Euro Nymphing-5 Mistakes to Avoid

[@g0nein60]

Someone called it Contact nymphing, I can’t remember who now but I like that because we need to be in contact with our flies. There are certainly those “stuffy” types that continue to say “that’s not fly fishing” but you know what? Who cares, we are having fun, the kids are being successful right away and we use a fly rod. You make some great points Jeff.

[@troutstrike]

Thank you for watching and commenting! I really like the term contact nymphing. I think that describes it perfectly. I don't know if I get more frustrated with the Euro Police or the purists who claim this isn't fly fishing! I would argue that mastering this technique is more challenging than learning to fish a dry fly. We can see what the dry fly is doing. We can't see what the nymphs are doing on the bottom. It's such a dynamic way to fish...and it's definitely fly fishing!

[@richardclaypoole354]

Jess, I agree with your 5 mistakes to avoid. Euro Nymphing is tight line nymphing that Joe Humphries preached years ago, just with more refined equipment. I was a dry fly purist for years. I started fly fishing in 1972 while in collage. Then I used streamers and wet flies with a mismatched rod, reel and line. Then I progressed to better equipment and eventually strictly dry flies. In 1982 went in partnership with a fishing friend in a custom rod building busniess using Sage, Diamondback, and Loomus blanks, and that is when I became a dryfly SNOB. Two years ago I dabbled in this Euro Nymphing thing using a Sage 8'9" 5wt rod and DT 5 line with a Euro leader. I caught fish using Humphries methods. Last winter I purchased a dedicated Euro outfit and during last Summer had a ball and, like you said, caught more fish than I ever did before. Don't get me wrong, I still fished drys when the situation called for it, but nymphing was base fishing. At 72 I am proof that an old dog can learn new tricks, or at least a more refined method of an old trick.

[@troutstrike]

Hi Richard! What an amazing story! Thank you so much for taking the time to share! You illustrated my point exactly! You added this technique to your arsenal and become a more complete angler-and caught a lot of fish! I’m inspired by your story! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@tyerconservation]

Great video, explained very well. These mistakes are common. I would add a mistake most tightline anglers make is not adjusting the leader & sighter to conditions. Once I figured that out my catch rate went up. Love your website! Keep up the good work!

[@troutstrike]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I appreciate the feedback. Completely agree with you on making those adjustments. That would be a good topic for another video and article. Adjusting the sighter abgle to match conditions is critical.

[@flyguy2021]

Euro nymphing makes it sound more like you need a bunch of new equipment. Thanks for the good video. Your content is good and I think your subscriber numbers can only grow.

[@troutstrike]

We all love new gear! But we need to understand the concepts first to get the benefits of the specialized gear. I can go out and buy expensive golf clubs, but I’ll still not be able to hit the ball straight! Thank you for watching and commenting. I appreciate the feedback.

[@Bryanmcn]

Just started this is helpful am struggling with the depths and weight of my nymphs should you always feel the nymphs ticking the bottom

[@troutstrike]

Thank you for watching and commenting. That is a great question!! If you are fishing this time of year, I would suggest staying as deep as possible. In the winter, fish really stay hunkered down, which is why I usually will put on an egg..I just roll them along the bottom. As we head into spring, focus on riding your nymphs in the "strike zone." Picture a cushion of water about 6 inches from the bottom. Try to ride your point fly through that and then adjust your tag fly. If you keep your tag fly lower, you can get that close to the strike zone as well. If fish are feeding mid column, then you can put it up higher. Here is an article that might help: troutstrike.com/why-two-flies-are-better-than-one-elevate-your-fishing-with-tandem-nymph-rigs/

[@chriso1687]

Try drop shot. Add a 6x dropper off of the bottom fly and then add the appropriate weight to the dropper. You won’t have to worry about weighting the fly. No need to use bead heads for your PT nymphs or hare ears. They look more natural without the bead heads. You’ll also lose a lot less flies since the weight and not the fly will get hung up. Split shot is a lot cheaper than flies.

[@rabbittroll4247]

Nice creek starts with S was just there other day

[@troutstrike]

Thanks for watching and commenting. This is a small stream in a preserve near my home. Not sure what stream you’re referring to.

[@rabbittroll4247]

@troutstrike the class A starts with S the natural reproduction initials are TR ik the crick one of my favorite take the time to hike to taquan worth it

[@bobsbrewery4884]

I have been tightline nymphing in the UK for many years.I mostly tightline drop shot with or without an indicator now though.So much easier carrying weightless or near weightless flies.Then just adjust your weight below your flies.Cheers

[@troutstrike]

Interesting! How do you adjust the weight of the drop shot.

[@bobsbrewery4884]

@troutstrike I mostly use split shot to adjust my weight.Sometimes tungsten putty also.

[@Grouse2275]

My suggestions…… use the shortest tippet possible, use just one fly in most water types, use a strike indicator below your sighter if it’s windy or fishing very slow water, use the lightest sighter you can see easily…….

[@troutstrike]

@@Grouse2275 That’s great advice. I also like to use a backing barrel tied right above my sighter. I do like the advice of starting with one nymph. It’s much easier to achieve a true drift with just one fly. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@timoromeo7663]

Flyfishing snobs suck! I can catch fish with a cheap rod. If you learn on subpar equipment, then you can fish with anything. Did I ,mention "purists suck!"? Thanks for being real.

[@troutstrike]

@@timoromeo7663 Like I said, the. Euro Police are real!! LOL. Thank you for watching and commenting. Totally agree with you! Learn with the tools you have and build from there!