Mercer’s Swing Nymph

Description

Mercer’s Swing Nymph is a terrific caddis emerger. It is a simple soft hackle with a segmented body, a touch of flash and a hidden tungsten bead that gets the fly down quickly. The staple materials that make up this pattern are Cul De Canard and Hungarian Partridge. The combination of a CDC and Partridge collar creates a lively and buggy looking imitation.  The loose fibers do a great job of imitating dangling legs or emerging wings.

Fishing Strategies:

Mercer’s Swing nymph is a favorite anywhere caddis are present.  During May through June, you cannot go wrong fishing a two-fly rig consisting of the any of the following flies: Mercer’s Swing nymph, Barr’s Graphic Caddis, Bead Head Breadcrust or small Baetis imitations.

This tandem set up imitates both caddis and Baetis, two of the most important food sources during the spring season.  We recommend fishing these patterns on the dead-drift but allow them flies to swing to imitate emerging pupa and Baetis nymphs.  It’s never a bad idea to set the hook after the flies have swung (a position set) to see if a trout grabbed the fly on the rise.

Recipe:

Hook: #12-16 Tiemco 3761
Bead: Black Tungsten 2mm Bead
Thread: Brown UTC 70 Denier
Body: Stretch tubing
Rear Collar: Brown CDC
Thorax: Pheasant Tail Ice Dub Dubbing
Front Collar: Hungarian Partridge