Hot Spot Nymphs

 Text and Photo's by Jeremy Kurtz

I have been a “hardcore” nymph fisherman for a number of years now. I find that in many cases nymphs work really well for the panfish species. I really like tying different nymph patterns, as well. I am always looking for new patterns to tie and try.

This year I was listening to podcasts on the Fly Fisher South Africa website, and kept hearing about the Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Nymph. I did research on this pattern and I was able to Google up some information. The difference with a Hot Spot Nymph is that the thorax is dubbed with a bright color dubbing, usually a shade of orange. Many Czech nymph patterns have hot spots, so why not incorporate the idea into standard nymph patterns?

 

I tied up a few Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Nymphs using fluorescent orange SLF dubbing on the thorax. I also tied some pheasant tails with fluorescent yellow SLF. Having fished these nymphs, I found them to be deadly on crappie and bluegill. The Hot Spot patterns have a permanent place in my fly boxes now.

 

I have tried a Hot Spot Hares Ear using the above technique. This pattern works very well, also. I may end up having Hot Spot versions of all my nymph patterns. The possibilities are endless.

 

One of the reasons these nymphs work so well is the splash of color. These nymphs really catch a fish's attention. They key in on the bright thorax.

 

When fishing in off-colored water, use a fluorescent color as it will always show its true color in the turbid water, even at depths where normal colors will become gray or even black. For clear water, the fluorescent colors could be to flashy, so one should use a more subdued orange, yellow, and so on.

 

When you are hot spotting nymph patterns, do not be afraid to experiment with different colors. For off-colored water try any fluorescent orange, yellow, red, green, or even pink dubbing. For clear water conditions, use hot or burnt orange, red, yellow, green, hot pink, and even blue dubbing on the thorax.

 

Give Hot Spot nymphs a try. They may be just the ticket when you cannot get the fish to take any other fly pattern.

 

Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Nymph:

Hook: 10-18 standard nymph hook.

Thread: Thread color to match thorax or black.

Tail: Pheasant tail fibers.

Rib: Copper wire. Counter wound to protect fibers used to make the body.

Abdomen: Pheasant tail fibers.

Thorax: Bright colored dubbing of your choice.

Wing case: Pheasant Tail fibers.

 

 

 

Hot Spot Hares Ear Nymph:

Hook: 10-18 standard nymph hook.

Thread: Thread color to match thorax or black.

Tail: Pheasant Tail fibers.

Rib: Oval gold tinsel or copper wire.

Abdomen: Hares ear dubbing, or a nice sub is natural fox squirrel dubbing.

Thorax: Bright colored dubbing of your choice.

Wing case: Pheasant tail fibers.