Nymphing For Rainbows

[flyrodman]

The two things you must accomplish to catch fish, above anything else, IMO are: a natural drift and getting the fly to where the fish are eating.

Drag free drift: With a heavily weighted fly you can catch fish. You will not catch as many though due to the anchoring effect and micro drag. The heavy fly simply will not float as naturally as the same fly in an unweighted version. Also if the fly it's self is weighted you will not get as many takes and experience more hang ups on the stream bottom due to the fly's tendency to anchor on the bottom. To offset these undesired effects it is advisable to place the weight onto the tippet or leader rather than the fly. In doing so you allow the unweighted fly to drift much more naturally. Also the split shot or other form of weight will be in contact with the bottom more as opposed to the fly. The split shot is exponentially less likely to hang up, but is still susceptible to the ill effects of anchoring. As such, it is my preference to place the split shot (or weight of your choosing) between the two flies maintaining at least a direct line of contact with atleast the top fly. This is very important for feeling or seeing the strike whether you use an indicator or not, as previously touched on in this thread.

Getting the fly to where the fish are eating: We will assume here, since we are discussing nymphing, that we want to the fly to be at or on the bottom. If you don't use an indicator, problem solved. If you do, it is imperative that you use an indicator that is not only easy to move, but will stay where you put it until you move it again. For the reason I use foam indicators that are held in place with a toothpick. One and one half times the water depth is the previously mentioned rule of thumb and a great starting point that you can tweak from based on actual conditions such as water flow. By using an indicator that is easily movable you do not have to waste hardly any tippet or leader. Tie your leader on as long as you will need and are comfortable casting with. Then add you desired amount of tippet above first fly, I usually use approximately 24 inches which yields around 18-20 inches after tying and trimming tag ends. I then use a little less to tie my dropper on, placing the desired size of split shot half way between the two flies. In using the longest leader you think you will need and can still cast and a movable indicator you are able to use the same leader all day and should not have to go through any tippet based purely on depth changes. (Mic read: leave the super glue at home for honey dos and bring the toothpicks for your indicators after you get the kind with the hole in the middle and you will use much less leader and tippet material)

Again, you can catch fish with other methods and tactics of weight/leader rigging, but if you use these tactics and eliminate the micro drag and anchoring effects you will get more takes, not miss as many takes as pointed out by DuckyDoty, not have as many hang ups (but still have the flies where you want them) and waste less leader and tippet material. Essentially you can turn your good days into great ones.

Hope this helps mic and others.

That was the most helpful thing i read in my topic,About the nymphos...

[rainbowtrouttracker]

Well you see FRM, The equation E=mc2 solves it... think about...

[flyrodman]

Well you see FRM, The equation E=mc2 solves it... think about...

...No it doesnt

[FishinCricket]

That was the most helpful thing i read in my topic,About the nymphos...

Yeah, sorry about that.. In the forum world I'm known as a "troll"... Subspecies: Hijacker (as well as Gravedigger, on occasion)

Again, my apologies...

[flyrodman]

Yeah, sorry about that.. In the forum world I'm known as a "troll"... Subspecies: Hijacker (as well as Gravedigger, on occasion)

Again, my apologies...

Its ok Mr. Troll, no need for apologies

[FishinCricket]

Its ok Mr. Troll, no need for apologies

Oh, okay... Sorry..

[Zach Bearden]

http://troutlegend.com/forum/fips-mouche-tech-talk-37/technique-master-list/

That hyperlink will give you a lot of answers about czech and polish stuff.

If you've got questions about how or why without an indicator, that's the forum you want to go to. Most of us are competition anglers and surely someone can get you an answer if it's not in a previous post.

[Danoinark]

Oh, shoot... I thought the title was "Nymphos for Rainbows".... Sounds like a pretty exclusive club!

[laker67]

The two things you must accomplish to catch fish, above anything else, IMO are: a natural drift and getting the fly to where the fish are eating.

Drag free drift: With a heavily weighted fly you can catch fish. You will not catch as many though due to the anchoring effect and micro drag. The heavy fly simply will not float as naturally as the same fly in an unweighted version. Also if the fly it's self is weighted you will not get as many takes and experience more hang ups on the stream bottom due to the fly's tendency to anchor on the bottom. To offset these undesired effects it is advisable to place the weight onto the tippet or leader rather than the fly. In doing so you allow the unweighted fly to drift much more naturally. Also the split shot or other form of weight will be in contact with the bottom more as opposed to the fly. The split shot is exponentially less likely to hang up, but is still susceptible to the ill effects of anchoring. As such, it is my preference to place the split shot (or weight of your choosing) between the two flies maintaining at least a direct line of contact with atleast the top fly. This is very important for feeling or seeing the strike whether you use an indicator or not, as previously touched on in this thread.

Getting the fly to where the fish are eating: We will assume here, since we are discussing nymphing, that we want to the fly to be at or on the bottom. If you don't use an indicator, problem solved. If you do, it is imperative that you use an indicator that is not only easy to move, but will stay where you put it until you move it again. For the reason I use foam indicators that are held in place with a toothpick. One and one half times the water depth is the previously mentioned rule of thumb and a great starting point that you can tweak from based on actual conditions such as water flow. By using an indicator that is easily movable you do not have to waste hardly any tippet or leader. Tie your leader on as long as you will need and are comfortable casting with. Then add you desired amount of tippet above first fly, I usually use approximately 24 inches which yields around 18-20 inches after tying and trimming tag ends. I then use a little less to tie my dropper on, placing the desired size of split shot half way between the two flies. In using the longest leader you think you will need and can still cast and a movable indicator you are able to use the same leader all day and should not have to go through any tippet based purely on depth changes. (Mic read: leave the super glue at home for honey dos and bring the toothpicks for your indicators after you get the kind with the hole in the middle and you will use much less leader and tippet material)

Again, you can catch fish with other methods and tactics of weight/leader rigging, but if you use these tactics and eliminate the micro drag and anchoring effects you will get more takes, not miss as many takes as pointed out by DuckyDoty, not have as many hang ups (but still have the flies where you want them) and waste less leader and tippet material. Essentially you can turn your good days into great ones.

Hope this helps mic and others.

Very good description Jason. I hope I remember your name correctly. You have learned well.

[Trout Commander]

Very good description Jason. I hope I remember your name correctly. You have learned well.

You got it right, Rick. And thank you for the kind words, it means a lot considering the source. I do have to say that I have had a great bunch of teachers though.

Fishing rain or shine tomorrow. Will be implementing said tactics if anyone wants to hook up and do some fishing look me up. White Jeep Commander and will have a blue-gray NY Yankees hat and an orange gear pack on my back. Or message me for my cell number.