what is nymph fishing? - how to fly fish, learn how to fly


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Copyright © 2016 by William Carter

First Printing, 2008 Revised and updated 2010

Further updated 2016

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any fashion whatsoever without prior written approval, except for brief quotations that appear in newspaper, magazine, or review articles. For information contact the author at:

www.betterflyfishing.com


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Contents

Introduction 4 Challenges of Nymphing 5 Basic Techniques 6 Advanced Techniques 8 Secret techniques 10 Czech Nymph Fly Fishing 12 High Stick Nymphing 14 Puffball Nymphing 15 Shallow water techniques 16 Deep, Salt Water Nymphing 17


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Introduction Nymphs are aquatic insects that are still in their underwater stage, not having reached their adult, or flying, stage of life yet.

Nymph fishing is one of the most challenging fly fishing techniques to learn. This is because the fly, which is very small, is underwater, and unlike dry fly fishing, the angler often won’t be able to see the fly. Therefore it becomes much more difficult to detect any strikes and set the hook

Needless to say this can be extremely frustrating to even the most patient angler. Trout fishing is where the best of what the angler has to offer needs to come to the forefront mainly because of the diet that trout have. Trout love to eat sub surface insects or nymphs and an angler needs to have several techniques at his disposal or he/she will be greatly limited in where to fish and what to use.


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CHALLENGES OF NYMPHING:

An angler is attempting to mock the specific stage of insects as mentioned above, when nymph fly fishing. This is why it is done underwater, and not on top of it as with conventional fly fishing. This makes fly fishing with nymphs more challenging because the fish will never rise to the surface in an attempt to gulp an insect. In contrast to dry fly fishing when the angler uses nymphs the angler will not be able to keep his eye on the fly and that is where the challenge comes into play as it makes it more difficult to detect strikes and set the hook. The challenge gets even bigger with nymph fly fishing because the nymphs have a tendency to float along or just near the bottom of the water. The problem comes in as the nymph is often “bumping” into underwater obstructions, particularly rocks. The angler then feels these bumps and can easily mistake them for bites. Especially for beginner anglers this can be quite challenging as the strike indicator will momentarily pause when the nymph hits a rock. It is only a matter of time before the nymph actually does get hooked on something and then it has to be freed, fun, fun! Fly fishing with nymphs causes the angler to have to use methods to get their fly down into the water. This is not a challenge with dry fly fishing because all fishing occurs right on the surface. Everything in dry fly fishing is two dimensional. With nymph fishing, however, the angler needs to determine how deep the trout are and then figure out how to get their fly to that depth which adds another dimension to their fly fishing. In order to do this successfully the angler needs to know how to get nymph to the right depth and how to make good and precise casts so the nymph is allowed to sink to the right depth of where you think that the fish are. When dry fly fishing the fish will normally hit the bait really hard but with nymphs this is not the case, they are much more graceful when approaching nymphs. Trout are gentler with nymphs and sometimes this is nothing more than laziness, waiting on the nymph to come right to the fish. Because of this, setting the hook properly (and knowing when to do it) when fly


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fishing with nymphs is extremely important for success. These are the challenges of fly fishing with nymphs. And these same challenges are generally what put off many a fly fisherman from attempting nymph fishing – all the more so if they just happen to be fly fishing on a river known for top-water hatches.

NYMPHING: BASIC TECHNIQUES Just like dry fly fishing, there are many, many ways to fish a nymph. Which one an angler should use really boils down to how skilled he is in nymph fly fishing and what he is attempting to catch and where he is doing it. If that does not make sense then explaining the different nymph fly fishing techniques just might. Beginning with the easiest of techniques, with the beginner in mind is a great way to get introduced to nymph fly fishing in general. This nymph fly fishing technique, which involves casting the nymph directly across the river and then letting is float all the way down to a point on the river directly below the angler, removes many of the problems of nymph fly fishing for the new anglers. The beginner method of fly fishing with nymphs is quite simple. First, just cast your nymph directly across the stream from where you stand. Then, let the fly float down the river, keeping the line tight as it floats away as well as following the fly with your fly rod. Eventually, the nymph will be at a point directly downstream from you. Once the nymph is downstream you are right at the point of perfection, because of the current, the nymph will begin to rise out of the water. The current will further apply pressure to the nymph which will cause it to wiggle about. Basically when the nymph is directly downstream, hold the nymph still for a couple of seconds and then slowly jerk on the tip of the fly rod. This is the method that is most


