How to Tie: The Prince Nymph

In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Tightlinevideo ties a fly that every angler should have heard of before, the Prince Nymph.

Difficulty: Easy

In fly fishing, many anglers start with a handful of flies. Typically those include the Woolly Bugger, Hare’s Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail Nymph, San Juan Worm, and the Prince Nymph. All of these patterns were likely recommended by a fly shop or online source and for good reason, they work. No matter how long you have been in the sport, every angler finds themselves coming back to a version of these flies. In the How to Tie series, we have covered many variations of these flies, but the traditional bead head Prince Nymph is one that needs no alteration.

The simplicity of this fly makes it accessible to nearly every tyer and will produce once on the water. Natural peacock herl may be one of my personal favorite materials to use because of flash and color, something that no dubbing can replicate. Whether trying to imitate a stonefly or mayfly, the Prince Nymph is a fantastic choice. This fly can be tied in numerous sizes and styles, including on a jig hook. Hackle used for the collar gives this fly even more of a buggy profile and contributes to its productiveness.

With water temperatures rising after a cold winter, stoneflies and mayflies will finally begin to increase activity. Tying the Prince Nymph in larger sizes such as 8 to 12 and mayflies 12 to 18 make for more than adequate imitations. From its productivity to its simplicity, this fly should make tyers and anglers alike grin ear to ear. No matter where you are in the world, I have faith that the Prince Nymph will produce trout for you. On your next outing, tie this fly onto the end of your line and watch the magic unfold.

Ingredients:

• Hook: Mustad 9671 hook, size 14
• Bead: Gold
• Weight: Lead wire
• Thread: Light brown
• Tail: Goose biots, brown
• Body: Peacock herl
• Rib: Fine gold wire
• Beard/collar: Brown hackle fibers
• Horns: Goose biots, white

Now you know how to tie the Prince Nymph!

Video and ingredients courtesy of Tightlinevideo.