Nymphing

Mik of Tamanawis (from Edinburgh, Scotland) has an interesting post entitled “Nymphing smymphing” about some nymphing techniques and resources he has found useful. There are a couple of great pictures of nymphs, too. No boys – not the nymphs you’re looking for in the pub on Friday night – but the ones that satisfy the fish we try to catch.

I’ve never used a strike indicator. Perhaps I’ve missed fish because of that. It’s been my experience that most of my nymphing success comes during some stripping of the line, either on a retrieve, or when just attempting to give the nymph some movement in the water. Although I haven’t kept many records (something I intend on doing), I’ve found soft hackled nymphs, unweighted, more effective in faster water and simply drifted, while heavier nymphs with weighted beadheads work best in deeper pools and while stripping line.

But then, this could just be my technique (or lack of technique!). But regardless, I’ve caught good fish with the above in mind. I’ve also found that smallmouth bass seem to love to hit a nymph on the retrieve. Ahhh.. smallmouth bass – something our Scottish friends really need to experience some day!

Back to nymphing – here is a primer on Czech Style nymphing.