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likely to give the best results. What makes this a fantastic method for beginners is that everything is done by feel, not by sight. You do not need to use a strike indicator for this nymph fly fishing method. Because the fly line is going to be tense at all times, your chances of catching a trout are very good. The trout will hook itself when it takes your fly due to the tight tension in the fly line. The reason that advanced anglers do not continue with this method is because the only point this method is likely to draw any strikes is right at the point where your nymph begins to lift off from the depths of the river. The result is a loss of overall effectiveness by using this method because the vast majority of the float of the nymph is “wasted." Next, since the point of the strike will occur directly below you, you need to make sure that you are able to be directly upstream of this point. If, for some reason you can’t get directly upstream of this point, you’re unlikely to get your fly there. By the way, this method does not work very well from a boat. This beginner method is mainly designed for the angler who is fly fishing with nymphs from the shore. While this method is an excellent way for the beginner to get started in nymph fly fishing, there are better methods available.


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NYMPHING: ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

The best method of fly fishing with nymphs is the dead drift method. Remember, nymphs are generally at the mercy of the rivers current, and get carried wherever the current happens to take them. A good and successful angler needs to know how to precisely manipulate the nymph in order to consistently take trout. There are basically three different ways to accomplish a dead drift of a nymph. This is the easier of the two different dead drift nymph fly fishing methods for a wade angler to use. Basically, this method is not much different than dry fly fishing. All you have to do is cast your nymph across and upstream. Pull back any excess line but allow enough for the nymph to dead drift for as long as possible. This also will allow the nymph to sink to the proper depth as well. One method that is the most difficult but is usually used by the novice is using the direct upstream for wade anglers but this is also the most effective technique. It is similar to dry fly fishing when you cast your fly directly upstream of where you happen to be. This method simply requires a lot of practice and diligence. As a matter of fact, beginners can expect to lose many a fish. To do this method, simply cast your nymph directly upstream from where you are standing in the water. As the nymph makes it’s way back down towards you, pull in all excess fly line, striking the balance between allowing the nymph to have a perfectly “drag free” float while at the same time not having to much line out. When you are fishing this way you have to be prepared because you can get a strike anytime because the nymph is floating drag free. Always follow the strike indicator using this method, setting the hook immediately whenever you see the strike indicator stop momentarily in the water or suddenly change direction. Practice and become familiar with this procedure, it won't be too long before you can easily


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tell the difference between a rock strike and a trout strike. In other words, you will come to know the real deal. Don’t be in to big a hurry to pick up the nymph. You can let it float right down almost to your feet. Don't make too much movement either because you will scare all of the fish away. Remember, trout will be facing against the current waiting for their food to arrive and you’ll be downstream from them. So if you don't make a lot of commotion they will never know you are there. The other reason you want the nymph to continue floating towards you is because you want to nymph to come up from the bottom of the river a bit which is mocking an insect coming out of the water. As the nymph gets closer to you, simply raise the rod tip a bit. This will bring the nymph off the bottom of the river and put it in a gradual, but still downstream, incline towards the surface. Once you pick up the fly, you will then want to wade just a bit to your right or left, then make another cast, allowing the nymph to dead drift through another spot in the river that is just a bit away from where your nymph previously floated through. This is a very effective way to do things because you can cover a lot of water in a hurry. If you have a fishing boat, the dead drift method allows you to cover a huge area of water in a hurry and very effectively as well. The great thing about a boat is that you are floating in the water usually at the same speed of the current provided the wind isn’t blowing you around too much. One way is to cast your nymph directly downstream of your fishing boat and make sure that you are paying attention to the current seams (you want your nymph to land in the same current seam that you’re boat is in, so that the drift speed of the nymph will more or less match your boats drift speed). Just let the nymph helplessly float down the river, paying ever so close attention to the strike indicator.

