Author Topic: Your "Go To" Technique (Read 696 times)

Dejon Hamann · « **on:** August 26, 2009, 06:48:18 PM »

Competitive Fly Fishing has really brought many new techniques to the table. From Long Leader Spanish Type Nymphing to Short Leader Czech Nymphing. Add in all the great favorites like Dry/Dropper, Down & Across Wet Fly, Streamers, Just Dries, etc, etc. There really is almost an endless variety of techniques and styles we can use to fool our favorite little cold water friends.

I've been concentrating solely on long leader nymphing lately. I've even stripped down the flies I carry to the stream to one box full of 3 patterns in various sizes. This technique certainly isn't the best on every type of water, but it really "cleans house" where it's appropriate.

What technique have you been using lately?

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2009, 07:52:09 PM »

You know the answer here Dejon. For me its lond leader Euro nymphing. This is the method I use all most all the time and on the majority of the rivers I fish it produces numbers of fish that most people can't even beleave. Before I learned to fish this way if I caught 5 or 6 fish I considered that a good day. Now if I catch 5 fish in a day thats horrible. It also produces quality fish.

Mike Norton · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2009, 09:13:14 PM »

I prefer nymphing also....like to get the flies down and deep to the fish.
guess you could say I'm a nymph o maniac in a fishy kinda way...lol

Jay Looper · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2009, 06:41:01 AM »

Is long leader Euro Nymphing too advanced of a technique for someone on the novice level? Or should I be able to pick it up with proper research and tips?

Chris Michels · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:48:00 AM »

I had my wife long lining in one outing. She can probably outfish most of you guys.

It's actually pretty easy.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:48:32 AM »

I don't think anything is ever to advanced for anyone you just to put in the time. With some effort you will get the hang of it and then its all about practice. The more you get out there and do it the easier it will become. When learning something new it helps to leave the tools at home for your "comfort" fishing that could be the indicators, dries whatever you normally use and this way you force yourself to try something new.

Robert Jordan · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2009, 08:21:14 AM »

Black Label good point ... just put in the time and you will get better. I had the week after Thanksgiving off back in '04 and I fished everyday. I told myself that I was going to nymph no matter what. No dries and no streamers allowed. I really learned a lot that week and I know I became a better fisherman. Which lead me to my go-to technique ... dry and dropper. I always think of the lottery slogan "you gotta be in it to win it". It does have some issues as far as tangles, foul hooks, etc but you have to take the good with the bad.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2009, 09:31:43 AM »

Wow good question. If I went of this year alone I would go with wet flies. This one is really a ward one since with me I fish a lot of different types of water in my area.

Fast water or deeper water I go with Euro nymphing or Humpheries style of nymphing.

Shallow water with active feeders I am all wets.

3ft or less with no visible active feeders I am dropper dry.

I really cant just pick one because ever time out is different and there are a lot more techniques that I use. At any given time any technique can become a go to due to conditions.

Daniel Vuono · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:18:11 AM »

Nothing is more exciting than running a single dry fly to me. However I find myself constantly using droppers and having that greatly increase my productivity. My nymph skills are lacking but the fish will stop rising soon, and I will need to spend time getting the flies down to the fish. I am pretty excited to polish some nymphing skills also and I am sure it will save me some frustrating days with risers all around and no takers.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2009, 11:02:47 AM »

Long line Euro nymphing can be tricky no doubt. It's handling a 20+ monofilament leader, never seeing your fly line, and getting accuracy with the "sling shot" or lob casts that makes it difficult. You also really have to work on your arm strength to do it correctly. A guy who has been swinging speys all his life is going to think a 5oz rod weighs a ton after an hour of long lining:)

However, I agree completely with the sentiments here about "learning curves." Absolutely any technique can not only be "learned" but also "mastered" in a "relatively" short time if you have the right resources and put your practice in.

PA, no doubt there just isn't one technique to cover each situation, but I'll bet almost every angler has one method they fall back on when nothing else will work or they are hitting unknown water. A lot of guys seem to be transitioning from Dry(Indie)/Dropper to Euro Nymphing in that respect these days.

Robert Jordan · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2009, 12:20:00 PM »

After I said you have to take the good with the bad it reminded me of a time that was most definitely bad... on the 3rd day of a week long back pack trip I was having a bad day fishing the dry/dropper rig. The below is from my notes on that trip:

"As we got to one of the stream crossings on the way back to camp I wanted to take a shot at some nice looking water. I really should have known better. After 1 or 2 casts I caught a nice little rainbow. As he fought me the dropper rig got wrapped around him and the emerger stuck in his side. As I was untangling the mess I launched into an expletive laced rant about how “I hate frackin droppers. Because the fracking line and the frackin fly always get frackin screwed up on the Goddamn fish whenever you frackin catch one of the little frackers!” As I looked up I saw Jack had a funny smile on his face and he was nodding. I assumed he was agreeing with me and I said “You know what the frack I mean?” At that point I realized he was not nodding at me. His eyes were fixed on something behind me. I turned and saw the 1st other guy we had seen since we hiked in two days before…he was waiting to cross the stream. All I could do was nod and say “How’s it going?” "

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2009, 12:37:35 PM »

We can't always be Zen

Jay Looper · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2009, 06:16:51 PM »

Thelow - that's hilarious. People are always cathing me cursing to myself so I know the feeling but the fact you were in the middle of nowhere is a priceless story.

Robert Jordan · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:43:37 PM »

we were in the complete middle of nowhere...literally 20 miles from the nearest road. you know I should post the whole trip journal entry on here. it is a few years old but at least we will have something in the southeast part of the board

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:25:21 AM »

I fish a sighter rig with two colors of flurocarbon. I typically nymph with a longer line ala spanish style although in the right places ill polish nymph. Ill use a point just heavy enough to get down and run another bug on a tag approx 20 inches above the point. Water depth dicates whether i run the heavy bug on point or up top. Deepish water anchor goes on point, shallow water anchor goes up top. 75 percent of the time the anchor is on the point. I coordinate my czech nymphs with thread color. Certain colors represent certain weights. I know if im almost on the bottom to go up a half a gram. The thing is if the spanish style isnt working i can run a heavy point bug and start short lining.

My 2nd go to is streamers......nothing like chuckin meat

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:35:55 AM »

very nice pb!

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2009, 07:31:04 PM »

Sometimes i will run two 2 color sighters on one leader. The top sighter i make from 15 pound amensia in red and yellow and about 2 feet below that another smaller fluro sighter, say 6 pound test. Stren hi vis gold works as well as any red fluro carbon. The theory is that you can long line style with the lower sighter. Lighter bugs will allow this lower section to be very sensitive. If things get rougn and you need to start buggin deep you can tie your heavy point fly on and use the top section and still have a workable sighter. If you build your leader right it will even turn over pretty decent. And i always degrease my leaders, even when dry fly fishing

Jay Looper · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2009, 09:12:56 PM »

I fish dries, size 16 elk hair caddis, over stockies.

It was a foolproof plan for about a month this spring.

Seriously though, the dry-dropper is my go-to, but I need to move my game to the next level.

I really want to focus on streamer fishing this year. I watched Kelly Galloup's Streamer Fishing for Trophy trout and really took away a lot of good ideas and tips. All the FlyFishTV dvd's I have watched have been pretty good.