I’m curious about something. In fast water how fast do nymphs crawl: faster than the current, slower, or the same speed?
Thanks,
Randy58
I have timed some that can swim, they surfaced at one to two inches a second. Since the current varies in speed, hard to say they crawl faster or slower than it flows. Most hang onto the bottom of rocks with their ‘arms’ sticking out waiting for stuff to come along. Others cling to vegetation and catch diatoms the hard way. Some big ones (dragon fly) can even catch and eat tiny fish. I will stay with the one inch a second for a basis. Those which surpass that may become what is referred to as ‘food.’
- Nymphs crawl slowly to our eyes. If the they get caught in the current they are usually overwhelmed and drift the same speed as the current. That is why dead drift presentations work so well.
With that said some nymphs swim very well and can move about in even moderate current or still water although usually not directly up current( baetis nymphs,and others)
Emerging nymph move the fastest as they come off the stream bottom to the surface. Some ride gas bubbles some swim or a combination of both . At the end of a dead drift as your line becomes taught and your nymphs swing to the surface it can simulate an emerging nymph and can be deadly at times.
In still water some of the common nymphs swim very well( damsel & dragon fly nymphs etc) , but then again that is an entirely different subject.
This a huge subject and the answers depend on the individual types of bugs and the water they dwell in.