Let’s talk nymphing.

Mainly because I’m trying to learn it! Here’s my deal, I prefer the smaller mountain streams, but my fishing buddy doesn’t. He has taken me under his wing to try to teach me to fly fish...primarily using weighted nymphs. He prefers the larger, tailwater rivers, such as the Clinch and the Hiwassee. I can’t detect strikes! I’ve tried fishing a shorter, tighter line. I’ve also tried using an indicator. I’ve caught several fish, but I had no idea that they had hit. I almost feel that I caught the trout accidentally! I’ve watched him, and tried to copy him. He does not use an indicator, but has no problem feeling the strike. What am I missing?

I'm not much of a trout guy, but I've done enough to know strike detection can be tough. A lot of the "Euro nymphing" guys use "sighters" (bright-colored mono with many tiny coils that look like a spring.) I think the George Daniels book that 8fishermen mentioned would be a good investment to learn the very latest methods. At least you have a mentor.

This guy has some good videos on nymphing:

Duane Redford
- YouTube

... and a good book:

https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishers-P...=Duane+Redford

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

This guy has some good videos on nymphing:

Duane Redford
- YouTube

... and a good book:

https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishers-P...=Duane+Redford

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Thanks for the info! This is something that I’m going to learn, if it takes the rest of my life!

I cant help much,

But the vids Ive watched from "lively legs", were mostly nymphing and often showed how they fished them, including strikes and what to watch for.

If your fly is drifting, and a fish takes it, you will have drag on your line which should show as a raise in the line. I would guess too much slack in your line, but you already said you've tried fishing a tighter line.

Search youtube for lively legs. Ive enjoyed their vids, they have some pretty helpful small stream stuff.

I’m contemplating a 10’ or longer 3 weight rod designed for nymphing. However, I first have to justify cost vs time available for fly fishing.

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I first have to justify cost vs time available for fly fishing.

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I don't understand that logic :tongue



But yea, the 9-10'ers in 2,3wt's are not a real common occurrence with the cheaper rods it seems.


I would think a 10' would help- but not be a game changing difference. Drifting a little closer to where your standing, or holding your arm way up should get similar results I'd think.


I'll be in the same boat I'm sure, using a 8'6" here. Hoping to find out soon, been building up my nymph collection until we can plan a few days to head back to WV.

On a side note, I bought a bunch of materials from lively legs after watching those vids on nymphing. The little rubber legs are awesome, makes tying sweet looking nymphs easy, and they don't feel as delicate as all the other stuff I've tied.

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I’m contemplating a 10’ or longer 3 weight rod designed for nymphing.

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I just picked up an Orvis Clearwater 10' 3wt today. Threw it around a bit in the yard tonight, love the feel. Should be a good one!

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Originally Posted by binfordw

I just picked up an Orvis Clearwater 10' 3wt today. Threw it around a bit in the yard tonight, love the feel. Should be a good one!

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I’ve had my eye on that very rod!

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I’ve had my eye on that very rod!

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Have you seen the Cortland Competition Rod? It’s more expensive than the Orvis, but I understand it’s very popular with the competition fly guys.

Cortland Competition Rod - European Style Nymphing – Cortland Line North America

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Have you seen the Cortland Competition Rod? It’s more expensive than the Orvis, but I understand it’s very popular with the competition fly guys.

Cortland Competition Rod - European Style Nymphing – Cortland Line North America

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Yes, I’ve eyed that one as well. There’s a Chinese rod, Maxcatch, that’s like im10. I have read reviews, and they are mixed. Retail is less than $100 on Amazon, and even less on their website. Although it would be a small investment, I’m still gun shy.

I know what a nymph is, I think, but have read that it's a special way of fishing. What's so different than any other kind of fly?

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Originally Posted by BAFishBarn

I know what a nymph is, I think, but have read that it's a special way of fishing. What's so different than any other kind of fly?

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Nymphs are the "flies" that live in the water before they become mayflies, caddis flies, mosquitoes, etc. So, when you're nymph fishing, you're just fishing a sinking fly beneath the surface. There are many different ways to "nymph fish". What they have in common is that it's all subsurface fishing.

Also, 90% of what you read about "nymph fishing" will be about fishing for trout in moving water. Another 9.9% will be about fishing for trout in still waters.

So, if you're not doing a lot of trout fishing, don't lose any sleep over it. :)

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Also, 90% of what you read about "nymph fishing" will be about fishing for trout in moving water. Another 9.9% will be about fishing for trout in still waters.

So, if you're not doing a lot of trout fishing, don't lose any sleep over it. :)

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Yeah I wont be fishing for trout until winter when they stock 2 local ponds with rainbows. But still good info to know.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Also, 90% of what you read about "nymph fishing" will be about fishing for trout in moving water. Another 9.9% will be about fishing for trout in still waters.

So, if you're not doing a lot of trout fishing, don't lose any sleep over it. :)

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well now I’m curious.... what’s the 0.1% cover?