This method also works just as well by casting your fly downstream and a bit across from where your boat is. You don’t want to cast too far across the river, as your fly may end up in a different current than what your boat is in. However, if the current speed is the same, you can let the nymph helplessly float along the various current seams in


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the river for great distances (current seams are a great environment for large, picky trout). Finally, and somewhat less effectively, you can cast your nymph directly upstream from your fishing boat. The reason this is less effective is because your boat just went over the fish which likely scared them away. Another reason is because the trout will also see your fly line. The good news is that there is an advantage to this method, like the wade angler using the direct upstream method; you can simulate a rising nymph by very gradually pulling in line and raising the rod tip, which will bring the nymph off the bottom of the river and closer to the surface. All of the methods of nymph fly fishing require a lot of patience and practice. There is really no other way to learn it except by doing it – just like anything else in fly fishing, really. However, the angler who puts in the time to learn even the basics of nymph fly fishing will be rewarded with better quality fishing – leading to more fish caught and fewer days where you “get skunked”.

NYMPHING: SECRET TECHNIQUES Many anglers have spent hours on the river waiting for the thrill of a strike only to discover that it was not a strike but rather a brush up against a cottonwood branch. There are some secrets that every angler should keep tucked away until the right time comes so when they run across a tough fishing situation they will be able to pull out some itinerary and start with a process of elimination. It's all about what the fish want and how they want to see it. Once you know this and master these techniques, you will be on your way regardless of your fishing challenges.


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First of all, contrary to what many anglers believe, any old rod will not do! It is very important to choose the right rod when fishing in the Trout Rivers is a tremendous help to maximize chances for angling success. One great rule to remember is if you are fly fishing in a small stream then use a short rod and if you are fishing in a large river, use a long rod. A well made 9 foot rod allows a longer, drag free drift on swift streams, necessary because an angler needs to get a fly to the bottom quickly and keep it there as long as possible. The longer the fly is on the bottom the more likely it is to find a hungry trout. If the truth were known, choosing which nymph to use for high-line nymph fly fishing is less critical than choosing the right dry fly for any given presentation. Nymphs are in the water all the time while dry versions of the real thing are there only briefly. No single method produces more fish on the streams when the going gets tough, than high-line (short line) nymphs. Usually, this technique for presenting nymphs is done with no more than a rod and a half's length of fly line extended from the tip; in most cases, just a few feet of fly line is needed. Casts are kept short to minimize having to control a lot of line. Experienced western trout fisherman cast a nymph upstream from a 45 degree angle to the flow to directly upstream, slowly raising the rod tip as the fly sinks to keep slack out of the line. By constantly balancing the amount lifted against the momentum of the approaching fly an adept nymph fisherman can detect and respond instantly to subtle strikes during any moment of presentation - even though he knows the majority of strikes will occur towards the end of the drift. When a drifting, sinking fly is directly in front of a nymph fisherman, the rod tip is raised to it's highest position during the entire presentation, (usually directly overhead) occasionally extending his arm straight out if working a relatively long line. As the fly moves past him he controls his rod tip's fall to keep pace with the water's flow, introducing just enough slack to avoid lifting the fly off the bottom. Frequently, if the water is particularly swift or deep, a small amount of weight is placed from 18 to 24 inches above the nymph. Controlling slack line when drifting a nymph, without imparting any action to make a fly look un-natural, is the single most deadly element


