Fishing with Egg and Nymph Fly Patterns
When it comes to winter steelhead fishing, many anglers immediately think of salmon egg fly patterns, and for good reason. Salmon eggs are a prime food source for steelhead, and these patterns often dominate the winter fishing scene. However, it’s important to recognize that nymph fly patterns play an equally vital role in the overall success of your winter steelhead fishing strategy. To truly understand why nymphs are just as important as eggs, we need to consider the dynamics of what’s happening in the river during the colder months, especially as the surplus of natural eggs begins to dwindle.
December Food Sources are Scarce
By mid-December, most rivers settle into a predictable winter fishing pattern. The once-plentiful supply of salmon eggs, which were drifting through the water following the fall spawn, have largely disappeared. What remains are eggs that are now securely buried in the riverbed, with only sporadic pulses of high water having the potential to knock loose more eggs. These eggs are no longer drifting freely through the water column, which significantly reduces their availability to steelhead.
As the season progresses and the salmon eggs become harder to find, the food supply for steelhead becomes much more limited. Without fresh eggs constantly being washed down from the riverbanks, steelhead are forced to rely on other sources of food—primarily nymphs. This shift in food sources is why it’s crucial to incorporate nymph fly patterns into your tackle box for winter steelhead fishing.
Water Flow Fluctuations
During winter, water flow can be somewhat unpredictable. We often complain about constant fluctuations in water levels, but these changes are not as detrimental as they may seem. In fact, fluctuating water flows are crucial for keeping the fishing fresh and active. When water levels rise or fall, they bring in fresh steelhead from the lake and often re-energize those that have been holding in the deeper pools.
More importantly, these fluctuations also stir up the riverbed, dislodging any remaining eggs and other potential food sources, including nymphs. When the riverbed is agitated by high water events, it sends food particles, such as eggs, nymphs, and aquatic insects, drifting downstream, providing critical feeding opportunities for the steelhead. This makes fluctuating water levels a key factor in maintaining the steelhead’s feeding cycle throughout the winter months.
Dwindling Egg Supplies Make Way for Nymphs
In the early part of the winter season, eggs are still at the forefront of a steelhead’s diet, and salmon egg fly patterns can be extremely productive. However, as the water levels stabilize and the flow decreases, the once-plentiful eggs settle into the river bottom, no longer drifting freely in the current. This reduction in the availability of eggs forces steelhead to look for alternative food sources.
As the egg supply dwindles, nymphs start to take center stage in the steelhead’s diet. While high water events might still dislodge some eggs, the continuous, more stable flow allows the eggs to settle out and become less of a food option for the fish. As this shift occurs, nymphs, which are always present in the river system, become a more attractive and accessible food source.
This is where nymph fly patterns, such as mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, and caddis larvae, become essential for winter steelhead anglers. Steelhead will begin to focus more on these submerged food sources, and fishing with nymphs that match the local river’s insect life cycle can provide productive opportunities even when salmon eggs are no longer abundant.
Knowing When You Should Be Fishing with Nymph Fly Patterns
Fishing with nymph fly patterns is one of the most effective ways to target big fish, especially when you’re pursuing winter steelhead. While egg patterns dominate the early winter season, nymph fishing becomes increasingly productive as the season progresses. Understanding when to switch to nymphs and how the conditions of the river influence the availability of these food sources is crucial for maximizing your chances of success. Fortunately, predicting the optimal time to fish nymphs is simpler than you might think.
Insects During the Winter Months
Timing is essential when fishing with nymph fly patterns, and there are clear indicators that suggest when the transition from egg patterns to nymphs is happening. A key trigger for this shift is when the water flow stabilizes or begins to drop. After a period of fluctuating or high water, allow the river about a week to settle down. During this period, the abundance of salmon eggs in the water decreases, and the focus of the steelhead’s diet shifts to the river’s submerged nymph population.
This timing can be tracked fairly easily. Once the egg bite begins to taper off, it’s a good sign that nymph fishing will be productive. Additionally, as the winter season continues, the river’s flow becomes steadier, and the natural nymph population gradually increases. By the time late winter arrives, nymphs can make up the majority of the steelhead’s available food, making it a prime time to fish with nymph fly patterns.
