercer's Psycho Prince, an attractor take on the classic Prince Nymph, tied with a tungsten bead on a jig hook.

Like the original Prince, it is not a copy of one insect. The flashy purple body and contrasting biots suggest mayfly and stonefly nymphs and give trout something to notice in fast or deep water. The tungsten bead gets it down quickly, and the jig hook turns the point up so it fishes along the bottom with fewer snags.

Euro Specs

• Bead: Tungsten.
• Hook: Jig hook, rides point up; offered barbless.
• Role: Anchor (point) fly in 12 and 14; dropper or dry-dropper fly in 16.

How to Fish It

• Euro nymphing: fish it on the point and tie a smaller natural nymph 18 to 20 inches up the leader.
• Under an indicator: lead with it in deep pools and runs and trail a midge or small mayfly nymph.
• Dry-dropper: hang the 16 under a foam dry in riffles.
• When to fish it: it works year-round as a searching fly, and especially in high or slightly off-color water when flash helps.

Choosing Color and Size

Purple is a strong attractor color in stained water, low light and on fish that have seen plenty of natural-colored nymphs.

Use 12 for heavy, deep water and big stonefly water, 14 for all-around use, and 16 for clearer water and lighter rigs.