We were floating down the lower Orange talking about fish species and fly tying while watching birds and casting streamers when we spotted a goliath heron hunting majestically on the bank. Garth Wellman mentioned how heron biots were some of his favourite materials for tying nymphs. Like it was destined to happen I found a large goliath heron primary wing feather at the next lunch stop and shoved it into my backpack.

I unpacked my tackle bags weeks after that trip, the procrastination unavoidable after a great fishing experience in my case, and found the crippled goliath feather at the bottom of the backpack. I brushed over the long, tantalising barbs and took it to my vise. My micro-nymph fly box sported several #20 nymphs, but I noticed on a previous redfin minnow outing that these were still on the ‘big’ side and that the need for some #24’s may arise. So I plucked a goliath barb (the tiny barbules on the heron barb are ideal for imitating the gills on the abdomen of mayfly nymphs) and picked out a #24 Grip hook and started with the tedious process of building a micro-nymph. The Mini Goliath was completed with Egyptian goose chest feathers, Cape hare fur and a small hot orange bead:

Hook: Grip 11911BL #24

Thread: Gordon Griffith’s Sheer 14/0 white

Tail and wing case: Egyptian goose chest feather fibres (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

Abdomen: Goliath heron primary wing feather barb (Ardea goliath)

Rib: Fine copper wire

Thorax: Cape hare fur (Lepus capensis)

Bead: 1.5 mm fluorescent orange tungsten