The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

The velma mays are up to an inch long or a bit more. There fat too. They climb out at emegence so you can see the nymphal shucks on the rocks. When you don't know any better you'll think they're stone fly shucks. If you look close they have three tails that form the fan of a swimming nymph. They are probably the strongest swimmers among the may flies. The trout will take them pretty agressively. You can indicator, swing, highstick, or fish them like a streamer in the deep pools.

Here's a free-be for you.
I sure didn't think it up. Press Powel told me to try it. Try fishing your nymphs using a straight leader. I'll go 1X to the conection loop (usually about 7 or 8 feet long) and then tie on what ever tippet I plan on using. On the MFF I won't go less then 4X. I also us a shorter tippet then most folks. I start it a 16 inches or less and as I lose flies I'll keep using it until it gets down to 6 or 8 inches. I add my bb's just above the knot from the leader to the tippet so I don't have to worry about the weight sliding down to the fly.

And DON'T FORGET! If your not loosing flies on the bottom regularly you won't be catching as many fish. I will at times put on up the two 03 slitshot and on the rare occasion I'll use three of them. I use the pinch on and off ones cause I change the amount of weight constantly based on each spot I fish.

Give it a try and let me know how it works for ya.

TD