Best Nymph Selections
Updated How we research
Trout do most of their feeding below the surface, which makes a solid nymph selection the highest-percentage box you own. Selections vary in more than pattern choice: bead type, weight, hook strength, and size range all decide whether you can actually get flies to the fish. A box full of unweighted size 12s is useless in a heavy spring run, and a box of all tungsten jigs is overkill on a shallow summer riffle. We prioritized proven patterns like Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Perdigons, and stonefly imitations, then weighed the spread of sizes and weights, hook quality for fish that dig, and how well the assortment suits both indicator and tightline styles. Our picks cover new nymphers who want one box that works, Euro-nymphing anglers who need slim tungsten bugs, and travelers stocking up before a big trip.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.6 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Wild Water Fly Fishing Nymph Assortment, 72 Flies with Large Thin Fly Box. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Essential Nymph Fly Assortment - 57 Fishing Flies on Mustad Signature Fly Hooks. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Tungsten Bead Head Flash Back Pheasant Tail Mayfly Nymph Fly - 1 Dozen Flies. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Wifreo Fly Fishing 54 Nymph Flies Assortment BH Wet Fly for Trout with Waterproof Fly Box. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Wild Water Fly Fishing Nymph Assortment, 72 Flies with Large Thin Fly Box
Wild Water nymph assortment of 72 flies with a large thin fly box, a high-count subsurface set for trout rivers.
Our score8.6/10Budget
Essential Nymph Fly Assortment - 57 Fishing Flies on Mustad Signature Fly Hooks
Essential nymph fly assortment of 57 flies on Mustad Signature hooks, a quality-hooked subsurface collection.
Our score8.6/10Budget
#1Wild Water nymph assortment of 72 flies with a large thin fly box, a high-count subsurface set for trout rivers.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 72 nymphs give lots of spares for fishing close to snaggy bottoms
- + Large thin fly box holds many flies yet slides into a vest pocket
- + Wild Water assortments are a good value way to fill a nymph box
- - Check the fly pattern mix before ordering
- - Thin box foam can wear from repeated hook insertion
#2Essential nymph fly assortment of 57 flies on Mustad Signature hooks, a quality-hooked subsurface collection.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Mustad Signature hooks give sharp, reliable hook points
- + 57 flies deliver a broad range of classic nymph patterns
- + Good choice for stocking a new nymph box in one purchase
- - A fly box is not included, so plan separate storage for these flies
- - Assortment may lack heavy tungsten patterns for deep water
#3Tungsten bead head flash back Pheasant Tail mayfly nymph, 1 Dozen, a fast-sinking version of a classic mayfly imitation.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Tungsten bead sinks faster than brass for deeper runs
- + Pheasant Tail pattern imitates many mayfly nymphs
- + Flash back adds attraction in stained or fast water
- - Check the hook size against your local mayflies before ordering
- - Heavier tungsten flies snag more in shallow water
#4Wifreo 54 nymph flies assortment with bead head wet flies for trout and a waterproof fly box, a big subsurface set.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 54 nymphs give a large supply for losing flies on the bottom
- + Bead head patterns sink quickly into the strike zone
- + Waterproof fly box keeps flies rust-free
- - Budget ties can unravel after several fish
- - Wide pattern mix may include flies not suited to your river
#5Feeder Creek bead head Prince Nymph 12pc wet flies in a 3 size assortment, a focused pack of a proven trout pattern.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Prince Nymph is a classic attractor that catches trout in many rivers
- + 3 size assortment lets you match water depth and fish size
- + 12pc pack gives enough spares for snag-heavy runs
- - Single pattern limits options when trout key on other insects
- - Check the bead material if you want a specific sink rate
#6Pettirosso Hare's Ear nymph, 12 flies in size 12 with tungsten beadhead, a classic buggy nymph for many trout waters.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Hare's Ear is an all-purpose nymph that imitates many insects
- + Size 12 with tungsten beadhead gets down in faster currents
- + 12 flies of one proven pattern build a reliable backup supply
- - Size 12 is large for small, finicky trout in clear water
- - Single pattern and size limits versatility
#7Next Generation Flies Nymph-Head assortment of 24 flies, a smaller set of bead head style nymphs for trout.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Nymph-Head design helps flies sink into the feeding zone
- + 24 flies are a manageable set for learning nymph patterns
- + Next Generation Flies focuses on quality trout ties
- - Smaller count than bulk assortments at a similar price
- - No box mentioned, so storage is not included
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Check the fly pattern mix before ordering (Wild Water Fly Fishing Nymph Assortment, 72...)
- A fly box is not included, so plan separate storage for these flies (Essential Nymph Fly Assortment - 57 Fishing...)
- Check the hook size against your local mayflies before ordering (Tungsten Bead Head Flash Back Pheasant Tail...)
- Budget ties can unravel after several fish (Wifreo Fly Fishing 54 Nymph Flies Assortment...)
- Single pattern limits options when trout key on other insects (Feeder Creek Bead Head Prince Nymph - 12pc...)
- Size 12 is large for small, finicky trout in clear water (Pettirosso Hare's Ear Nymph (12 Flies) - Size...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among nymph selections?
Wild Water Fly Fishing Nymph Assortment, 72 Flies with Large Thin Fly Box is our top overall pick. Wild Water nymph assortment of 72 flies with a large thin fly box, a high-count subsurface set for trout rivers. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Essential Nymph Fly Assortment - 57 Fishing Flies on Mustad Signature Fly Hooks is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Essential nymph fly assortment of 57 flies on Mustad Signature hooks, a quality-hooked subsurface collection.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Fly Fish Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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