nymph
ZebraGon
A smooth-bodied mayfly/zebra-midge/perdigon hybrid with silver wire rib, black nail-polish wingcase, and UV resin. Olive is the default — change thread color to match any water.
Originated by Gilbert Rowley
Recipe
- HookUmpqua XC400BL Jig — size 16 · Umpqua
- BeadSlotted Tungsten — Silver
- ThreadVeevus 14/0 — Olive (or preferred) · Semperfli
- TailCoq de Leon
- RibUTC Ultra Wire — Silver Small
- ShellbackBlack Nail Polish
- CoatingSolarez Bone Dry
History
The ZebraGon is Rowley's take on the 'guide fly' — simple, quick to tie, and deeply effective. It borrows the shape of a mayfly, the abdomen of a zebra midge, the density of a perdigon, and the versatility to imitate any number of aquatic insects. Gilbert can add a thread hot-spot or dubbing collar to turn it into an attractor, or change the thread color to adjust to different river systems or seasons. Whether he's fishing a technical tailwater or a high-mountain freestone, the ZebraGon gets the job done year-round.
Fishing tips
Tie in multiple thread colors — olive, tan, black, red. The ZebraGon rotation is the fly box.