METHODS OF FISHING NYMPHS

UPSTREAM DEAD-DRIFT METHOD
 
This may be the most popular method of fishing nymphs and is best used on streams where water is less than 3 feet deep and flow is slow to moderately fast. The nymph is cast upstream or upstream and across to a fish (as in sight fishing) or drifting your fly over water where you feel a Trout will be holding. The cast, fishing the drift, and strike are no different than for the dry fly. You cast to the rise and you strike to the rise. When the prehatch becomes a full hatch, you simply take off the nymph, tie on the proper dry fly and continue fishing

FISHING VISIBLE
Cast 5 to 15 feet upstream of a visible Trout’s lie, depending on the water depth and current speed, to give the fly time to sink. Don’t false cast directly over the fish. Follow the drift with your rod tip as the fly sinks to the bottom. Take up excess slack with your line hand careful not to draw the line too tight and create drag on the fly. Mend as little as possible so as not to spook the fish. 

If the Trout ignores your fly, complete the drift to avoid spooking it and cast again. It may take several drifts before the fly arrives at the right spot and at the right moment for a take When casting to a visible fish which is not cruising but, feeding stationary, try to determine if it is feeding to the right or the left If it’s next to weed growth it is probably feeding to that side. 

When a Trout repositions itself, wait until you see which side it is feeding and make your cast. When a fish goes for a nymph it usually turns at the instant it picks up the nymph. This would be the time to raise your rod tip. The flash of a trout’s flank also signals your time to strike. 

Other times to set your hook are if the fish moves to the side, lifts, increases its tail movement or opens its mouth. Remember, Trout don’t grab food they inhale it so don’t strike too soon. Correct timing will come with experience

FISHING CLEAR CALM WATER
On slow spring creeks and smooth clear runs of larger freestone rivers you’ll often see Trout feeding on the bottom in water 2 to 3 feet deep. If you drop a standard shot-and indicator rig into the water you will probably spook the fish. A weighted nymph fished on a longer leader is better suited for shallow sight fishing for Trout on the bottom. However, this wouldn’t be your choice for fishing blind because, the long leader makes it difficult to detect a take. Under these conditions the leader would be 12 to 14 feet, the tippet 5X to 7X with nymphs in sizes 12 to 20. A 3-5-weight rod from 8-9 feet would be a good choice. If you are having trouble seeing the takes, try attaching a small yarn strike indicator in a natural color. This will land softly and hopefully won’t distract the fish.

THE SEWYER METHOD
 
Was developed by Frank Sewyer who originated the Pheasant Tail nymph and a deadly method for nymph fishing. However, this method requires seeing the fish and accurate casting. This method is not a good choice in streams where water is too turbulent to spot Trout. 

This famous English fly fisher is associated with the Wiltshire Avon in England since 1927 and is probably the best nymph fisherman this country has produced. In England there is a great difference in the makeup of insect structures in streams compared to this country. Particularly in chalk streams, there is about one tenth the number of mayfly species however, these British streams are so loaded with aquatic life ( quantity, not variety) that the fish feed on little else. 

It was the late Mr. Sewyer who first discovered that nymphal forms quite active and those that are carnivorous are very vigorous and swim with an undulating wiggle of the body. The cast is made far enough that the fly will drift to the same level in the water column as the Trout. Here you must read the current and know how quickly your nymph sinks so you will know how far to cast upstream so the current will deliver your nymph precisely to the Trout.

THE REACH CAST will help you to avoid placing your line too close to a fish and spooking it by allowing you to present your fly several feet above the fish while the line and leader land off to one side. At the end of your forward power-snap simply move your rod arm, as if it were an extension of the fly rod, upstream as far as you can reach. To avoid shortening the cast you will need to "shoot” some line from your linehand to replace what you lost from the reach.

This technique seems very simple but, requires a great of deal of practice to place the nymph within inches of the trout, with no drag. The take may not be obvious; the fish just opens its mouth and sips in the fly. Pay attention to the fly but, also watch where the leader enters the water. If the leader shows unusual movement, set the hook. This delicate method of fishing requires a 7 1/2 to 9 foot, 3-5 weight rod, a floating line and a 9-to-12-foot leader with 5X to 7X tippet. Precise nymph imitations are not needed. The Pheasant Tail, Quill Gordon and Black Quill nymphs are good choices.

 
In The LEISENRING LIFT as in the Sawyer method, you must be able to see your fly during the presentation. James Leisenring (“Big Jim”) of Pensylvania is considered by those who knew him as the most skilled wet-fly fisherman in the east. 

Mr. Leisenring’s flies were chosen for color and action more than shape because he was mostly fishing prior to hatches and felt action was more important than shape.He obtained the motion by both elevating the fly and using soft-hackle to make the fly appear alive. 

This method has become so popular because it appears to be an easy method, it works when there are no hatches taking place, and it’s probably the most deadly nymph method known. The action of many mayflies and nearly all caddis species, several hundred of them, at hatching time is well imitated by this method. 

Because caddis use an air bubble to raise to the surface when leaving the bottom to become winged adults, the Leisenring method is especially deadly during their hatch. Here action is the most decisive factor. 

Leisering found that he could imitate the rising arc of the natural by drifting a nymph within a foot or two of the Trout and then stopping the rod, which caused the current to lift the fly as if it were swimming to the surface to emerge.

 As with the Sawyer method you must know the current speed and sink rate of your nymph. Today, many modify the technique by not only stopping the rod as Leisenring did but, raising it at the same time creating what some believe to be a more attractive action. 

The Sawyer and Leisenring lift methods are just as effective when you’re fishing soft-hackle or wet flies

 
THE HIGH-STICK METHOD, which many refer to as pocket-water nymphing because you're fishing at very close range in rough, tumbling water, is one of the most productive types of nymphing. High-sticking originated centuries ago as a method of dapping dry flies into pocket-water.

