Tungsten Nymphs - with a new twist!

by Richard Fieldhouse September 29, 2022

Now that we're just about into the Grayling season, we thought it was about time you had a bit more tungsten in your life - with what we are sure will become your most popular nymphs to tempt Grayling in the early part of the season.

But before we get into that, we need to let you know about this ...

Todays Delivery Deal (and strikes)

As you are probably aware, the postal workers will be on strike on the 30th of September and the 1st of October (tomorrow & Saturday). We want to minimise the impact on our customers as much as possible.

We are running a special offer for today and tomorrow - we will be sending all orders out on a 1st Class service for FREE - just select the free delivery option at the checkout and you will actually receive your order quicker than if Royal Mail were not on strike!

REMEMBER: Choose FREE DELIVERY at the checkout.

Please Note: Royal Mail cannot guarantee any Special Deliveries during the strike period - please avoid selecting this service at the checkout as we cannot guarantee you will receive your order in the guaranteed time period.

Anyway, back to the Jigs ...

The inspiration for these Tungsten Jigs came from our existing Tungsten Nymph Selection - which are by far and away our best-selling nymphs for both Grayling and Trout.

These patterns work exceptionally well using the Euro Nymphing style - TOP TIP: try putting the size 12 on the dropper with the size 16 on the point in a hefty flow - that way you can fish both Tungsten Jigs close to the riverbed.

We have just received more of our Tungsten Jig Selections, which are still only £24. Our Selection contains 18 Tungsten Jigs - two each of sizes 12, 14 and 16 of each of the below patterns:

Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph
Hare's Ear Nymph
Olive Quill Nymph

We've only a few of these selections available - 40 to be exact - see below (or click any button or image) for more details and close-up images.

Towards the end of this email, you will also find lots of information on helping start - or get more from - your Grayling season. We've even set up a separate area of our site to give you even more hints & tips - check out our River Master - Grayling micro site.

Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Tungsten Jig

The best fly for the river? This fly probably accounts for more fish than any other flies I use. It represents a wide range of river nymphs, and is ideal for both Trout & Grayling. Fished on its own or as a part of a duo (New Zealand Rig), this fly is deadly.

If you've been on our website recently you may have noticed that we have started to give you the weights of each individual nymph. The Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Tungsten Jig Nymphs weigh:

Size 12 (4mm slotted silver bead) - 0.40g
Size 14 (3mm slotted silver bead) - 0.27g
Size 16 (2mm slotted silver bead) - 0.18g

Olive Quill Tungsten Jig

This pattern is a darker olive version representing a baetis nymph or any olive coloured medium to small mayfly or caddis larva.

If you've been on our website recently you may have noticed that we have started to give you the weights of each individual nymph. The Olive Quill Tungsten Jig Nymphs weigh:

Size 12 (4mm slotted silver bead) - 0.42g
Size 14 (3mm slotted silver bead) - 0.25g
Size 16 (2mm slotted silver bead) - 0.17g

Hare's Ear Tungsten Jig

The Hare's Ear Nymph is a generic nymph in that it represents many mayfly and caddis nymphs and is often used as a searching pattern. Its shaggy appearance resembles many species of nymphs when they shed their skins or shucks as they progress into the next stage of their life. The more scruffy this fly is, the better it is at catching fish, and this one is pretty scruffy!

If you've been on our website recently you may have noticed that we have started to give you the weights of each individual nymph. The Hare's Ear Tungsten Jig Nymphs weigh:

Size 12 (4mm slotted silver bead) - 0.43g
Size 14 (3mm slotted silver bead) - 0.28g
Size 16 (2mm slotted silver bead) - 0.19g

Our Tungsten Jig Selection is a selection of 3 of our most popular tungsten nymphs, all tied on jig hooks in slightly larger sizes, we are supplying two of each Tungsten Jig in three different sizes (12, 14 & 16), in total there are 18 tungsten jigs supplied in our environmentally friendly packaging. All of these nymphs are tied using strong barbless jig hooks.

Our Selection contains two each of sizes 12, 14 and 16 of each of the below Tungsten Jigs:

Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph
Hare's Ear Nymph
Olive Quill Nymph

Our Selection contains two each of sizes 12, 14 and 16 of each of the below Tungsten Jigs:

Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph
Hare's Ear Nymph
Olive Quill Nymph

*** We only have very limited numbers of these - 40 to be exact - so you will need to be quick, they will not hang around long at this price! ***

Go on, you know you want to!

REMEMBER: All orders placed today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) will be shipped using the next available 1st class service - FREE of charge, so please select the FREE SHIPPING option at the checkout.

Here's what customers think to The Tungsten Jig Selection:

Top Tips When Searching For Grayling

Searching Rigs (Klink n Dink & Duo)

The best searching rig is the Klink n Dink (it’s called a few different things – New Zealand, Dry Dropper, Duo etc). It is essentially a bushy dry fly (or yarn indicator) with a nymph suspended underneath it. You’re using the fly/yarn indicator to detect when a fish takes the nymph. This method is great in pocket water (i.e. behind large rocks and through riffles). When fishing this method, I find it best to have the distance between the nymph and the fly/yarn indicator about 1.5 times the depth of the water you are fishing. This way you know you will be somewhere near the bottom. Again the golden rule is “if you’re not getting snagged on the bottom every once in a while, then you’re not fishing deep enough!.

The Dinkhamer - An Ideal Indicator

A version of the popular Klinkhamer. Tied with a pink and orange post and sparkle tan body (it is easily seen in these darker afternoons and evenings) and a tippet ring in the tail.

The tippet ring allows you to fish these using the klink 'n' dink method (a bit of a sticking point when using barbless hooks!).

Tie a length of tippet to the tippet ring - I generally use 1.5 x the depth I want to fish at.
Tie your nymph to the other end of the tippet.
Cast upstream and watch the Dinkhamer for any signs of a take on the nymph - or the Dinkhamer itself.

This fly is available in size 12 and 14. Use a size 12 to suspend the size 12 Tungsten Jigs.

Nymphing Rigs For Grayling

Single Nymph Rig

I always find it very difficult to detect takes when fishing a single nymph at longer ranges (which is why I seldom do it), but I always fish a single nymph at short range using a tight-line method. To fish this you need to use the downstream water load cast, it's an easy way to send your flies back upstream for another drift without making a back cast.

How to perform the Water-Load Cast:

Cast your rig out as normal
At the end of the run, let your nymph drift all the way past you so it hangs in the current (and the fly line and leader tensions up).
In one smooth motion, lift your rod up and use the built-in tension to flip your nymph back upstream.

This simple cast is really efficient (especially in competitions) and ideally suited for short-line nymphing techniques. With the downstream water load, your flies spend more time in the water.

Dual Nymph Rig

The Dual-Nymph rig is exactly the same as fishing a single nymph, but you tie in a dropper around 12” to 18” above the point fly.

From your indicator tie a length of tippet roughly equivalent to the depth of the water you will be fishing.
To this add a short section (about 12" long) tied with a 3-turn water knot, use this to create a 6" dropper (shorter droppers don't tangle as much).
To the point, tie in one of your heavier nymphs, and to the dropper use a lighter nymph. Cast/Lob the flies upstream and track them back to you, keeping the rod tip just ahead of the flies.
Stop the rod tip just in front of you and let the flies drift downstream, feeling for takes all the time.

Tight lines & have fun.