Re: Nymphing Techniques...
WarrenP,
That's the first time Iv'e heard of that trick! You may have come up with something original. I can understand the reluctance of people wanting to stick their rod that deep into the water though.
Scott
Re: Nymphing Techniques...
Scott;
Warren showed me that trick last year and it works!
Re: Nymphing Techniques...
Jack,
I have no doubt that it works and think it's very cleaver. I may some day try it, but I'll think I'll do so on one of my lesser expensive rods first :D
Scott
Re: Nymphing Techniques...
tea stick,
The rod is not really that deep in the water. I would guess no more than maybe a foot or so. I usually put it into the water while above the hole and still wading in the fast water and the rod is in the fast water just before the drop off to deeper water. The force of the moving water on top of your fly line pushes the fly line all the way to the bottom in the deeper hole. As you slowly strip, usually 6 inch strips, the fly back to you, you can actually feel the hook snag the bottom at times. It really works very well to get the fly down where the fish are. At least it does for me. It really is something to be watching as your fly just disappears from site and if you slowly raise the rod you will see the fly line coming back up. Make sure and try it. You will be surprised how quickly your fly gets to the bottom and how many more strikes you will get. Just be sure and not set the hook with the rod because you could break the rod trying to lift it out of the water so quickly. Just do a strip pull to set the hook and than slowly raise your rod and fight the fish in the normal way.
I would really be interested to find out how it works for you, so, be sure to post your results here.
Thanks
Re: Nymphing Techniques...
Warren,
I'll give it shot at the first opportunity and let you know how I faired.
I did think though that you were talking about the rod being deeper in the water than just a foot.
Thanks for the tip!
Scott
Re: Nymphing Techniques...
tea stick,
The rod is out in front of you at whatever length your rod is and you are only pushing the tip down to get the fast water on top of your fly line. The water will flow over the top of your line and as you watch your fly line out in front of you, it will slowly go down. If you can still see the fly line, lower the tip of the rod more and your fly will go deeper. I have to smile to myself when someone on the river looks at me and I am just standing there with the tip of the rod down in the water. I can't help but think what are they thinking I am doing. :) I will just stand there and slowly strip line back until I get a strike or I see where my furled leader and fly line come together and then I will recast. This technique has caught a lot of fish for me when nothing else would bring them up from deeper holes.
Re: Nymphing Techniques...
Hey Waren,
This is INGENIOUS! I wish I had thought of it back when I was fishing the Black Hills...there are several places where Spearfish Creek runs into some deep, deep holes and you can see the fish holding in there but couldn't get the fly down to their level.
I can't wait to try it when I get a chance to visit there again.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Jim