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of perfect nymph fly fishing technique known to western trout anglers - it is the key to consistent success. Accurate casts are something every angler strives to achieve and the best anglers have used "measured casts" for years. Following any cast, experienced fly fishers immediately transfer the fly line from their line hand to their rod hand, placing the line under their index finger to control all line manipulations while fishing out a cast. If short lengths of line need to be retrieved to adjust a presentation, expert fly fishers pull line from behind their rod hand while keeping the line firmly clamped against the cork handle, a practice which also helps to properly set hooks. A deliberately slow, quiet approach to any trout water is as important as choosing the right fly. Advertising your presence is a sure way to put trout on guard or send them on to the nearest hiding place. Many western fly fishers wear clothing that is similarly colored as stream banks and vegetation. The most successful fly fishers hide behind bushes or trees, stoop down low behind rocks, even sit in shallow water to keep out of sight, dropping their fly onto likely looking water only after having thoroughly checked every possible angle and judging where the best chances of success are. Anglers who rarely get skunked know the value of showing a trout the fly first by making sure tippet, leader and line follow behind the fly when drifting towards their quarry, accomplishing that is just a routine action good fly casters automatically do with each fly presentation. To get the best possible presentation, fly casting pros always try to adjust their fly line on the water to float in the same line of drift as the fly. To do so, they "mend" their line, casting to an area they suspect holds fish.

CZECH NYMPH FLY FISHING


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Czech nymph is a special fly and method of nymph fishing that developed in the regions of middle and Eastern Europe. The original Polish nymph was taken over by Czech fishermen during the eighties of the twentieth century. Especially the top Czech competitors have experimented with this new method, developed it and brought it nearly to perfection. The principle of nymph-fishing with Czech nymph is short-distance fishing, practically under the tip of the rod that we are keeping in the outstretched arm. The fly line is hanging under the tip of the rod and its end often does not even touch the water level. Two or three nymph flies of various weights are used. Czech nymphs are weighted flies tied on gammarus hooks, imitating fresh water shrimps or case less larvae of sedge flies. Czech nymph is quite a simple fly regarding its construction. Its characteristic sign is a rounded (bent) gammarus hook that is weighted with lead wire. The body is created from natural or synthetic dubbing. Another typical feature of a Czech nymph is the back, made from latex foil or a material with similar characteristics. A real Czech nymph is always tied as a very thin one, to sink very quickly towards the bottom. The basic method of fishing with Czech nymph is the so called short nymph (rolled nymph). When using this method angler are catching fish practically under the tip of the fly fishing rod and commonly without making use of the fly fishing line, the end of which does not touch the water surface in most situations. After casting upstream anglers leave their flies sink to the bottom gradually and follow their movements downstream with the tip of the rod. They keep the rod in their hand with their arm stretched in front of them all the time. When the flies reach the area under their site, they lift the flies from the bottom with a movement of the rod upwards and cast again.

Czech nymphs are not necessarily to be used only in a short way, but with similar success also in the long way. Then we identify the takes by movements or stop of the line tip. In this way you can fish upstream, across the stream and downstream as well. When fishing


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you can combine both methods (short and long) according to given conditions.

NYMPH FLY FISHING: HIGH STICK

Using the high sticking technique of fly fishing requires using an 8 1/2 or 9 foot and a 6 weight. This type of rod is a good general purpose river rod and can handle the weighted flies you should think about using. If you go much longer or heavier a day's fishing becomes tiring and that rod gets heavy. Don't go much lighter in line weight because if you do you won't have enough rods to handle big fish in heavy current.

Find some broken water. You're looking for boulders, logs, outcroppings and fairly fast water. You should also be seeking depth for protection from birds, shelter from the current and a steady supply of food. Now get as close as you can (remaining downstream and to the side) and drop that fly as far above the pocket as you can without missing the pocket. Drift your fly through the pocket, raising your arm as the fly comes downstream and dropping your arm as the fly drifts below you. If you're working with more than 10 to 15 feet of line outside your tip-top you've got to much line out. Try to keep all of your line off the water. Now pick your line up and do it again and again and again. Try different angles and depths. Don't forget to hang on, when they hit they hit hard.

Put on a fairly long leader, about 8 to 9 feet in length, with a terminal diameter of 2, 3 or 4X. Remember to size the leader to your fly. Tie your fly on with a Duncan loop. You want to use a Duncan loop so that the fly will have good movement in the water.


