Euro Nymphing with 6x and 7x

[Jason Hearle]

So, I know a lot of us are using lighter tippets for deeper presentations while using euro nymphing methods from other posts.  
For those of you that are utilizing 6x and 7x, what kind of rods are you using?  What size flies, 16-22? Ever go bigger on the flies?
I've been using the Camou French 900cm leader cut back to put a curly in and then adding 2' of 3x, 4-5' 5x, a fly, and then another 2' of 5x and a fly.  What's your leader formula for 6x and 7x?
What kind of material are you using to make the leader, and are you changing from a stiff to supple from butt to tippet?
If you are using a fast action rod like the z-axis, do you compensate on hook sets for the reduced breaking strength?  
What method (Czech, Polish, French, Spanish)are you using with such leaders/tippets?

[Chris Michels]

I'm sure a lot of the comp guys get a lot more technical than I do, but after the sighter (curly or straight mono or whatever) I go straight tippet.   Normally about 6 feet or so depending on the stream.   I love the slower action rods for euro nymphing.  My go to is still the 10' 3wt 1st generation stream flex.   For small spring creeks and stuff I just use a cheapo 8' 4wt temple forks.  The green two piece one.  Works great.   I use about 15 ft of 25 lb - 7 or 8 ft of 15 lb or  12 lb then the sighter. (i go even shorter for the 8' rod)  From the sighter just 6 feet or so of straight 6x or 7x (at least out here, in the northeast I used 5x the most).  I fish with about 3 feet or so of fly line out of the rod tip when euro nymphing nowadays.  With a slow/medium rod I have no problem turning the flies over and getting that leader to hit the water all nice and straight. 

I use maxima for the butt section of the leader, and p-line flouro for the 7x.  Sequar for 5x...and the cabelas frog hair stuff for my 6x. 

The stream flex can handle good size fish with some really fine tippets so that's not a worry.   

The leader set up above can do all the euro methods just fine, though for me it excels in french and spanish nymphing.   You can do czech and polish stuff with just about any set up, though sink rates and drift do depend a lot on the fly profile and diameter of the line traveling through the water column.

If you meet up with Nick and I in October I think you'll be surprised how well these really simple leader layouts work. 

[Jason Hearle]

Thanks Chris. 

[Zach Bearden]

I'm not sure what pound test your sighter is made up of but mine is 10lb which I go to 3x with. About 3 foot then throw tippet on there. I don't just fish nymphs with this rig but also dries and streamers. The 3x gives that little bit of extra "umph" to turn over a dry dropper rig or streamer.

Don't settle, experiment.

PS. I fish a z axis and with the lighter tippets I do set a bit lighter. Instead of a hard set like if I were heavy nymphing, I just kind of lift my rod. With sharp hooks it really doesn't take much to get through and set up.