Czech nymph asides....

Since the thread about the czech nymphing materials was thoroughly and masterfully hijacked, I wanted to start a 'new' thread so we can discuss something that Flybinder wrote.

It was about being unable to use the czech nymphing technique because where he's at you can only use two flies...

I know that many folks use three or more flies to do this, but to me it's always been about the 'technique', not the flies themselves (I use other types of flies often for this) or the number of them used.

I've caught a lot of trout on this 'technique', but I've never used more than two flies except on one occasion (spent too much time trying to keep the flies untangled).

I'm lazy, more than two flies is difficult for me to rig, easy for me to 'tangle', and so I just normally use two.

I don't use funny knots or tie up odd leaders. I use a level section of flourocarbon, tie one fly to that then add a dropper to the bend for the lower fly.

To me, 'czech nymphing' is the close range control of a heavy fly(s) in fast current. The way the fly is 'fished' not the fly itself.

It is DEADLY in the right conditions. It's also lots of fun to hook a fish, especially a good fish, on that short of a line.

As far as the flies themselves go, I've had more luck with a heavy stonefly for the bottom fly with either a GRHE or a simple peacock nymph for the top fly than I have with the actual 'czech nymph' style of fly.

Funny, but those little czech nymphs work really well for me as a trailing fly in lakes, though.

I guess I'm looking at this as an adaptable 'style' of fishing, not some set in stone method that you can't fiddle with.

Another thing. Sausage cases? I know it would work, but doesn't that raise some 'we're actually using bait' flags for some folks? Aren't the cases used for most saugage the thin membranes that house the intestines of the animal the sausage is created from? Pig guts on a hook? Ain't that bait?

I'd be careful about that if I fished in fly and lure only waters....

Buddy

I totally agree Buddy, as long as the flies are heavy enough to get the depth. and a thinner fly, likes of a weighted PTN, will get down without so much weight to it. As to the number of flies, I also use 2 normally as turnover with all the weight is difficult. What I also do to avoid losing too many flies, is to use unweighted flies and add the weight in between the flies using shot, if that hangs up on the bottom a quick pull will remove the shot from the line leaving the flies intact.

In my parts, sausage cases would be bait, because it is edible. But there is not much difference between that and say rabbit hide strips. I don't know when fishers got all hung up on bait vs. non-bait tho, it's not a traditional concern. Izaak Walton fished both flys and bait.

I have issues with bait because it is messy and stinky. Yes, I could catch more fish if I kept bait in my trout arsenal, and my trotting gear has traditions as long as fly fishing. But I find I catch more than enough fish to keep me happy so I don't need the benefits and can definitely live without the hassles of bait.

Czech nymphing is a very traditional means of fishing. It is simply a form of tight line jigging and the three fly cast is also steeped in tradition, when people fished to catch and keep fish. But again, fishing and fly fishing in particular for me isn't just about catching fish so I don't need the hassle of the three fly cast, and I definitely think that if you're going to fish with fly line, you should actually use it for casting.

So if I ever felt the desire to "Czech nymph", I'd just bring out my 11 1/2 foot drift rod, spinning reel, and my assortment of ultra light jigs, of which I'd use only one.