Nymphing Techniques...

This weeks article on Nynphing Techniques is a really good one and after reading it, it brought to mind another technique I use all the time and it works really good for getting the fly down to deeper depths. I just wanted to share it in case anyone wants to try it.

To begin with, I fish a lot by myself and all my techniques are created by me as ways to get the fly where I want it. So, this technique is not earth shattering and was not something I read.

There are a lot of places on the river where at the end of the fast water section there is a deeper hole where the fish are just waiting for food to be brought to them. You can cast your fly upstream and guide it through the fast water section and by mending your line you can get the fly down close to the bottom in the fast section, but, when the fly gets to the deeper hole it will get carried over the fish and sometimes they will come up for it and sometimes they will not. You can allow the fly to be carried to the end of the deeper hole and as you strip it back, it is still over the fish due to the moving water is under your floating fly line and holding it up close to the top. This will hold your leader, tippet and fly up over the fish and sometimes you can see your fly skipping along on top of the fast water. When I come across this situation, I will work my fly through the fast water section by mending to get it down and then after it has drifted through the deep hole, I will not start stripping the fly back, but, instead, I will stick my fly rod tip into the water and hold the tip close to the bottom in the fast water. This causes the fast water to go over the top of my floating fly line and will force the fly line to go all the way to the bottom which will take your leader, tippet and fly to the bottom where you can start a slow strip of the fly back. After you stick your fly rod tip down close to the bottom, you can still see your fly line stretched out in front of you and then you will see it get deeper and deeper until it disappears. If you slowly start to raise your fly rod you will see the fly line start back up. I have caught many fish with the rod tip down close to the bottom this way. As a Warning...do not try to set the hook by raising the rod tip when using this technique!! The weight and force of the water on the rod could cause you to apply too much force and may break you rod! Use a strip hook set and then slowly raise your rod and once it clears the water you can fight the fish in the normal manner.

Try this technique next time you are on the water and see how it works for you. I have had several people who have watched me do this and even though they like the results, they would never shove their rod down into the water for fear of breaking it. I am not rich and have the extra money for rod replacements, but, if you are careful, your rod will handle this. My fly rods are not for "show and tell" they are "my tools" for catching fish.

This is just another technique for getting your fly down deeper and it does work and I just wanted to share.

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

Scott;
Warren showed me that trick last year and it works!

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

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

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

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.

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