Nymph fishing is one of the most effective methods of fly fishing because it imitates the life stage that trout feed on more than any other. While dry fly fishing attracts much of the attention, fish spend the majority of their time feeding beneath the surface on aquatic insects before they hatch. Learning to fish nymphs effectively will usually result in more consistent catches throughout the year.
A nymph is the immature stage of an aquatic insect such as an olive, mayfly or stonefly. These insects spend weeks, months or even years living beneath the surface before emerging as winged adults. Because nymphs are present every day of the season, trout have a constant and dependable food source, regardless of whether there is an obvious hatch taking place.
The aim of nymph fishing is to present the fly as naturally as possible. In most situations, the nymph should drift at the same speed as the current, travelling close to the riverbed where the natural insects live. Any unnatural movement, caused by the fly line or leader pulling the fly, is likely to reduce your chances of success.
Weight is often more important than fly pattern. A perfectly presented nymph drifting naturally at the correct depth will usually outfish an exact imitation fishing too high in the water. Tungsten beads, weighted flies and longer leaders all help anglers reach the feeding zone more quickly and maintain better contact with the fly throughout the drift.
Nymph fishing can be practised in many different ways. Traditional indicator methods remain popular, while modern tight-line techniques such as Euro nymphing allow anglers to maintain direct contact with the flies. Both methods are highly effective, and choosing between them depends on the type of water, the depth and the speed of the current.
In addition to prospecting likely water, there are many occasions on rivers when nymphs can be sight fished to individual trout. Watching a fish feeding beneath the surface before carefully presenting a nymph into its feeding lane is one of the most rewarding forms of river fly fishing. Success relies on careful observation, accurate casting and allowing the fly to drift naturally at the same depth as the feeding fish. Because you can often see the trout's reaction to the fly, sight nymphing is also one of the best ways to improve your understanding of fish behaviour and presentation.
### Bite Detection
Detecting takes is often the biggest challenge when nymph fishing. An indicator serves two purposes - it can either suspend the nymph at a predetermined depth or simply provide a visual reference to help detect subtle takes. There are many different types of indicator available, from greasing the end of the fly line so it floats high on the surface, through to small bubble indicators, yarn indicators or putty moulded onto the leader. Experiment with different styles to find what works best for your fishing and the conditions on the day.
Unless you are retrieving nymphs on a stillwater or using a tight-line method such as Euro nymphing, you will rarely feel the take through the rod. Instead, watch your chosen indicator carefully and strike at any unnatural movement, hesitation, dip or change in speed, as even the smallest indication can be a trout taking the fly.
Nymph fishing is equally effective on rivers and stillwaters. On reservoirs, buzzers, Diawl Bachs and other nymphs can be fished at a variety of depths using floating, intermediate or sinking lines depending on where the trout are feeding. On rivers, most nymphs are fished upstream or slightly upstream to achieve the most natural drift possible.
At Peaks Fly Fishing, nymph fishing forms the backbone of much of our guiding. Even on days when trout are rising, we often begin with a nymph before changing to dry flies if fish become focused on emerging insects. Understanding depth, presentation and watercraft consistently catches more fish than constantly changing fly patterns.
## Recommended Equipment
### Rods
* 9ft to 10ft fly rod.
* A #3 to #5 rod covers most river situations.
* A #6 outfit is ideal for most stillwaters.
### Fly Line
* Weight Forward Floating.
### Leaders & Tippet
* 9-15ft tapered leader.
* Add tippet as required to achieve the desired presentation.
## Peaks Fly Fishing Tips
* Fish the correct depth before changing flies.
* A natural dead drift usually outperforms an active retrieve on rivers.
* Strike at any hesitation or unnatural movement of your indicator or leader.
* Concentrate on reading the current rather than watching the fly.
* Consider using a fluorocarbon tippet when nymph fishing. Although more expensive than nylon, we've found through many years of guiding that its higher density can help weighted nymphs reach the feeding zone more quickly, particularly in faster water.
* Remember that presentation is usually more important than choosing the perfect nymph pattern.