Umpqua Mercer's Swing Nymph Fly

Overview

Designed by Umpqua signature tyer Mike Mercer, the Swing Nymph is a soft hackle with extra weight, built to fish just below the surface on the swing. That is where it gets its name.

A peacock body with partridge soft hackle gives it subtle flash and lifelike motion, and a small tungsten bead keeps it from skating on top. Umpqua notes it has worked whether trout take it for a drowned spinner, a rising nymph or a cripple, and it was especially productive on Sacramento River rainbows. It is just as useful dead drifted under an indicator, in a dry-dropper or as part of a multi-fly rig.

Euro Specs

• Bead: Tungsten.
• Bead size by hook size: #14 with 2.3mm.
• Role: Dropper, or a single fly on the swing.

How to Fish It

• On the swing: cast across, mend and let it swing just under the surface. Strikes often come as it rises at the end.
• Dry-dropper: hang it 12 to 24 inches below a buoyant dry in riffles.
• Under an indicator: fish it as the trailing fly behind a heavier nymph.
• Hatches: Umpqua files it under caddis, and it works well during caddis and mayfly emergences.

Choosing Color and Size

This listing is Peacock in size 14. Peacock has a natural green-bronze shine that suggests many caddis and mayflies, and size 14 is a versatile all-around size that carries the 2.3mm bead.