Humphrey, Monofilament, Lead Core, and Nymphing

Hello Everyone,

I was just watching one of Joe Humphrey's videos and in it he shows the use of monofilament line as the flyline, and lead core as the weight for nymphing deep fast water. He does not go into detail the weight of the rod he's using nor the weight of monofilament.

My question are:

1. Has anyone tried or fish this way? What are the pros and cons?
2. What weight rod do you use? Does anyone know what weight Joe had in the video, "Nymphing Strategies with Joe Humphreys"?
3. What weight monofilament would you use for the following.... 4wt rod and 6 wt rod
4. What brand of lead core do you recommend? What brand was Joe using, anyone know?

TIA. Tight Lines Everyone....

He talks a little bit about that in his "Trout Tactics" book...but by the sounds of it, it's basically the "Chuck and Duck" method used on many of the salmon streams in the US Great Lakes region. I don't recall him mentioning it in his newest book as a method, nor do I recall him talking about it when I've seen him at seminars, but I tend to have selective listening. :?

If you do want to use the mono and weights method, you'll need to be aware that some places are changing the rules for fly fishing only waters. Chuck and Duck was the method of choice by many in some of the fly fishing only waters, on places like the Salmon River and until this year, they got away with it, but now the rules will require fly line to get the fly to the fish.

He uses COBRA PLUS FLAT MONO RUNNING LINE and tapered leader. Lead is usually his pocket full of split shot or slinkies. The split shot is usually places above a weighted fly with a dropper fly above the split shot.

I'll have to go back and view the video again to see about the lead core...but in chuck and duck it's usually, two to three feet of lead core, folded in half, twisted together, then tied on the end of the leader with the fly tied onto a dropper about 18 inches or so above the weight. The lead core is free to slide along the bottom and it doesn't get hung up as easily as the splitshot or slinky.

When you try to cast this outfit you MUST wait until you feel the tug of the weight on your backcast before going forward. You want a large loop too. A 7 wt rod is a good one for this method.

Hey thanks Mato,


Just a note to all: I'm real hesitant about using lead (not only for enviromental concerns, but also because I get allergies at certain times of the year, so my hands are almost always near my mouth). Found out they make "Lead-Free" core, and in addition copper wiring, so I'll do a little more experimenting. If anyone knows of other substitutes please let me know

The scenario I've got is this - it's a section of a stream that flows through what's left of concrete supports from an old railroad trestle. Between these supports the stream gets funneled down to the width of 6-8 ft. There are broken concrete slabs directly below , and one of them is just right for a sheltering lie. Everywhere else are chunks of concrete and boulders. It's a spot that always holds trout. It's interesting to note that a channel goes directly down the middle. In this channel the trout feed.

I've lost a great deal of nymphs down this chute, but I've pulled out a few small little guys feeding near the surface and off to the corner. Earlier this summer I hooked into something that didn't come up, but swam through the chute, and snapped my tippet.

I want to know what it was.

Something big, It sounds like. :D

If that river has a population of atlantics, I would put my money on that.

You may have to watch regulations with that setup if it is flyfishing only water. If it is you can use a very small diameter level line to attach to the leadcore line. Cortland sells it for pretty cheap. If you need to get deeper you can try braiding or twisting longer and more lengths of the leadcore. Good luck and let us know what the big one is.