Need some advice on nymphing...

[jlisk]

Hey guys I know some of you will be able to help me sort through all the contradicting opinionmation out there on this subject.

I am wondering what the best way to present a nymph is or what my options are in terms of techniques (upstream/downstream, indicator/no indicator). I have only been out on the fly 2-3 times now and only landed creek chubs throwing nymphs downstream on a 45 and letting the float down and across the stream. I am not using an indicator just watching the line/feeling for takes. Okay turn over rate on hit but I am missing hits often (if that's because they are tiny creek chub or am I late to notice the hit I am not sure, possibly both).

I am heading north next weekend for some brook trout heaven wanted to get this sorted out before I go.

Cheers,

 

[RobH]

http://www.thehomepool.ca/content/articles/strike_indicators.pdf
Take a look at this.
I believe that starting out, you can't go wrong with an indicator. The easiest way that I can sum up a 101 for indicator fishing would be this: 1/ Begin with less weight than you think you need. It is easier to add weight than take it off. 2/ Start with about 11/2 times the depth of the water you are working for the distance between the weight and the indicator. (if the run is 3 feet deep, go to 41/2 feet.) 3/ Cast about 45 degrees up stream and keep as much of the fly line off the water as possible. This is achieved by lifting the rod tip gradually after the cast but not so quickly that you pull the rig back towards you. Once the indicator is directly in front of you, you can lower on the down stream side of the drift. If your indicator is going at about the same rate of speed as the bubbles around it, you're close. 4/ Make adjustments to your distance between indicator and weight or the amount of weight until you get to a point that you are setting the hook on every 5th or 6th cast, be it bottom or fish. If you are setting the hook on every cast, odds are good that you have too much weight. If you are not setting at all, just the opposite. Hope this helps.

 

[jlisk]

Thanks for the advice and the article was a good read.

I picked up some indicators to throw in my vest I will definitely (see; grudgingly) put one on to try out this weekend and will work on some upstream casting with it.

 

[Jacklake]

The only thing I would add to the excellent response above is to make obvious what has been implied. Nymphs typically get knocked off the rocks and debris at the bottom of the river and drift along NEAR the BOTTOM at the same rate as the current. Therefore your imitation (bobber used or not) should mimic that nymph behaviour. Your previous method of down-and-across would be better used with wet flies, where they would imitate emerging (flies) nymphs.

 

[jlisk]

Interesting so I should be looking to let my nymph bounce along/close to the bottom letting the current at the bottom provide the action/speed to the nymph.

 

[jlisk]

Went out to the creek 5 mins from my house to practice technique on the creek chubs... caught a brook trout. I think that was one of the most unlikely places to catch a brook trout in years.

 

[ChaseChrome]

Here's some high sticking action by the boy...​

Good Luck J​

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cc​

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View attachment 11768​

 

[Max Cohen]

the best way to nymph is czech nymphing me as a competition angler it is very dear to my heart here are some beginner videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNJpSQFB0KM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIvXSB2xFwM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpPaOi58BvQ

 

[Icehut]

Nymphing is a weird way to fly fish. It is filled with paradoxes. It eliminates the pleasure of the cast in exchange for, supposedly, the ability to entirely vacuum the bottom of fish. You must use lots of lead, and a weighted fly, to get to bottom quickly, but the lousy "strike indicator" will only float a millionth of a gram. Trout are supposedly super-spooky, yet here you are pitching a big splattering mess of styrofoam and lead at them. Trout are so spooky, you'll never catch a big one unless you can cast 60', yet here you are nymphing with one rod length of line. You must have slack, so the fly floats naturally, yet slack ensures you'll never get set the hook in time. It's incredibly boring and repetitive; an hour here and there is all most can bear, which means very few will ever achieve mastery.

What nobody seems to mention is the time it takes to master it. It's a zen thing. Do it all day for two weeks. You must be in the zone, and fully concentrating, and that's not that easy. Upside is that that complete, perfect concentration is a big reason we fish, every worry drops away as you focus on one thing.

A trout will sample and reject your fly in one third of a second. (Don't believe me, find some clear water and watch fish, even carp, feeding.)

So, most hits, even using the strike indicator, will go un-noticed. And the one in ten you do notice, odds are you'll end up with a tree fish after setting the hook on nothing. Constantly re-rigging, pitching lead, arm aching, not a lot of fun... until something monstrous engulfs your fly and makes your day.

I can offer a few suggestions if you really want to pursue it. Tie your flies with lead; use enough micro-shot and adjust your depth to conditions, so that you're losing flies regularly. Lighten your tippet so that the fly drifts naturally, and use a rod that can handle a large fish on a very light tippet. Drop the size of your fly to something that most guys wouldn't think to pitch. Tie it in the round, (no top and bottom) as drifting flies do not actually tumble, and make it drab and scraggly. Make a screen and find out what is actually drifting along and crawling about the rocks. Buy all the bobbers you can find and figure out which you like. Never false cast. Police your line and watch it like a hawk, slack is death, be in control of your line the second it lands, and mend it. Fish a SHORT line, more upstream than across. Have a clear idea of the water you are fishing, via checking it out when the water is low. Fish with hope and confidence. Put the time in.

Hope this helps.