3 Clutch Nymph Rigs for Winter Fishing on the South Platte River
#1: Squirrel Leech + Garcia’s Darth Baetis
Leech pattern: brown, burnt orange, or black - size 10-14
Baetis pattern: gray, red, or purple - size 20-22
Setup Option 1: Tie the baetis pattern to the end of a 4X leader or tippet (18-24” below a small cork indicator). Then tie 16” of 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet through the eye of the baetis and tie the leech on the other end. Add split shot 6” above the leech until the fly is occasionally bumping the bottom.
Setup Option 2: Tie the leech to the end of a 4X leader or tippet (18”-24” below a small cork or yarn indicator). Then tie 18”-24” of 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet through the eye of the leech and attach the baetis pattern to the other end. Add split shot or nymphing mud on the tippet halfway between the two flies. The trailing fly does not need to be bouncing along the bottom.
#2: BigHorn Shrimp + Zebra Midge
Shrimp pattern: pink, orange, or gray - size 10-14 - scuds are a good substitute pattern
Midge pattern: black or red, size 20-22
Setup Option 1: Tie the shrimp pattern (scuds will also work) to the end of a 4X or 5X leader or tippet (18”-24” below a small cork indicator). Then tie 18” of 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet through the eye of the shrimp pattern and tie the midge to the other end. Add split shot or nymphing mud halfway between the two flies. Neither of the flies need to be bouncing off the bottom and a super clean drift through the middle of the water column is ideal.
Setup Option 2: Tie the midge to the end of a 4X leader or tippet (18”-24” below a small cork indicator). Then tie 16” of 5X fluorocarbon tippet through the eye of the midge and attach the shrimp or scud to the other end. Add nymphing mud 6” above the trailing fly until the shrimp/scud is occasionally bouncing on the bottom.
#3: Mercury RS-2 + Flashbang Midge
RS-2 pattern: gray, black, or olive - size 20-22
Midge pattern: red or black - size 20-22
The Setup: Tie the RS-2 to the end of a 5X leader or tippet (18”-24” below a small cork or yarn indicator). Then tie 18” of 6X or 7X fluorocarbon tippet through the eye of the RS-2 and tie the midge on the other end. Add split shot or nymphing mud halfway between the two flies and/or halfway between the indicator and the point fly. Fish higher in the water column during hatches. Dredge the deeper pools during the really cold days with little visible bug activity.