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About the Nymph Fly
Author: Unknown
NYMPH FLIES
Learn how to nymph fish, or you will never consistently catch fish while fly-fishing. Fish are constantly feeding. Yet, 90% of the time this feeding takes place below the surface on nymphs. Nymphs represent insects in their under water aquatic life stage or cycle. This cycle comes before the adult stage as the insects emerge out of the water and fly away. The term 'Nymph' means the juvenile stage of a Mayfly or any insect in its aquatic life cycle. Using nymphs is, perhaps one of the most effective ways of taking any species of freshwater fish. In a river or stream, they can be fished just beneath the surface to imitate an emerging or drowned fly or on the bottom to imitate the un-hatched larvae. These flies are generally tied to weigh a little more than a dry fly. Additional weight is often added to them in order for them to achieve the proper depth. This weight makes them a little harder to cast. Most of the nymph fishing occurs along the bottom. Move the presented nymph slowly and smoothly. Often the natural drift from the current best presents the nymph. Periodically, causing the nymph to dart forward simulating it attacking its prey or trying to escape from the advances of a predatory large fish will often cause a lurking fish to strike.
Trout are usually solitary feeders and can normally be found next to something solid, like the riverbank, patch of weeds, or large boulder. They lie up in stretches of the river where there is a high concentration of food drifting into there area. Watch for creases on the water surface depicting what is referred to as a "seam". These lines normally run downstream. They are caused by colliding bodies of water, flowing at different rates. Trout food is concentrated in and around these "seams". Food is carried by the current and concentrated where the current is funneled into the fast water of runs, riffles, seams as well as the "heads and tails" of pools.
Fish the crease and you will catch fish. Fish will conserve energy and hold up in the slower moving water near the "seam". This allows the food to come to them. They are also close enough to dart out into the faster water to intercept their target food as it drifts past. Be aware of seams of foaming turbulent water as it passes over submerged boulders. The pockets of slow water on the lower side will often hold fish and are a great place to drift a nymph.
The nymph must drift naturally or the trout will often ignore it. It is important to keep as much of the line off the water as possible and follow the end of the line as it travels down stream with your rod tip. Use a strike indicator and you will be able to notice the casual bite. Set the hook lightly at any tightening or unnatural movement of the strike indicator. Some of this movement will be the snagging of the nymph on the bottom. Shortly, you will be able to discern from a bite and the bottom snagging. If you find you are not getting any hits change the nymph to a smaller size. Use longer leaders, lighter tippets and natural colored nymphs in clear water. You can use brighter and larger nymphs in dirtier water. Approach your selected spot in the river from down stream. You are less likely to spook the fish with this approach. Caste upstream and allow your fly to drift naturally by a feeding trout.
Favorite nymph patterns:
Hares Ear - Pheasant Tail - Prince - Copper John - Zug Bug - Serendipity
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