Flies for Springtime
by Wayne Bartz

The following pattern is a variation of the popular Beadhead Prince Nymph. The pattern includes a bright orange bead instead of a brass bead and calls for a hackle fiber tail and a wing of holographic tinsel.

Using the orange bead on this fly gives trout something different to look at. Beads also are available in pink, red and chartreuse, but I have found that the orange ones are the most productive. The wing of silver holographic tinsel wing adds more flash to all Prince patterns.

While this fly works most of the time, it doesn't work all of the time. There have been days when trout could care less about it and there have been days when they couldn't get enough of it. In larger sizes, the Egg-Sucking Prince should be a dynamite steelhead fly.
EGG SUCKING PRINCE
Hook: Tiemco TMC 3761 or 3769 in size of your choice
Thread: Olive
Bead: Hot-orange bead, 1/8 inch or 5/32 inch
Tail: Brown hackle fibers
Ribbing: Gold tinsel or copper wire
Body: Peacock fibers
Wing: Silver holographic tinsel
Hackle: Brown soft hackle
Egg sucking Prince
I have been using this variation of the Hendrickson nymph for a long time. It originally was tied to fish during the Hendrickson hatch, but now I use it throughout the year. Hendricksons (E. subvaria) nymphs live in many streams throughout the Midwest and emerge in the spring. This color combination matches the naturals of both the early Hendrickson and a later variety of mayfly called the Light Hendrickson, which is slightly smaller.

I use a marabou to make the tail of this fly because it seems to have more action in the water and do not tie on a wing case.
BH HENDRICKSON NYMPH
Hook: Tiemco TMC 3761 or 3769 12 - 16
Thread: Brown
Bead: Brass or copper, 1/8 inch
Tail: Brown or gray marabou fibers
Rib: Black Ultra Wire
Abdomen: Pheasant tail fibers
Thorax: A mixture of reddish brown and black Angora goat. Other fur can be used, but I like the "bugginess" of Angora.
BH Hendrickson Nymph
copyright Midwest Fly Fishing Magazine 1999