When you’re fishing deep the risk of losing a fly is always greater than when fishing closer to the surface or dry. If you’re fishing really deep you must expect to lose a handful or two of flies on a long fishing day. With that in mind – keep the flies simple and maybe even tied from cheap easily available materials.
BY LARS CHR. BENTSEN, Images by Ahrex and Matt Guymon / Freestone River Photography.
I enjoy tying complicated pattern where most recognise the exact insect the fly is supposed to imitate. A good example is Oliver Edwards’ Baetis Nymph. Why? I like the challenge a complicated pattern and a no. 16 hook offers. Is it necessary – hardly – at best. And they are annoying to lose to a snag, since they’re not exactly fast and easy to tie.
So if you’re in a hurry, stick to something simpler and faster and rest assured, 2-3-4 feet below the surface the exact pattern won’t matter. Size matters, profile matters, colour matters – in that order. As always presentation is key. A good example is the Simple Yarn Nymph I like tying and fishing. In different sizes and colours, this pattern is enough to imitate anything.
![](https://usercontent.one/wp/intheloopmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NymPic14-1024x679-1.jpg?media=1708871848)
Another good example is Håkan Karsnäser’s Shane Nymph. It’s fast and easy, yet contains all the elements of the living insect. Tail, abdomen, thorax, wing case and legs – even a head. Follow along here, where Håkan shows, step by step, how he ties this simple nymph. Once you have a tied a few, you’ll get the right proportions under your fingers, so you can fill the box with the sizes and colours you need.
The Shane Nymph//
Hook: Ahrex 560/56 1, size 12-20.
Thread: Tan.
Tail: Fibres from a light tan hen hackle.
Rib: Copper wire.
Abdomen: Olive squirrel dubbing.
Wing case: Fibres from dyed black turkey tail.
Thorax: Grey, natural squirrel dubbing.
Hackle: Light tan hen hackle.