NymphbeginnerSouthwest & California
$3.50
Proof that the best things in fly fishing come in criminally small packages. Two materials. Infinite effectiveness.
Lower Owens River
CA · Tailwater
San Juan River
NM · Tailwater
Lees Ferry
AZ · Tailwater
Map unavailable. Locations for Zebra Midge: Lower Owens River, CA; San Juan River, NM; Lees Ferry, AZ
region guide
In the arid vastness of the American Southwest, cold water is currency and the rivers that carry it hold world-class fly fishing. From the legendary tailwaters below desert dams to alkaline stillwaters teeming with massive trout, the Southwest defies every expectation.
hatch guide
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
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.
NymphbeginnerSouthwest & California
14-20
Frank Sawyer's classic mayfly nymph pattern. The pheasant tail fibers create a naturally segmented body that imitates Baetis and PMD nymphs perfectly.
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Cutthroat Trout
NymphbeginnerSouthwest & California
10-14
Tied by Taylor Streit
Named for New Mexico's San Juan River where it was first popularized. A simple aquatic worm imitation that catches fish when nothing else will, especially in high or off-color water.
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout
NymphbeginnerSouthwest & California
14-20
John Barr's tungsten-beadhead nymph that sinks fast into the strike zone. The copper wire body flashes in current, triggering strikes from trout holding in deeper water.
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout
NymphbeginnerSouthwest & California
10-18
A buggy, impressionistic nymph that suggests a wide range of aquatic insects. The dubbing from a hare's ear creates a fuzzy profile that traps air bubbles, mimicking an emerging insect.
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Brook Trout
NymphadvancedSouthwest & California
16-22
A Baetis nymph imitation developed for the technical spring creeks of Northern California. The slim profile and natural coloring fool the spookiest trout in gin-clear water.
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout
NymphintermediateSouthwest & California
14-18
A local pattern developed for the massive rainbow trout below Glen Canyon Dam. Imitates the abundant amphipods and scuds that make Lees Ferry one of the top tailwaters in the West.
Rainbow Trout