Gray Drake
Nymphs:
The nymphs are very good swimmers that migrate to the shoreline in a manner similar
to that of stoneflies. The big difference is that the gray drakes can swim there and the
stoneflies crawl there. They can dart about swimming in short spurts similarly to small
minnows or baitfish. This is the time that they are in much danger of becoming trout
food and is of course, the best time to fish for trout that are feeding on the gray drake
nymphs.
Presentation:
Our nymph imitation should be presented near shorelines in shallower water. You may
want to try imitating the short, erratic, darting nymphs just prior to a hatch but it has some
action itself due to the long soft hackle used for its legs Short strips of the fly line will do
this.
The gray drake hatch is not a long one in any area of a stream. You may also actually
find the nymphs in the shallow water. That would be the best indication. Since the
nymphs are swimmers, trout can be taken year round on nymph imitations. This could
be a good strategy to use where there are known concentrations of gray drakes when
there is no hatch to match.
As we said, the water where these mayflies exist is usually slower moving or even still
water. The best presentation is usually an up and across cast. Keeping a drag free drift
is fairly easy in the slow water.
Try to keep the fly as close to the bottom as possible.
Copyright 2008 James Marsh
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