Excellent article on Nymphing. Sometimes I spend as much as 75% of my time on the rivers of Washington and Montana nymphing rather than dry flying. If the fish are not active on the surface you can just about guarantee they are actively seeking nymphs.

I would like to point out that if a person decides to really get into nymphing then a longer rod can be a great help. I fish with 11 foot rods, many fish with 10 foot rods. You would be amazed as to how much help it is to fish with the longer rod. The reach cast is far more effective to start the mending process when casting upstream. When you go to mend your line as it sits on the water, just a flick of the wrist causes a big mend whereas with a 9 foot rod you have to make the mend using your whole arm. There are times when you may need to have your flies 10 to 12 feet below your strike indicator and that longer rod really helps out, especially when bringing in your fish.

I run into people on the rivers who won't nymph, they only fish dry flies. That is their choice but they may cast all day long just for one or two fish, if any. If they would try nymphing, then they would most likely be catching many fish all day long.

Give it a try. You will like it.

Larry ---sagefisher---