nymph
Mayday Mayfly
A brown holographic-tinsel-bodied mayfly nymph with a hot orange wire rib and Simi Seal thorax. Inspired in part by the Rainbow Warrior underbody style.
Originated by Gilbert Rowley
Recipe
- HookUmpqua XC400BL Jig — size 16 · Umpqua
- BeadGold Slotted Tungsten
- ThreadVeevus 14/0 — Fl. Orange · Semperfli
- TailCoq de Leon
- AbdomenHolographic Tinsel — Brown Medium
- RibUTC Ultra Wire — Hot Orange Brassie
- CoatingSolarez Bone Dry
- ThoraxSimi Seal Dubbing — Brown
History
Gilbert Rowley started tying the Mayday Mayfly right out of college around 2010. The tinsel underbody on the abdomen was inspired by Lance Egan's Rainbow Warrior — this was before Lance and Gilbert had become friends, and Egan flies were already staples in Rowley's box. After some trial and error, he landed on a few variations that fished consistently well. The hot-orange wire rib serves as both segmentation and an attractor, and the Simi Seal dubbing adds a super-buggy element to the thorax. Fast to tie, reliable on the water — a searching-nymph go-to.
Fishing tips
Fl. orange rib is the trigger. Don't overdress the Simi Seal — a tight, compact thorax works best.