Bird's Nest
Imitates: Caddis pupa, mayfly nymph, and general soft buggy nymphs
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #10-18
- Best Season
- Year-round
- Best Conditions
- Riffles, transitional seams, caddis water, technical nymphing
- Water Temp
- 46-68°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 4X-5X
How to Rig It
Fish under an indicator, in a tight-line rig, or swung slightly at the end of the drift.
How to Present It
Dead-drift near the bottom, then allow a subtle lift as the fly comes tight.
Why It Works
The soft mixed materials look alive from every angle and imitate many caddis and mayfly life stages at once.
History
Designed by Cal Bird, the Bird's Nest became one of the finest generic western nymphs ever created.
Pro Tip
If trout are refusing shinier beadhead flies, switch to the softer profile of a Bird's Nest. It often gets eaten by educated fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bird's Nest more of a caddis or mayfly pattern?+
Mostly caddis, but it is intentionally impressionistic enough to cover multiple insects.
Not sure if Bird's Nest is right today?
Get a fly recommendation based on live water temp, flow, sky, and time of day for any river in the US.
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