Basic European Nymphing Line and Leader Setup with George Daniel

[@pjreilly3997]

If you think the video is good.....which it is....take a lesson with George. I'd been fly fishing for 30 years before I took my lesson with him, and I learned more in that day than I did in 30 years on the water. This guy is legit!

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

You're too kind PJ. I hope you stay healthy and well during these times. I hope all is well...

[@mjddsc]

George well done; your insight and guidance - as always - is clearly communicated, actionable and something that I can apply now with confidence.

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

Thank you for taking the time to watch!

[@scottmauricio-rn2gr]

I have been dry fly fishing for 20 years and switch to euro nymphing about 5 years ago and your videos literally taught me everything and then some. Your amazing and have mentored me without ever physically being able to fish with you. I am forever grateful for you!!!

[@steveloudon7491]

Hello. New to this. You refer to a thin low mass "fly line" at 2:42. Just to clarify, you use this specialized lighter fly line and some of it is outside the rod? The reason I ask is I hear other people say they just use heavy Maxima as their fly line. What are your thoughts on this? thanks.

[@FishingWorld23hg]

Very good and wonderful video. I really enjoy watching your videos. I wish you lots of health and success 💪

[@justforplaylists5767]

You have a vid re: wool indicator. You mention “Castable Euro line with mass”. Can you elaborate? Size, Brand, etc…? Thank you Mark

[@47flyfisher]

Hi George. What knot do you use to connect your Euro line to the 15# Maxima? Thanks.

[@farhansheikh8185]

Great video - thanks. Question: I find it difficult to maintain a straight line with the euro nymphing technique in windy conditions. Any suggestions? Thanks

[@ym99100]

*I bought these and used them at the river where I get snags often they have done a **enjoyable.fishing** recommend great job of not breaking along with some strong line I purchased as well. They are super durable and easy to use.*

[@gregkosinski2303]

My chameleon had pretty bad memory. Have you found a best way to get those coils out?

[@darrenwishard5412]

Great Video George!!. What is the advantage, if there is one, between the Euro Nymphing Leader and the Mono Leader??

[@XtremeLaplander]

Hi, do you still consider Lazar line is the best for euro nymphing? In your previous video you had 12.4lb white Cortland mono instead of 15lb maxima added to Lazar line, which is better in your opinion? Many fly fishers here in Finland use just long 0.20-0.25mm thin level indicator line added with tippet for euro nymhing for better contact, have you used and what do you think about this setup?

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

I do like the heavy lazar line especially when fishing large heavy rigs, when I plan to jig streamers in the winter time. Plus many (including myself) find it easier to manage mono that is thicker than level sighter material. With that being said, the rig you're describing is absolutely the best formula for nymphing. I was turned on to this level sighter/leader system five years ago by french American guide named on Antoine on the Farmington River in Conn and it's amazing-simple the most sensitive system out there. If I was competing again...this would be a system I would use all the time but I tend to use rigs that are more universal for my own personal and guiding days on the water. Thanks for the message

[@petteripunakuono05]

Great video. I have a question about the depth youre fishing and how to detect a drop off in waters you have not fished before. For example, if you fish a pool thats three feet deep, and there is a spot that is 5 feet deep, can you spot that somehow from your indicator or do you just have to know where the drop offs are to be able to fish them effeciently? Thank you!

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

Hi, usually you'll see a slight change of behavoir within the sighter...one that twitches when rolling stream bottom to flat lining when the flies are no longer riding along bottom. Also, one of my favorite ways to locate drop offs when I can't clearly see bottom is using a drop shot tactic where I'm dragging weight on stream bottom. You'll easily feel the shot rolling the bottom and often you'll feel the ticking stop when either a fish has taken a fly or more likely...when the depth increases and the flies no longer roll bottom. Hope this helps

[@petteripunakuono05]

@@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing Never thought of that, certainly helps. Thank you!

[@coreystoner4129]

Great info bud. When in doubt keep it simple. My nymphing leader is literally 10’ long to the ring then another 10-11 feet of tippet. A little overkill but I can always adjust for depth

[@TroutDaze]

Sounds like what I run as well. I rarely have fly line out the end of the rod. I think with his formula you would have. Short but simple euro leader. May have to try it on some small mtn creeks.

[@coreystoner4129]

@@TroutDaze keep it stupid simple is what I tell people or kiss but you can use it on mountain streams but I have used it on big fishing creek and had no issues

[@alexargyros7186]

Thank you, George. Could you tell me what you think of the micro-thin leaders(for example, a leader that consists entirely of 4x tippet, or 4x sighter material) that are increasingly popular in the comp world?

[@spikeconley]

Devin Olsen is a proponent of this style of leader. It is more difficult to cast for beginners, but sags less and have better sensitivity. He sells 3 styles: thin, thinner, thinnest.

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

see below message/summary below.

[@alexargyros7186]

@@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing I'm sorry, but I don't see where your comments are.

[@xoshooter]

@@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing Hi George....did you post the reply yet? I don't see it. Thanks for the continuing education.

[@sliprig]

Great video! Questions: 1. Can you use fly line backing for the sighter? 2. I fish tail waters with mosty midge flies, does this technique work with such small flies? Thanks.

[@gt_outdoorexcursions]

Fly backing would probably create a little more drag in the water and affect the drift, plus would more than likely be thicker diameter than the maxima section, probably best to stick with mono or fluro in something with a similar diameter or smaller than the maxima section before it. Im sure if you had a colored monofilament in a color you could easily see in the same diameter or slightly smaller than the maxima that would work fine as a sighter. If you're trying to get the midges down you'll probably be tossing split shot anyway so should work.