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Originally Posted by binfordw

well now I’m curious.... what’s the 0.1% cover?

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Trout fishing on the moon? ;)

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Trout fishing on the moon? ;)

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Or trout fishing ABOVE the water?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Also, 90% of what you read about "nymph fishing" will be about fishing for trout in moving water. Another 9.9% will be about fishing for trout in still waters.

So, if you're not doing a lot of trout fishing, don't lose any sleep over it. :)

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Death, is not just for trout as I am certain you know. To date, I have caught 34 species of fish on euro style nymphing techniques including salt, warm water, temperate, and cold water fish. The technique can easily be adapted to steamers and even used with a spinning rod. The key to the technique is being able to control a natural in current.

Speaking to the OP, Unless you are a fly purest, I would recommend you separate the technique form the fly rod and learn to use it on a long spinning rod and light line. It is much easier to control the drift without dealing with the fly line. I use 9 and 10 foot spinning rods that were built from fly blanks. They are a dream to fish in deep water and heavy current. Once I got the drift, weight, depth control, and strike detection down, I switched back to the fly rod and every thing just fell in place.

More to follow...

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Originally Posted by 8fishermen

Death, is not just for trout as I am certain you know. To date, I have caught 34 species of fish on euro style nymphing techniques including salt, warm water, temperate, and cold water fish. The technique can easily be adapted to steamers and even used with a spinning rod. The key to the technique is being able to control a natural in current.

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Very interesting. All the info I have seen is for trout.

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Originally Posted by 8fishermen

More to follow...

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Looking forward to it. :ThumbsUp

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Originally Posted by binfordw

I don't understand that logic :tongue



But yea, the 9-10'ers in 2,3wt's are not a real common occurrence with the cheaper rods it seems.


I would think a 10' would help- but not be a game changing difference. Drifting a little closer to where your standing, or holding your arm way up should get similar results I'd think.


I'll be in the same boat I'm sure, using a 8'6" here. Hoping to find out soon, been building up my nymph collection until we can plan a few days to head back to WV.

On a side note, I bought a bunch of materials from lively legs after watching those vids on nymphing. The little rubber legs are awesome, makes tying sweet looking nymphs easy, and they don't feel as delicate as all the other stuff I've tied.

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The 10' and 11' rods are the KEYS to these techniques.

They allow you manage more line of the water at distance. This gives you more natural drifts when navigating complex currents.

They allow you to fish much lighter tippett because they become long shock absorbers. The lighter tippett lets you fish lighter flies and steamers so they drift more naturally and deeper.

The long rods are a game changer.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

I'm not much of a trout guy, but I've done enough to know strike detection can be tough. A lot of the "Euro nymphing" guys use "sighters" (bright-colored mono with many tiny coils that look like a spring.) I think the George Daniels book that 8fishermen mentioned would be a good investment to learn the very latest methods. At least you have a mentor.

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GD's book is excellent.

Also check out Devin Olsen's site Modern Nymphing. His videos are $20 each and are a must have. The first one is the basics, modern nymphing. The second one, modern nymphing elevated, is fantastic. The video work in both are professionally done. All fishing in them is done on public waters. He and Lance Egan are both team USA competitors and fish against the best in the world.

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I'll start another thread so I don't completely hijack this one. I actually came here to see if anyone else was using this to crappie fish.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Have you seen the Cortland Competition Rod? It’s more expensive than the Orvis, but I understand it’s very popular with the competition fly guys.

Cortland Competition Rod - European Style Nymphing – Cortland Line North America

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The cortland rod is excellent. I have a 10' 6" 3 wt. It is my favorite rod to fish. I have landed many 5 to 10 lb warm water fish on it in current.

Most of the nymph rods I am familiar with have heavier butt sections. I've heard them described as a 3 wt tip for protecting light tippett and casting weighted nymphs with a 5 wt butt section for fighting larger fish.

The longer rods will also somewhat load under their own weight when using momo only out of the tip and casting lightly weighed nymphs.

These days, I find myself gravitating toward longer, lighter rods. I am about to order an 11' 3 wt from Reddington. I broke a 9' 5 wt that is now discontinued. They sent me a 50% discount code for a new rod since they couldn't fix mine and it was totally my fault. I thought that was good of them.

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I forgot that I started this thread! Lots of good info. Consider this: The Mono Rig and Why Fly Line Sucks | Troutbitten

I generally (although I haven't trout fished in a few years) watch the end of my fly line. I usually see movement there, or often catch the flash of a strike in my peripheral vision. Obviously I have no idea about how many I don't detect, but I've never had problems catching quite a few fish that way. I don't want to use a strike indicator for that kind of fishing, but if you are not opposed to it I'm sure it makes the job a lot easier, both in knowing when you have drag on the nymph and in detecting the strike. I've seen some people on the Little Red River clean up using a strike indicator over a sow bug nymph - basically catching one on every cast in certain holes. Personally, using a nymph is a last resort for me. I much prefer dry flies, emergers, and streamers.