NymphintermediateRocky Mountain West
WD-40
$2.95
Available Sizes#18 - #24
Color Variations
OliveGrayTanBlack
Named not after the lubricant but after the principle that some problems require a universal solvent. The WD-40 was created on Colorado's South Platte to address the daily crisis of selective trout eating tiny things you cannot see. It imitates emerging midges and small mayflies with a thread body and a wisp of mallard flank, and it works with the reliable consistency of the product it was named after. When the fishing is difficult and your ego is bruised, tie on a WD-40 and quietly get back to work.
Quick Facts
TypeNymph
Difficultyintermediate
SeasonsSpring, Fall, Winter
Target SpeciesRainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Sizes#18 - #24
Best LocationsSouth Platte River, CO; Frying Pan River, CO; San Juan River, NM
Where to Fish It
South Platte River
CO · Tailwater
Frying Pan River
CO · Tailwater
San Juan River
NM · Tailwater
Map unavailable. Locations for WD-40: South Platte River, CO; Frying Pan River, CO; San Juan River, NM
Related Reading
hatch guide
Midge Fishing: The Tiny Flies That Save the Day
When every other hatch has shut down, midges keep trout feeding. From winter tailwaters to high-altitude stillwaters, Chironomidae are the most abundant insects in freshwater ecosystems. Learning to fish these tiny patterns unlocks twelve months of dry-fly and nymphing opportunities.
seasonal playbook
The Winter Guide: Cold Water, Warm Hands, Willing Fish
Winter separates the dedicated from the fair-weather crowd. The rivers are empty, the hatches are tiny, and the fish feed in slow motion. But they do feed — they have to. And the angler who understands cold-water metabolism, midge biology, and the art of slowing down will find winter fishing not just productive but deeply rewarding.
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