Wolfram (aka Tungsten)

With the trout season (on rivers) now drawing to a close - and the Grayling season starting to gain traction. I thought it would be a good idea to look forward to targeting either those late-season trout (where the river still allows it) or very early-season Grayling.

Targeting trout (or Grayling) in these conditions usually means 3 things:

1. You will have to go searching for the fish. 
2. You will be using nymphs, and they will
3. Need to be presented somewhere near the bottom

That usually means nymphs equipped with some form of bead - usually Tungsten.

Tungsten is most commonly found in lightbulb filaments, but we fly anglers have used one of its properties to our advantage - tungsten is a very dense mineral, and when powdered and formed into beads (usually by metal injection moulding), they can weigh up to four times that of a similar-sized brass bead.

TL;DR - Too Long; Didn't Read

I know that some of you are pressed for time and save our emails to read later in the day, by this time our selections are sometimes sold out (I get lots of emails from customers pointing this out to me).

I've put this section at the beginning, so you can grab your flies now - and save reading my musings for later, safe in the knowledge that you have already secured your limited Tungsten Nymph Selections.

This email is all about Tungsten and how it has transformed the 'nymphing' game - especially when the fish are not looking up.

We've revamped our most successful Tungsten Nymphs and have just received them at Barbless Flies HQ, ready for a swim on a water near you:

*** Grab yours today, these are the most popular flies we have ever sold - and they never hang around for long! ***

Before I get onto the nymphs themselves - and which ones to use - I want to take you back to school for a History (and Chemistry) lesson ...

When you look up the element Tungsten in the periodic table, you will see it has the symbol 'W'. This is due to the element historically being known by two different names - Wolfram & Tungsten, officially the name Wolfram was dropped in 2005.

The name 'Wolfram' comes from a different mineral, wolframite, which also has a high content of the element we now call tungsten. Wolfram is believed to be derived from the German for 'wolf's foam'. Many centuries ago, mid-European tin smelters observed that when a certain mineral was present in the tin ore, their yield of tin was much reduced. They called this mineral 'wolf's foam' because, they said, it devoured the tin much like a wolf would devour a sheep!

Whereas the word Tungsten is derived from the old Swedish name for 'heavy stone', a name given to a known tungsten-containing mineral.

Tungsten is the name which has now stuck - I'm not too worried about what it's called, all I know is that fishing in the colder months would be much more difficult without it!

As well as its obvious weight advantage, the real properties which make tungsten ideal for nymphs are:

• Its Compact Size: Tungsten beads are small and can be used to add weight without significantly increasing the overall size of the fly. This is particularly important in smaller nymphs, where imitating natural insect sizes is crucial for success.
• Its Versatility: Tungsten beads are available in various sizes, shapes, and colours, providing fly tyers with a wide range of options to create different nymph patterns. This versatility allows us to match the specific characteristics of the insects we are trying to imitate.
• Improved Sensitivity: The density of tungsten allows for better sensitivity when fishing nymphs and other subsurface patterns. We can more easily detect subtle takes or changes in the behaviour of the nymph, leading to increased hook-up rates.
• Their Consistency: Tungsten beads are known for their consistency in size and weight, providing a reliable option for fly tyers. This consistency helps maintain the balance and performance of the nymph in the water.

Generally, when targeting trout in the later parts of the river season, keep in mind the following:

• The faster and deeper the river, the heavier the nymph
• Target the area behind any type of structure in the water (think boulders, bridge supports, & weed beds)
• Where allowed, it’s better to fish a team of flies, with the heaviest fly on the point.

I've put the first point above in bold, as it's the most important part.

So, which nymph patterns should be your first choice?

Our most successful Tungsten Nymphs ever!

We've just received a delivery of our most popular (and successful) tungsten nymphs, updated for 2025 with new materials and high-density tungsten beads,  in all the popular sizes - ideal for any conditions you will face targeting either late-season trout or early-season Grayling.

The selections below all contain patterns from our most popular tungsten nymph selection, in sizes ranging from 14 (Regular) to 18 (Micro) - click on any image or button below to see the full details of the nymph patterns included:

These are the first nymphs I use at this time of the year - irrespective of my target species - they work perfectly for both Brown Trout and Grayling.

Each of our Tungsten Nymph Selections contains the following patterns in various sizes:

• Red-Neck Pheasant Tail Nymph
• Copper Pheasant Tail Mary 
• Olive Quill Nymph
• Orange-Head Pheasant Tail Mary
• Hare's Ear Nymph 

The various hook sizes/configurations in each selection are:

• Tungsten Nymph Selection - contains 20 nymphs - 2 of each of the above 5 patterns in sizes 14 & 16, for each of the five patterns above for only £26 (usually £33.00) - that's over 20% discount on buying the nymphs individually!.
• Micro Tungsten Nymph Selection - contains 15 nymphs - 3 of each of the above 5 patterns, all in size 18 for only £20 (usually £24.75) - that's roughly a 20% discount on buying the nymphs individually!.

Click any image or button in this email to go directly to the nymphs.

*** Stock up on these while you can, they always sell out fast! ***

Go on ... fill your boots - and your Winter fly boxes - we've only limited quantities of these, so grab yours whilst you still can!

Tight lines