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PUFFBALL NYMPH FLY FISHING

The puffball is a large poly-yarn indicator that acts as both a float and an indicator, suspending the fly at the chosen depth and signaling the slight hesitation that can mean a take. To rig for puffball nymph fly fishing, start with a 7-foot 4X or 5X tapered leader. Cut a 4-inch length of polypropylene macramé yarn and comb it to separate and fluff up the individual strands. Fold the yarn in half, tie it directly into the end of the tapered leader with a Duncan loop, and pull the loop tight against the indicator. Grease the indicator and trim it to the size you want. For most puffball nymph fly anglers use an indicator about the size of a large olive. Next, use another Duncan loop to tie a length of 5X or 6X tippet around the leader above the indicator and slide the tippet knot down against the indicator; tighten it so that the tippet hangs at 90 degrees to the leader. Add the fly or flies and a bit of weight, and you're ready to fish.

Cast upstream and immediately make a stack mend to flip the line and indicator upstream a few feet. Mend repeatedly to keep the fly drifting naturally. Wiggle out line to extend the downstream drift. Start shallow and add tippet to be certain that you have fished all levels in the water column. Some of the pools are very deep, perhaps as much as 20 feet. Only when the fly ticks the bottom and you are confident that you have fished the entire water column. You might start at six feet and go down in 2-foot increments until your fly drags bottom.


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For this type of fishing use long, progressive-action rods, often with a double-taper line one size heavier than what the rod calls for, to make roll casting easier. Keep your casting loops open to avoid the tangles guaranteed in a system that involves a big, wind-resistant indicator and several feet of fine tippet with BB split-shot. Be patient with the initial challenges of puffball nymph fly fishing; it takes getting used to, but it repays your efforts handsomely.

SHALLOW WATER TECHNIQUES

Fall fishing often means catching fish in very shallow water. Trout feed aggressively in an attempt to put on as much body fat before winter sets in. It is more important to fish the fly where the trout are and again, it is the shallow water zone that you should be focusing your attention on. Damselfly nymphs are hatched in shallow water and tend to stay in the shallows among weed beds where food is plentiful. They may by found in running water but seen to prefer the marshes, ponds and lakes. They usually stay in shallow clean water. Around August, which is traditionally a difficult month for day-time fishing, pockets may be the only answer to saving the blank. Oxygen levels and flow levels have depleted in the pools and fish are forced to move to faster oxygen rich water. Fast shallow water is also the home of the majority of the rivers nymph populations are usually taken from areas with a good flow.


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Damselfly nymph

SALT WATER TECHNIQUES

You can fish deep in salt water at the mouths of rivers; over reefs; around structure, such as a sunken boat or marker; in the many channels between bonefish or redfish flats; and in blue water. Fishing deep with sinking lines, you can easily take tarpon, snook, sea trout, redfish, tripletail, and pompano; many varieties of snapper, grouper and jacks; several species of bonitos and tunas; as well as mackerel, kingfish, bluefish, stripers, and other species. In selecting tackle, you must first decide how deep you need to go and therefore the type and density of the fly line. After that, find the proper rod and then the reel to fight the fish with.

If you need to go very deep, say 20 or 40 feet or more, you need a specialized fly line. While a shooting head of 500 or 850 grains will sink very fast, it often rises on the retrieve and isn't fun to cast. For


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deep-water angling, use a "full" fast-sinking weight-forward line full in that the running line and head are each fast-sinking. These lines are easier to cast and, when retrieved, stay down all the way to the boat, keeping your fly deep for a longer period of time.

Approach a shallow wreck, buoy, or marker with the same care that you approach fish in the flats. You may not see fish streak away as you would see in the flats, but if you are too prominent, you'll spook fish. If you make a noisy approach, you'll catch only the little ones. An electric motor boat will help you approach deep-water targets relatively quiet. If you don't have an electric, try making a calculated drift from more than 100 feet away — and on flat, calm days from 200 feet. Also, some anglers retrieve the fly too fast when they fish a sinking line. Try a slow retrieve. You want the fly to stay deep as long as you can. At 70 feet away, even a subtle strip is imparted to the fly.

Good Luck & Happy Fishing!

what is nymph fishing? - how to fly fish, learn how to fly

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