Wigram's Brown Nymph Variant Nymph Freshwater Hook : 14, 16 Kamasan B170, (B175 for heavier flies). Thread : Dark brown. Tail : Small bunch of red cock hackle fibres (6-10). Rib : Copper strip from potscrubber (bare copper wire will do). Body : Fiery brown seal's fur and dark brown wool blend. (2:1). Wingcase : Black feather slip. Thorax : Build up of body material. Head : Build of thread, not to large.
Tying Instructions Tie on thread a little back from the eye and wrap to a point over the barb. Tie in tail of 6-10 hackle fibres - trim excess. Tie in copper rib over the barb, under the shank - trim excess. Dub thread with seal's fur wool blend - keep it sparse. Dub a slightly tapering body towards eye stopping about mid shank (no more than 2/3 rds). Remove excess dubbing from thread. Wind rib forward 3 turns and secure - add couple of extra wraps under thorax for a little weight if you like. Tie in feather slip to rest over bend. Re-dub thread and build up a thorax stopping well back from eye. Fold wingcase forward, tie off with a couple of turns and trim waste. Builds up head further securing wing case, whip finish and varnish for further security. Pick out thorax a little to simulate legs.
Fly Notes This fly is a variation Dick Wigram's brown nymph first mentioned in his booklet "Nymph Fishing in the Southern Hemisphere" - 1939.
Fishing Notes The flys tied for the swap are size 14s on relatively light hardware. Because they sink slowly they can be used to bait traps for cruising fish in backwaters and lakes, but they also work well in a rise and as a search pattern for dropping into likely places. Try these to fish breaking the surface and not leaving the tell-tale bubble or 'clop' behind. I generally fish it dead-drift but have been trying a few other things more recently including using it on the top dropper of a two fly rig the bottom one being a bead-head. We all prefer to cast to moving fish though and I've tried the following successfully a few times as well - in Dick Wigram's own words: "Fishing over the average riser, up or across the stream, the fly should be lightly worked. The movement must be slow, but quite definite. A fraction faster than the current is the correct speed, with an occasional stop to allow the legs to expand and give the nymph life, or "kick" in the water."- from "Nymph Fishing in the Southern Hemisphere." Targeted species trout - rainbows and browns, redfin, roach, and carp.
Location Notes This fly, tied on suitably weighted hardware, fishes well from top to bottom in the water column in both lakes and streams though I fish it mostly in streams.
Prey Notes Probably best described as generalist nymph pattern that mimics nymphal stages of mayfly, some caddis and even larger midges.
Tier Stephen Welsh

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