Stonefly Nymphing

[gentlemang]

Just started this thread as a result of the questions on the Bow river reports.

 

This year has been one of my most sucessful years of fishing the bow since I have been stomping the banks.

Over the last 2 years I have been focused on nymphing techniques, reading some books and spending lots of time on the river.

Here is what is working for me lately.

 

The Setup:

corky indicator, I have also used other types but I prefer this one.

I typically use a 8lb tapered leader about 9' long

The indicator mounted on the leader approximately 1 1/4 to 2 times the water depth above the first nymph. This all depends on how fast the water is. The faster the water the longer the space.

Stonefly nymph seen in picture tied to the leader through the eye. with another piece of 6lb tippet tied to the back of the hook about 12 to 14" to a wire worm tied through the eye. Lately I have been using a little lighter wire worms because I have been fishing slower water and find that they are still effective in getting to the bottom, but result in less snags.

I use the wire worm mostly for weight but do have days where the fish are liking them.

I prefer the heaviest hook on the bottom of the rig, but typically catch the fish with the top hook.

 

The Technique

Most of the time that i spend is on the bank, not wading into the water. The coloured water of runoff allows you to fish really close to the shore without being seen by the trout. Keep your footfalls light, vibrations will also put the fish down. I am not a very stealthy guy but have learned that approach to the water is extremely important, more so when the water clears up and the fish start rising.

I usually work upstream when nymphing, I find more success casting to water that I haven't walked/ stood by.

I start with a cast upstream about 1 to 2' from the bank, approximately 15' of line at most. then flip the indicator upstream of the nymphs. For me this method really helps with having the nymphs travel naturally with the current and not be pulled down the river by the indicator.

It is important that the bottom hook is bouncing along the bottom, but not sticking, If you find that it is sticking then adjust the indicator down the leader shortening the length between the indicator and top hook.

As the rig flows down river I will flip the indicator back upstream once or twice during the float. Once the indicator has reached straight downstream then I usually just cast it back upstream a little further out (4 to 6") from the bank and allow it to flow downstream again. if the water gets much deeper I will stop and adjust the indicator up to increase the length, so that the worm is still bumping along the bottom. Ill continue this until I am casting out about 10' from the shore.

 

The Hookset

Trout love to eat, but i've found that they are not like a northern Pike where they attack the lure and it takes a pair of pliers to reach down thier throat to release the hook.

I like to think of them as taste testers, take a little in thier mouth and then spit it out if they dont like it. So under this assumption there is very little time to set the hook and I find often that I have missed the fish by the time that I react.

Watch the indicator and the line below the indicator, if either pauses in its travel downstream it could be the hooks on the bottom or better yet a fish tasting. Set the hook every time!!!!!!!!!! If it looks fishy set the hook!!!!!!! If it looks like the indicator nudged over to one side set the hook!!!!!!!! If you have a gut feeling that something happened below the surface Set the hook!!!!!!!!! Set the hook, Set the hook, Set the hook!!!!

I do this by moving my rod sharply to the side downstream of the indicator, sometimes I just flip the indicator back upstream if there is nothing there or just pick the whole rig up and cast it back upstream for another float. More often than not Ill have set the hook on some type of twich in the indicator before the rig makes the full travel downstream.

 

Ill cast 20 or 30 times from one position and then move upstream 5 or 10 feet and repeat. If it seems to me there is a fish there toying with me Ill cast the same spot several times.

 

Hope this helps some of the new guys out there.

Nymphing is not pretty, not elegant like dry fly fishing and to some it is not even considered true fly fishing.

I don't care, it is what works for me in this cloudy water.

Thanks

Greg

PS Rickr has done an excellent article called the Nymphing primer, worth a read.

[Flyfisher]

Good post. Clear and succinct.

[Hawgstoppah]

Looks like you've taken that one day last spring learning how to set the hook to heart!! good to hear it! Glad you are having success out there! The bow really is fishing well, just had two great days friday & saturday

[gentlemang]

Looks like you've taken that one day last spring learning how to set the hook to heart!! good to hear it! Glad you are having success out there! The bow really is fishing well, just had two great days friday & saturday

Absolutely have. Have also refined my techniques a considerable amount since as well. Thanks Brian.

 

[DiabeticKripple]

Great post.

 

Being a greenie when it comes to this, that explanation helped a lot. I've only caught 1-2 on the nymphs, rest on dries.

 

I find it's hard to decide what to use. Usually I'll throw on a jimmy legs, wire worm, or prince. I'll have to get a couple stones now and work those hard.

 

If anyone wants to help me learn you can PM me and we can meet up on the river next week.

[Roast]

Great post. Some excellent info there:)