StoneFlies are on the Move
While the winter months are often considered a dormant period for many species, they are actually an active growing season for aquatic insects. These insects, many of which will hatch and mature in the coming spring and summer, spend the winter in various stages of development beneath the surface. The larvae of mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and other species grow and prepare for their eventual emergence.
Some of these aquatic insects remain active through the winter, providing a consistent food source for steelhead. In fact, many of the insects that will hatch in the warmer months are already in the water, growing and feeding during the colder months. These insects may not be as numerous as in the warmer seasons, but their presence makes nymph fly patterns a highly effective option during the winter.
A prime example of insects that are active during winter are stoneflies. Stoneflies are predatory insects that spend their lives hunting for food on the riverbed. These insects are constantly in motion, crawling around the stream bottom in search of smaller organisms to prey on. This activity increases the likelihood of stoneflies becoming dislodged and drifting through the water, making them a prime target for steelhead.
Stoneflies’ movement in the winter is a key reason why nymph fly patterns, especially those designed to imitate stoneflies, are so effective for winter steelhead. Rivers like the Salmon River are known for having healthy populations of stoneflies, and fishing with stonefly nymphs can be incredibly productive during the colder months when other food sources, like salmon eggs, are less abundant.
Nymph Fly Patterns
Fortunately for us, we do not have to precisely imitate every single type of nymph that swims in our steelhead rivers. Good general purpose nymph fly patterns will work just fine. In fact, it is hard to beat a black stonefly nymph. What is important is to match the general size and color of the average size of the nymph. This is easier than it sounds.
Specifications for a Tempting Stonefly
Choosing the Right Size and Color
Fly Size:
- For most rivers, nymph fly patterns ranging from size 12 to size 8 are ideal.
- It’s important to choose flies large enough to catch the attention of steelhead, especially since many of the nymphs they are feeding on during winter tend to be on the smaller side.
- While smaller flies can work on occasion, larger flies tend to produce more consistent results, as they more closely mimic the size of the available food.
Fly Color:
- When selecting colors for your nymph patterns, think in terms of earth tones. Steelhead are naturally drawn to these tones, and they blend well with the colors of the nymphs they feed on in most rivers.
- Black, dark olive, brown, and hare’s ear are all great choices. These colors replicate the tones of many natural aquatic insects that steelhead are accustomed to feeding on.
- A brown nymph is often a solid choice, as it matches many of the color schemes of native nymph species found in rivers and streams.
That means a good general attractor pattern can often work wonders. However, adding a few personal touches to your fly patterns can make a difference, especially when targeting bigger fish or those that have seen a lot of pressure. Here are a few tips for tweaking your flies:
- Flashback Additions: Adding a little flash to the body of your nymph can help grab the attention of steelhead. Flashbacks—small pieces of reflective material—are a great way to make your nymphs more noticeable, especially in low-light or murky water conditions.
- Rubber Legs: Adding rubber legs to your flies mimics the natural movements of nymphs in the water, making them more enticing to fish. The wiggling motion of the rubber legs, particularly in the current, can trigger a strike response from steelhead.
- Traditional Patterns with a Twist: Some of the most effective steelhead nymph fly patterns are traditional trout patterns that have been slightly modified. For example, a simple black stonefly nymph pattern can be jazzed up with a flashback, rubber legs, or even a bit of brightly-colored dubbing in the thorax to match the steelhead’s preferences.
By adding these enhancements, you can create attractor patterns that steelhead find irresistible.
Key Takeaways for Fishing with Nymph Fly Patterns
- Focus on size and color: Match the average size and color of the local nymph population. Aim for sizes 12 to 8, with earth tones like black, olive, and brown.
- Larger flies tend to work more consistently, though smaller flies can be effective in certain situations.
- Enhance your patterns by adding a flashback, rubber legs, or other features that increase the fly’s visibility and movement in the water.
- Steelhead are not highly selective with nymphs, so a simple, well-presented fly can often be all you need to land your catch.
By paying attention to these details, you’ll increase your chances of success when fishing for steelhead in the winter months. Nymph fly patterns, especially those that mimic the stonefly nymphs and other riverbed insects, are a reliable and effective way to target these powerful fish throughout the colder season.
Preparing Your Set-Up for a Big Catch
Another consideration with fly selection is that we also discuss catching a large fish. Using somewhat larger flies and larger hooks also increases our landing percentage. This is why often the smallest nymphs I use are size 12. I also tie my nymph patterns onto heavy wire hooks, frequently called “2X heavy”. Standard trout hooks are usually made from lighter wire and will bend easily with a big fish.
