Hook Size: 4
The Perfect Fly Big Slate Drake nymph is a trout fly that imitates the mayfly in the nymphal stage of life. Big Slate Drake nymphs are burrowing nymphs. The come out of the burrows and crawl about on the bottom and should be fished on or near the bottom.
The Big Slate Drake is the Hexagenia atrocaudata. It is found in both the East and
Mid-west. The nymphs are burrowers that spend most of their life in their burrows where
they are not available for trout to eat. They come out to feed, usually at night and to mold
a few times in their life. Trout can be caught on the nymph during the night. They reside
in streams and lakes.
When they emerge, they abandon their burrows and swim to the surface. Just prior to a
hatch, they may crawl around on the bottom for some time prior to swimming to the
surface. They can be easily taken at that time on the Perfect Fly Big Slate Drake Nymph.
Presentation:
Fish the nymph in slow moving, calm water right on the bottom. Add the necessary weight
to your tippet a few inches above the fly. Try fishing it dead drift but add short darting
motions.
You can also try an up and across, on the swing, presentation, allowing the fly to come
back to the surface at the end of the downstream drift. You are attempting to imitate the
nymphs swimming to the surface to hatch. Stopping the rod tip at the end of the drift will
accomplish this if there is any current.
Copyright 2003 James Marsh
