Upstream Nymphing

[ozark trout fisher]

I was wondering when you guys are fishing upstream with nymphs how you detect the strike. I have always fished the down and across method, and I've never really heard of people doing it any other way till I got on this site. Of course on the down and across method, detecting a strike is super easy, but I'd have no idea how to go about it on a straight upstream cast without using an indicator? (which I try not to use on smaller streams, because I'm convinced they scare fish). I was thinking it would solve the problem pretty well to just use a great big hopper or some other high floating dry as an indicator. Sorry for the stupid question.

[trout fanatic]

Whoops! wrong thread

[Paola Cat]

I use a small strike indicator or I use the high stick nymphing technique. I took this off another website re: high stick nymphing: "Once you've found the section of river you are going to tackle, position yourself downstream of the drift your are attempting. Strip out just enough line to cover the water you are drifting, and gently flip your nymph upstream.

As the fly lands and sinks, gently lift your rod tip to remove any slack between yourself and the fly, taking care to keep your fly line out of and off of the water.

Now, move your rod tip downstream at the same speed that your nymph and the current are travelling. As the nymph drifts downstream, it will bounce along the rocks and other debris that sit below the water surface.

If you see a slight pause or anything abnormal happening with the line, give a gentle snap with your rod to set the hook."

That's how I do it.

PC

[Rolan Duffield]

Good report Paola Cat. Thats how we fished nymphs back in the old days (50's, 60's, etc.) as we didn't have or know about strike indicators. This is actually a better method to use in moving water conditions. What your watching is the belly in your fly line for any change in the angle or movement. I was using this technique during the high water conditions.

Rolan

[ozark trout fisher]

Good report Paola Cat. Thats how we fished nymphs back in the old days (50's, 60's, etc.) as we didn't have or know about strike indicators. This is actually a better method to use in moving water conditions. What your watching is the belly in your fly line for any change in the angle or movement. I was using this technique during the high water conditions.

Rolan

Thanks for the help guys. Just out of curiosity, do you all agree that on the smaller trout waters where trout tend to be wary, strike indicators are detrimental to success?

I would love to learn how to become proficient as upstream nymphing, as I really think it will be helpful on the smaller creeks. Sure, I can get away with fishing down and across on some parts of the Little Piney or the Current, but it's a pretty tough sell on the really little creeks where the fish are super skittish.

[Paola Cat]

On the really small streams ... it's the best way to go (my opinion). No long casts ..... just flips into the likely looking spots. No need for the strike indicator. Not really sure how detrimental the strike indicator really is .... if you keep it small like a palsa .... you'd probably be OK. PC

[flyfishmaster]

I cannot add any better detail to PC's info, he hit it right on the head. He and I have the same fishing sytle.

Later,

FFM

[Phil Lilley]

When we fished with Kyle Kosovich on the North Fork, he used a french style method. It took some getting used to for me... He used a red color piece of leader tied about 6 feet from the fly as a mark so he could tell how much leader/tippet was in the water. Made short casts upstream in heavy flow and held the stick high, actually pulling the line/fly downstream. This is what was hard for me to do. The strike was hard and there was no question about it. Since you're pulling the fly down, there's no slack so whatever the fly hits, you feel. He used very heavily weighted bead head nymphs.

[dgames]

I feel somewhat ignorant asking, but what exactly is the down & across method of fishing nymphs. Are you swinging the nymphs or are you getting a drag free drift? I assume the strike detect is by feel.

My experience is mainly with dead nymphing with an indicator although I have done a little high sticking as well. When I use an indicator, I try to imagine that my indicator is a dry fly. As such, I try to make the indicator drift as drag free as possible and tend to do lots of little mends to keep drag off the indicator. Since I am trying to drift my indicator like a dry fly, I try to wade into a position where I can make my cast almost as straight upstream as possible so I can get as long a drag free drift as possible.

On small water where I think an indicator would spook fish, I go with a dry fly/bead head dropper combo.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Just out of curiosity, do you all agree that on the smaller trout waters where trout tend to be wary, strike indicators are detrimental to success?

I agree your description is accurate, but someone mention watching the fly line and I think the point the leader enters the water is the indicator. As far as an indicator goes I do believe it can be detrimental, especially where its heavily used.

A couple more points, the tippet for nymphing should be soft, even when high sticking, but short. I also think 9-10' rods are best.