TYING NORTON’S ICE NYMPH
Jim Norton is the inventor of the Ice Nymph. Jim ties the Norton’s Ice Nymph in sizes from 6 to 16, with or without beads, leaded or unleaded. He also ties the nymph pattern in different colors to imitate various nymphs. The fly is a great attractor nymph, and an easy tie, making it a good fly pattern for beginners.
Materials for Norton’s Ice Nymph
| Part: | Materials: | Size/Color: |
| Hook: | Akita | AK562BL #8 |
| Bead: | Tungsten | Furrow Gold 3.5 mm |
| Weight: | Lead Wire | 0.010” |
| Thread: | Textreme | Olive 6/0 |
| Tail: | Pheasant Tail | Green |
| Body: | Ice Dub | Olive |
| Rib: | UTC | Gold Wire SM |
| Wingcase: | Pheasant Tail | Green |
| Thorax: | Ice Dub | Olive |
| Legs: | Pheasant Tail | Green |
Video Instructions on How to Tie a Norton’s Ice Nymph
Slideshow on How To Tie a Norton’s Ice Nymph
Step 1 – Add Weight, Tie In the Tail, and Build the Body
This fly does not require a lot of materials, and the procedure is straightforward, making this a good fly pattern for beginners. The first thing you have to do is put the tungsten bead onto the hook. Follow up with a few wraps of lead wire and push the wraps towards the bead to secure it. Now you can tie in your tying thread.
Continue making even wraps with the tying thread until you reach the point where it aligns with the hook’s barb. Tie in a few Pheasant Tail fibers for the tail. The length should be a bit shorter than the body length. Tie in the gold wire for the rib. Make a dubbing noodle and build up the body until you have reached the midpoint of the hook shank. Rib the fly with the gold wire.
Step 2 – Make the Thorax, Wingcase, and Legs
Tie in a good number of Pheasant Tail fibers pointing backward. The Pheasant Tail fibers will be both the wingcase and the legs of the nymph. The length should be a bit longer than the full hook shank. Make a new dubbing noodle and build up the thorax of the nymph. Go close to the bead as you do not need much space for the head of the fly.
Fold the Pheasant Tail fibers over the thorax to create the wingcase. Make sure the fivers are evenly spread over the thorax. Split the fibers into two parts, one for each side of the hook. Fold the fibers back towards the barb and secure with a few wraps of tying thread.
Make a small dubbing noodle and tidy up the area in front of the wingcase and the legs. Secure your tying thread with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and some varnish.
How to Fish the Norton’s Ice Nymph
You can tie this nymph big and heavy or small and lightweight. Even if it might look like some nymphs living in water, it is an attractor fly. When searching for trout, you can team it up with a smaller nymph in a tandem rig or use it on its own.