Nymph vs. Egg Pattern Fly: Presentation Matters More Than the Fly Itself
When it comes to steelhead fishing, the debate between using nymph fly patterns versus egg patterns is a common one. However, the truth is, the difference between success and failure often lies not in the fly itself, but in the presentation. On any given day, a variety of different patterns can catch fish, as long as they are presented correctly. Whether you’re fishing with nymphs or eggs, the drift and movement of your fly will have the biggest impact on your chances of landing a fish.
Nymph Fly Presentation
Soft Drift Technique:
One of the key differences between fishing nymphs and egg patterns is how you present the flies in the water. With egg pattern flies, you typically want to keep the fly very close to the river bottom, as eggs naturally rest on the substrate. However, nymphs behave differently in the water. They have a tendency to be dislodged from the riverbed, causing them to drift slightly above the bottom. This means your nymph fly doesn’t need to be in constant contact with the bottom, unlike the precise, bottom-hugging drift required for egg patterns.
- The technique you use for nymph fishing is often referred to as a soft drift. In this style, your fly is close to the riverbed but doesn’t need to be constantly hitting the bottom. The key is to keep the fly within the nymph’s zone, which is typically the bottom six inches of the river.
- This requires a bit of practice to master the depth and movement of your fly. It’s important to adjust your presentation constantly to stay in that sweet spot, just above the bottom, where most nymphs are found. By allowing your nymph fly pattern to swing naturally on the end of the drift, you can mimic the erratic movements of real nymphs, a technique that often triggers a take from steelhead.
Strike Indicators and Long Leaders:
Using strike indicators and long fine leaders is an effective method for presenting nymphs, especially in the winter months. Here’s why:
- Long Leaders: The longer the leader, the more time your fly has to sink, which is crucial in ensuring it gets into the nymph zone quickly. Additionally, long leaders allow you to cover more water, which increases your chances of finding fish.
- Strike Indicators: Strike indicators are used primarily to control and extend the drift, rather than to detect takes. They help you maintain proper depth and lengthen the drift time, giving your nymph a more natural presentation.
With practice, you can also experiment with swinging your nymph fly patterns both vertically and horizontally through the water. This mimics the natural movement of nymphs in their winter habitat and is a presentation trick that steelhead find difficult to resist.
Egg Pattern Fly Presentation
While nymphs are versatile and can be presented in many different ways, egg patterns are typically fished with a more static presentation. The goal is to keep the egg near the riverbed, simulating natural egg drift. This requires a more precise drift, as you want the egg to be in the fish’s “strike zone” for as long as possible. Steelhead are highly attuned to the movement of eggs in the water, and a drift that mimics a naturally drifting egg is key.
In contrast to nymphs, egg patterns often benefit from being dead-drifted near the bottom, where steelhead typically feed on loose eggs after the salmon spawn.
Key Differences in Presentation
- Egg Patterns: Dead drift near the riverbed, mimicking the natural movement of drifting eggs.
- Nymph Patterns: Soft drift just above the river bottom, mimicking the erratic, dislodged movement of nymphs. Can also swing through the water to imitate natural behavior.
Conclusion: The Importance of Presentation
In steelhead fishing, whether you’re using nymphs or egg patterns, the presentation is what makes or breaks the success of the fly. By understanding how each fly behaves in the water and adjusting your technique to match the natural movement of the food source, you increase your chances of attracting steelhead. Using long leaders and strike indicators can be key tools in both nymph and egg fishing, allowing you to control the drift and cover more water. With a little practice and patience, you’ll be able to fine-tune your presentation and master the art of fishing for steelhead with both nymph and egg patterns.
Original Article By Jay Peck
About the Author
Jay Peck is a fishing guide on the Lake Ontario tributaries. With 40+ years of fly fishing experience including 30 years as a licensed New York State guide, Jay has been applying his knowledge of the sport and local waters to help anglers in their pursuit of migratory fish, inland trout, and a variety of warm water species. Jay is also an accomplished spey caster and fly tyer. He has developed several fishing techniques and fly patterns for fishing the tributaries and inland trout streams. To learn more, check out Jay’s youtube channel, and get in touch with Jay at jaypeckguidesflyfishing.com.