[@jeromefynaut8177]

Thank you George for the great video just starting out on Euro Nymphing and the video was very helpful to me Thank you for sharing 👍

[@phillipquatrini3626]

George, thanks for the video. I am using one of Devin Olsen’s leaders, which is much longer to the sighter. But see other PA fisherman using shorter formulas like yours. Is there something about the Central PA streams that give advantage to the shorter leaders?

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

smaller streams demand shorter leaders. By small I actually mean tighter casting quarters. There's small streams out west but usually have more openness to casting. Plus our smaller streams in PA allow us to get closer to fish via wading so we don't have to hold as much line off the water as you would fishing the larger and deeper western waters. I'll definitely use longer leaders when fishing open streams that are challenging to wade. all the bast

[@phillipquatrini3626]

@@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing Thanks for responding George. I appreciate it.

[@claudiu1967]

excellent video ,thank you!!!!

[@andrasveres1981]

Hi George, I am a big fun of your videos, you are a great teacher. I have a question. In your one of your latest video when you explaining floating the sighter you mentioned don't need a fly line for euro nymhing and not for when you float the sighter. In this current video you explaining need a fly line to euro nymping. I am a bit confused. Please would you mind to explain a bit when exactly we use fly line and when not.

[@billybastar4022]

This video would have been perfect if you would have incorporated the very effective Euro/Czech lighting technique....limited backlight and lighting the subject from the camera forward 😂

[@roll62]

Just getting started, and this video was perfect for me - thank you George!

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

Thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@toneysisk1585]

Super stuff, George. How long is your sighter? Is there an ideal length, or a length I should avoid? Thanks!

[@nicolelewis1828]

George, I bought your book, "Dynamic Nymphing" and reading it now. What do you use to attach your leader to the reel - in terms of backing?

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

Thanks Nicole. I use a albright knot for connecting backing to line. Nail knot to connect nymphing line to leader (with a dab of epoxy to smooth out the knot). I hope this answers your question? Thanks!

[@nicolelewis1828]

@@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing I was curious what you used for backing and how much of it approximately? Thanks.

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

@@nicolelewis1828 For trout I use 100 yards of 30 dacron for most reels. rarely do I need this where I fish in central pa. regards

[@mikefranklin2113]

I tried a formula similar to this yesterday on a NC river. The other leader I used previously was 20/15/12 maxima, sighter, ring, then tippett. That leader was very clunky and I began to wonder if I would bend a guide pulling line back through on a hook up. George's formula worked great and some loon thick resin (just a little) worked great on the blood knots also.

[@jacksodudee]

What are you using to connect the 15 pound mono to the indicator line? A connection knot or a tippet ring again?

[@Wendygaechter]

New to this method and I was looking for a simple, effective leader formula. Just tied one of these up and will be testing it out today on a small river in NJ. Thanks so much!

[@corbeilyves5489]

Thank's for the precious info you provided on your channel, for fly fishing novice like me, it's a bank of experience that take years to acquire. Merci George

[@mikerapeer4848]

Tried the basic euro setup today finally. I was trying out another. I’ve been trying several different formulas. This one seems to work better for me. Might have to stick with this one for now, until I get more practice in/ time on the water. Thanks again for all your help.

[@sgrahammd]

I find it difficult to euronymph in the wind. How about a video with some suggestions? Biggest problem is the slack in the line.

[@Fachnik]

George, what do you think about using tenkara level line as a line for euronymphing?

[@wlp6200]

George, I guess that's your office... but dang, shop goals noted!

[@richardferrara86]

Very nice George

[@service88jm]

When you say medium to heavy nymphs, what would the weight be? I weigh my nymphs with a gun powder scale for reference.

[@justaman3333]

Just finished my set up. I appreciate you George and all that you share. Thank you. Be well.

[@richardmarshall159]

Thank you🎣👍

[@inthemomentflyfishing1394]

great knowledge

[@threedollarbridge]

What is the unfinished knot with the tag ends in the middle of the sighter?

[@tomdickson4460]

Thank you

[@johnshand6176]

A very good video. Thanks from down-under in NZ.

[@mikerapeer4848]

Great info!!!

[@scottnock5241]

Thanks George!! Big help to a new B , attempting euro!!!

[@jimconnell8994]

Very well explained. Thanks. Slainte 🥃

[@grimtidings7325]

Great info George enjoy your videos and the Orvis podcasts how would you approach euro nymphing directly upstream ? Some of the small streams I fish I can’t get across from the fish for fear of spooking them .

[@wesrauber]

Basically cast straight upstream but with some type of floatant on your sighter. The sighter floating on the water will essentially be your strike indicator.

[@italiantroutaholic8926]

is is the level line plain mono line??? or a hi vis line

[@therusfosterson238]

Thank you for sharing this information.

[@alessandrobargellini6445]

👍

[@dougroberts4535]

Thanks for the great information, George! If I can make a request for a future video, would you be able to go through your setup for a mono-style rig tight-line setup? Thank you!

[@GeorgeDanielFlyFishing]

I did one on the OPST but I'm working on another video now with that content in mind. Hope your brother gets well soon....it's a great kid to have in class. All the best

[@rnewell3265]

I am just getting started trying to Nymph fish. What recommendations would you suggest for regular Nymph fly line vs Mono? And should I start out with indicator fishing before moving to the Euro style? Thanks in advance for all the great videos you are sharing this is a great resource for a beginner like me.

[@TroutDaze]

Gonna try UV on the knot, great tip. My leaders are pretty clunky to pull in. I’ve been tying 20/12/8 maxima with blood knots.

[@MrHubris1]

Thanks! I sent a message to Tom today about leader length, watching this......I think I get it. 👍