Euronymphs

[skiltonian]

Just picked up a euro rod and starting to fill a box. What’s your confidence flies / size to give me ideas of patterns to tie? I fish SE PA streams. Attached is what I tied up so far: 16-20 wide gaps with 2.4 beads. TIA.

 

[Broodstock]

Your selection of different patterns is great, you likely do not need any more at all. Seriously. Your next move should be to tie these patterns with bead sizes that vary from small to big. The size is relative to the water you fish, your rod, and leader and your style of fishing on tight lines. I would start at 1.5 and end at 3.8, but you do not have to tie such a wide variety of sizes of all the patterns. For instance, some nymphs are larger, like isos, caddis, and stonefly so you can put them on a 14 or 12 on a 3.8 to really get down. You could also just add some split shot to get down with these 2.4 beads if you are not getting to depth.
You also do not need every size. 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 would work. There are many bead sizes available and you should not worry about having such a fine gradient of size when you get started (or ever for that matter unless you are a comp fisher)

If you wanted some patterns that I do not see in your box, I would tie some jig pats rubber legs, the zone stone, and a baby crawfish on a size 8 jig hook. Euro style does not have to be tiny. A lot of times I will fish a big fly as my anchor, and then a small fly up top as a dropper.

 

[Nocktavius]

For this time of year? eggs

 

[Broodstock]

For this time of year? eggs

Well, good point. Eggs, worms, mops, and jig streamers are all on the menu - although I do not really count those as nymphs. They are a must have for the tight line fisher though.

 

[discomidge]

Heavy a** eggs are my main (shameful?) euro game in the winter. But for the rest of the year, I really like Iron Lotuses in all sizes and colors. Even pheasant tail. And a big heavy slotted tungsten bead (like 3.3mm on a #14/16) makes casting easier with any pattern.

 

[tpn]

Looks like a great start. I'd make sure to check while tying that the bead is seated correctly on the hook. Many a fight about whether the flies invert or not but I always like to make sure.

To your other thoughts, I could go an entire day with 4 patterns but vary the bead color, bead size and hook size. You seem to have all or most of the four I would choose as "confidence" flies. Not much of a winter fisherman with 4 kids all playing hoops though, many more experts here for that.

T

 

[Tigereye]

My best “natural” perdigon nymphs

www.flytying.ro

Start here. Add 1 or 2 attractor types and your ready to go

 

[Trails and trout]

Just picked up a euro rod and starting to fill a box. What’s your confidence flies / size to give me ideas of patterns to tie? I fish SE PA streams. Attached is what I tied up so far: 16-20 wide gaps with 2.4 beads. TIA.

For some of my favorite confidence bugs I would say sexy waltz size 16 olive perdigon size 16 green caddis size 20 frenchie 16 pheasant tail 14-20 squirmy wormy 🤫 and stone flies galore

 

[Trails and trout]

Here is a pic of my euro box and it might be of help, it’s not organized anymore

 

[laszlo]

Here is a pic of my euro box and it might be of help, it’s not organized anymore

damn, looks like my box

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

Just picked up a euro rod and starting to fill a box. What’s your confidence flies / size to give me ideas of patterns to tie? I fish SE PA streams. Attached is what I tied up so far: 16-20 wide gaps with 2.4 beads. TIA.

I like the way you have all 2.4 mm beads in one box. For me, France Fly is a must have in a 2.4 box. Eggs have been suggested and they are in my winter boxes but I don't tie them with a 2.4 bead because they don't get down in the cricks I fish. I like purple in my boxes,especially in winter. Maybe add some blow torch flies too.
My boxes are mostly filled with very few patterns in a few colors that I've caught enough fish on to have confidence in. Kind of like a "less is more" approach

 

[KeviR]

Here is a link for Devin Olsen's blog post on Tactical Fly Fisher with links to all his flies. It's a long list, but I plan to pick maybe 5 or so and tie them in a couple sizes and weights this winter. The list that I currently favor is the Quilldigon, Blowtorch, Crossover, BBS and the Butano. This is in addition to my existing confidence flies: Walt's Worm (a couple colors and styles), Iron Lotus, Frenchie, plain pheasant tail and the SOS. I have a LOT of other nymphs in my boxes but I find that I only ever try them when nothing else is working. (And truly, I can't recall when one of the "others" were successful when my confidence patterns were not. I'm not sure why I carry them, to be honest.)
Based on recently looking through all the blogs and videos at Tactical Fly Fisher, I plan to organize my nymphs according to weight and style this winter. Maybe it's time to move the "others" out to a backup box and see if I miss them at all.

 

[skiltonian]

Thanks for all the input so far! Here’s some 14-18s with 3.3 beads. I need a trip to the shop before I tie up other patterns suggested. About to start a side for 3.8s.

 

[Duriensbane]

If you want a suggestion for perdigons, id say tie up a quilldigon. Olive or natural quills with a green flash butt. Its a Devin Olson pattern that does work.