The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

Halfback Nymph

Insect Species Icon Golden Stonefly, Salmonfly, Yellow Sally and 3 others
Difficulty Icon Easy - 5-7 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Perfect Bend, Down Eye, 2X Heavy, 2X Long
  • Thread: UTC 70 Denier, Brown
  • Tail: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Rib: Small Ultra Wire, Copper
  • Body: Peacock Herl
  • Casing: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Body 2: Brown Hackle
  • Head: Peacock Herl
  • Head 2: Brown Hackle

Unfortunately, no substitutions really have a place in this pattern because of the simplicity of the fly, and the very few materials it uses. Sticking to the recipe will produce an easy to tie, fish fooling fly that you’ll be eager to fish!

No crazy variations on the Halfback Nymph, but one is notable. Adding a tungsten or brass bead to this pattern can really sink it down if you need to get to deeper pockets, or just like weighted nymphs better. You can also change out hackle colors, and pheasant tail colors to make this pattern pop a little bit more. Having a few sizes always helps out too.

All of the hackle on this fly makes for an ultra buggy appearance under water. Adding to that, the underbody of peacock herl has an iridescent sheen that seems to pull fish in like a magnet. The Halfback Nymph uses very minimal, simple materials; along with the fact that it is easy and fun to tie. It may not be the coolest or most eye catching bug in your box, but i bet the fish would beg to differ. The only way to find out is to try it!

Fishing this fly as the first fly in a nymph rig in either the beaded version, or the original version with some split shot is a prime spot for this fly. It can also be fished under a dry fly such as a Sofa Pillow or Chubby Chernobyl when the stoneflies are out doing their thing. Just make sure you get enough weight in some form or fashion to get the fly down the the fish.

Golden Stonefly

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16
Region: Northwest
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16
Region: East
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16
Region: Midwest
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16

Green Stone

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, Midwest
Green Stone
Sizes: #12 - #18

Little Black Stone

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East
Little Black Stone
Sizes: #14 - #20
Region: Midwest
Little Black Stone
Sizes: #14 - #20

Salmonfly

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Salmonfly
Sizes: #6 - #14

Skwala Stone

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Skwala Stone
Sizes: #12 - #16

Yellow Sally

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Midwest
Yellow Sally
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Northwest
Yellow Sally
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: East, Southeast
Yellow Sally
Sizes: #12 - #18

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Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.