Todays anglers have found it works equally well with nymphs. Boulder-strewn, medium-to-high-gradient streams with pocket-water will often hold Trout and often big ones.The current that whirls around rocks creates eddies, plunge pools, scour holes and whirl pools that briefly catch nymphs and other underwater creatures, forming a trap where Trout can easily feed.

Pocket-water can be difficult to fish with constant drag because small eddies in wild conflicting current makes it difficult in getting your fly down. The, trick is to get your nymph quickly through the swift, turbulent water and allow it to swirl down there drag free. Rarely will you cast more than 12 to 15 feet.
 

This technique involves making a series of controlled shoreline drifts, lifting your rod above the water to take up slack as it forms. With the leader dangling into the water, you will not need an indicator but, since often only the leader is on the water you must constantly concentrate on it, noting the slightest pause or twitch.

Because the nymph may swiftly pass by resulting in the Trout having little time to inspect your fly and the poor visibility, make repeated cast to the same spot, reaching out slightly farther on each subsequent drift. 

After thoroughly covering the upstream and down stream pockets of a boulder, move upstream to the next boulder. A combination of turbulent water and slow careful movements will allow you to fish close to your quarry. An 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 foot rod will make it easier to lift the line off the water to control slack. Any type of floating line will do since little casting is required. 

Because most or all of the fly line should be kept out of the water, use a leader 7 1/2 to 9 feet long. The more turbulent the water, the heavier your leader can be. In most situations a 3X to 5X tippet will do. Trout holding along the edge of fast currents have little time to inspect your fly; they will dart into the current and grab it. Subsurface flies that represent a broad range of aquatic insects will work with this technique. 

At times a bead head imitation will catch many more fish than the same pattern minus the bead head. This may be because the bead head gets the fly down deeper and adds a bit of fish-attracting sparkle. The bead head Pheasant Tail, Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear and Zug Bug would be good choices for high-sticking.

 
This method works best where the bottom is level with an average depth of 2 to 4 feet. 

This method is especially effective when fish are spooky and a careful drift is a must. Although you can fish blind with this method, it’s best used in situations where you can locate your fish before casting. 

The heavier part of the leader will float on the surface, while the 5X to 7X tippet hangs vertically down in the water. In this way the fly and the indicator drift in the same water column, reducing the effect of conflicting currents, which, in turn, reduces drag. The fly will have a more natural action which makes it easier to detect. 

Any fly will work as long as it’s weighted just enough to keep it at right angles to the indicator. Split shot is not normally used, but can be added if necessary. If the leader won’t float well, grease it with line dressing, for in effect, the heavy portion of the leader is like a long bobber.

The tippet is attached to the leader with an improved clinch knot resulting in a right angle or hinged leader connection which positions the indicator over the nymph. The indicator is made from a section of highly buoyant polypropylene yarn in a bright color such as yellow or pink dressing the indicator with floatant will help it maintain a high float.
 

 
Given ultraclear conditions and smart Trout that have lots of opportunity to detect anything unnatural, dangling a split shot sometimes serves as a warning to fish. Whenever you encounter wary Trout in quiet deep pools of exceptional clarity you have several problems to solve. First, a light line of between 3 to 5 weight without split shot or a heavy bright indicator is needed. Under these conditions replace the split shot with weighted nymphs and long leaders of 12 to 14 feet attached to from 5X to 7X tippets. 

Nymphs that feature natural, flexible movements will do better with their more lifelike appearance. In quiet pools, weighted nymphs in sizes 12 to 20 sink quickly and easily reaching the bottom with no added weight When casting to a Trout, try to present the fly to within inches of the fish and watch for any movement that would indicate a take. This could be anything from the opening of the mouth to a flick of the tail. If you have trouble determining the take add a small indicator in a neutral color.

This is not a good choice for fishing blind because of the extra long leader makes it difficult to detect the take.
  

 
The late Charles Brooks, fishing legend from West Yellowstone, Montana, developed this method to catch large Trout that hug the bottom in deep, fast, boulder-filled runs. Mr. Brooks lived within “miles and miles” of water that favored this method.

These big fish rarely move for a dry fly, and nymphs on light tackle do not get down deep enough to be effective. The Brooks method is similar to high sticking except short leaders (3 to 6 feet) with added weight; sinking lines; and heavy weighted nymphs are needed in the faster, deeper water. A 8-to 9- foot rod in an 8 or 9 weighted is needed to handle the weighted line, leader and fly. 

Some anglers will stay away from the Brooks method because of the heavy tackle, difficulty (danger) in wading these turbulent waters and the physical casting style .Brooks himself said, “Most people agee with my estimate of its effectiveness but that it’s not pleasant to do. Many never acquire the skill and timing of the strike. Others become furious at the many missed strikes and the frustration drives them to other methods”.

These fast, boulder filled waters is stonefly water therefore, the nymph should be large and well weighted.

Popular  NYMPHS  For Quiet Waters
 

TOP ROW : PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH, QUILL GORDON NYMPH, ZUG BUG
SECOND ROW : BLACK QUILL, ORANGE SCUD, ALL-PURPOSE DARK
THIRD ROW : WOOLY BUGGER, MARSCH BROWN, DARK HENDRICKSON
BOTTOM ROW: BRASS-HEAD PHEASANT TAIL, BRASSIE, BEAD-HEAD PEACOCK

TOP ROW : HELLGRAMMITE and BOX CANYON STONE
SECOND ROW : BROOKS STONEFLY and DAVE'S STONEFLY NYMPH
BOTTOM ROW: BLACK STONE and BEAD-HEAD STONEFLY