Nymphing

[Buzz]

I like the indicator method and agree with Ness's post. I prefer to fish with heavy tungsten bead nymphs and an adjustable float seems to help. Indicators are easily and quickly adjustable to meet the changes in depth. I've tried fishing without an indicator, but I've had problems picking up on the strike soon enough to hold the fish. It's still something I'm working on though.

[fishinwrench]

Once you figure out the angle that you leader needs to be at, and learn how to cast/mend in order to "set up the drift"..... you are basically drifting a FISH TRAP. No problem detecting takes even for a blind man. Bobbers make setting the trap impossible.

The only time I use one is if I want to suspend a midge in eddys or really slow water.

[Brian Wise]

Bobbers make setting the trap impossible.

Big statement sir.....

Indicator and no indicator both have their place and are equally suited for their specific water. If you are casting with a 9' leader and a 2 fly rig (making your whole rig 11+') and you are casting say, 30-40+' an indicator will tell you SO much more about what is going on with your drift and flies than the end of your flyline will. Even fishing on the NFOW, where we tend to fish really deep compared to a lot of places....I RARELY have the indicator set anywhere near the flyline because you are all but shooting yourself in the foot with real heavy flies and long casts---unless the fish eat the fly and hang on until it shows up 11' away in your flyline.

But on the other hand, if you are fishing pocket water with an indicator, usually that indicator will totally kill your drift unless you are right on top of it. Most people tend to fish the indicator instead of the flies and say you are casting to a hard seam on a pocket (right behind a rock for instance) if your indicator lands in the "sexy" water you want to fish.....your flies just flew 4+' beyond where you wanted to fish and are being dragged downstream VERY fast.

I guess what I am saying is that, in my eyes, if you can highstick and have no flyline on the water no indicator is usually your best bet.....if you are laying line on the water, I don't see how an indicator is a bad thing.

They both have their place if we are honest with ourselves.....what we "like" to do and what is "best" to do are two totally different things.

[Lancer09]

I gotta second what Brian said. High sticking has been the only way for me to consistently catch fish on a nymph. I would MUCH rather fish a small soft hackle, and not have to have a perfect presentation so that it would be ok if it swings a little bit. I've just never mastered nymphing because time and time again I go back to streamers.

Some of my best fish "nymphing" though have come on small streamers that I drifted instead of swung or stripped.

[ness]

Brian -- I'm having trouble understanding the first paragraph there. So, you've got 11 feet of leader and tippet, and a long cast of 30 feet. Where's the indicator in relation to the end of the line?

Personally, I struggle with casting heavy nymphs on long leaders for deep water -- like you need to do on the NFOW. And, then there's the busting my arse part, but that's off topic. Should I size up from my 3-weight?

[Brian Wise]

Brian -- I'm having trouble understanding the first paragraph there. So, you've got 11 feet of leader and tippet, and a long cast of 30 feet. Where's the indicator in relation to the end of the line?

Personally, I struggle with casting heavy nymphs on long leaders for deep water -- like you need to do on the NFOW. And, then there's the busting my arse part, but that's off topic. Should I size up from my 3-weight?

Somewhere between the flyline and the flies..........

[ness]

Somewhere between the flyline and the flies..........

And if you're fishing in 10-1/2 feet of water, you add leader/tippet or slide that indicator to the line?

[Brian Wise]

And if you're fishing in 10-1/2 feet of water, you add leader/tippet or slide that indicator to the line?

To be honest, if I am fishing 10 1/2 feet of water I would want more like a 20' leader. You don't want your flies directly below your indicator unless you are midging like 1' under an indicator.

haha, I don't know where we are now.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I should point out though that you know your water well enough to set the indicator to the proper depth. If you depend on the indicator to carry your offering you need to know where to set it. I think that is where many of us get into trouble.

[Gavin]

Maybe this will help you out Ness. Tie 3-4' of 30lb mono to your fly line..The Thingamabobber goes there...then tie on 6'-8' of 12lb Flourocarbon, Tie on 12-18" of tippet and a fly. Crimp your split shot (or several) above the tippet knot...and add another fly if you choose. Its been a pretty good NFoW rig....3-4' of bobber depth adjustment on the butt section, and you can take the bobber off if you want to high stick,plus you wont destroy and expensive tapered leader....If I was sight fishing with nymphs on smooth water..I'd use a long tapered leader usually something in the 12'-16' range and no indicator...mabye a palsa, or half of one to help deal with glare on the water.