Beadhead Nymphs & Beadhead Flies

What are beadhead nymphs? In order to answer this question, we must first look at what a nymph fly is, and in particular, what a nymph is.

In general, a nymph is the underwater version of an adult aquatic insect. The most common of these are mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, and midges, thus the development of mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymph patterns etc. They represent roughly 90% of a trout’s food source. They can be found all year round, and in nearly every type of freshwater body of water.

Beadhead nymphs are designed to mimic these different underwater insects. As the description states, the bead is added to the head of the nymph in order to help weigh the fly down. This design allows fly anglers when nymph fishing, to help keep the fly bouncing along the bottom, enticing more fish to eat it. Bead head flies are by far the most common type of nymph flies. Their design is typically narrow in profile like the bead head pheasant tail or bead head soft hackle, and often have led or copper wire tied into the beadheads for added weight. Bead head fly patterns may even have an epoxy coating on them to make them not only more durable but help them to penetrate down thru the water column. The quicker they get to the bottom, the more in the zone you are to the fish. Beadhead nymphs will also come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Ones that are tied to mimic stoneflies will be a lot bigger than ones tied to mimic midges. Sometimes bead head flies will have rubber legs and flash tied on them as well, for added fish attracting power; often seen in bead head trout flies. They can be dull in color and tied in earth tone hues, or they can be big and bright and flashy, looking more like a neon sign than an insect imitation.

All in all, beadhead flies should be a staple in every fly anglers fly box. Since 90% of a trout’s food source is found underwater, there is no reason not stock up on these bad boys!