[Surfin the Susquehanna]

If you read a book on Nymph fishing, It sounds so simple. I you watch an outdoor fly fishing program on tv, Nymph fishing looks easy. I have even watched youtube fishing segments on Nymphing, and it looks easy.

I have tried it 3 times and I have yet to catch a fish... I say, "It ain't that easy"

First thing I did all 3 times is cut a perfectly good leader at the end of it's mid section. I tied a bloodknot and left 4" of the tippett end hang out of the blood knot and tied a hares ear nymph to that. Ended up abou tan inch off the main line. Then I tied a pheasant tail to the end of the line. I put a yellow foam strike indicator about 3' above the first fly cause I was fishing in about 2' of water on average. I tried tying on 3 small shots (spaced at about an inch apart) about a foot above the first fly, and 2' below the indicator. At that I kept getting hung up on the rocky bottom. I dropped to 2 shots and same thing, just less evident. A single shot seemed to work, but still I got no strikes. I was tossing the line 45 degrees upstream and high sticking to get it to drift directly downstream. I also got into areas where I needed to cast directly upstream and strip line back to me.

Can someone give some troubleshooting advice here as to why I wasn't getting any action? I know there were fish there. I was able to see them when I walked up the stream. They even seemed to be in the upstream looking feeding position right where I was just casting. The fish I was able to see, I tossed the line just up from them and let it drift down to the, but they seemed dis-interested in my nymphs.

Would you blame technique? Would you blame a poor presentation? Would you blame the nymph selection?

Temps here are dropping into the 30's at night and get into the 50's during the day. I tried early morning. I've tried early evening. And I've tried peak temp afternoon and was skunked on all 3 outings.

Please Help the rookie!!! I want to go back out this weekend, but I need some encouragement/help!!!

[GeorgeMcFly]

lately we haven't had lots of bites either. just a couple chubs and stuff? maybe its the weather? basically nymph fishing is the 1st thing I tried. just add a indicator and adjust to the right height. cast and let it drift naturally like something floating down stream. I use only one nymph at a time and prefer I beadheads over split shots anyday but had my luck on no weight if the current is very slow and it has time to sink. actaully its pretty easy. when nothings working I throw on the hares ear nymph or pheasent tail. seems to get me a few bites even if they r just chubs nonetheless. keep trying. also use a nymph that represents something that is there at your waters.. say midges or mayflies or stoneflies. 3 weeks ago I could catch 8 bass on a black bugger and then the last 2 weeks nothing not a single bite.

[Surfin the Susquehanna]

I went out again today..... Something great happened on about my 3rd cast... I was not paying attention to what was behind me and I got my 2 nymph rid stuck in a tree, after I spent 10 minutes rigging the thing at the car before I got to the stream. I was so mad I almost went home right then. At the time I didn't think it was great, I thought it was horrid...(Read on) The line broke right at the blood knot. So I clipped the line just above the knot and tied on some new tippet. I didn't feel like going through the hassle of tying the multi fly rig again so I just put a single hares ear bead head and added 2 tiny shots. First cast I ran it by a rock into a little hole and saw 2 fish dart at it. The indicator dunked, I set the hook, and HOORAY!!! I finally caught a trout on a nymph. I moved up to the next pool and Bang.. another fish. Maybe the 2 nymph rig is way too advanced for a beginner. Maybe it was just a coincidence? All I know is I caught 3 fish today, and also had 2 get off just before the net. All were on that single hares ear nymph.

George, I too will now fish single nymphs.

[Joni]

RIGHT ON! Most of the time I do a single nymph, but when I know the spot is full of fish I rigg up first fly (usually a bead head of sorts or a no bead Haresear) right on the end of the the tippet/leader. I put one BB split shot about 8" to 10" above it. Then I tie a two foot dropper (either off the bend or the eye) and have a definite Bead head there. I put my indicator depth and a half up from the BB.
Or on other occassions like McFly, bead head nymph no indicator, no split shot.
Glad you got it figured out! Now try SCUDS/SOWBUGS. They are the main diet year round everywhere.

[GeorgeMcFly]

awesome bro!!! told ya the hares ear was the go to fly!!! woot woot!! keep it up!!! told ya it was easy!

lucky you to catch a trout!! around here we only get steelies in the fall and spring and I have yet to catch one! take a pic if ya can next time. I will get mine up asap!! I just need to hook into one of those monsters! I also never used a dropper nymph just a single nymph.

[BigCliff]

Surfin,
Glad you had caught some. Figuring out how much weight is needed is something that takes some experience. 2' of slow water is TOTALLY different than 2' of fast water.

When you got no action from the fish you were dropping nymphs right in front of, there's a good chance the nymphs hadn't sunk down to their level yet. This is another thing that takes some experience to be able to judge.

Also be careful not to get so close to the fish that they can see you. Try to stay pretty close to where their tail is pointing, as its hardest for them to see you back there. The turbulence of the water affects how close you can get to fish them, but be as sneaky as you can.

[Surfin the Susquehanna]

Well, I hadn't had a trout meal in so long, I decided to keep the 3 I caught. I am always catch and release when I bass fish because I don't particularly care for them much. I did take a couple pics of them in the sink. I found out my 5 year old daughter LOVES fresh trout. When I go out and catch and release I guess I'll have to tell her I got skunked...lol

[randyflycaster]

This past trout season I concentrated on becoming a better nymph fisherman.
I didn't find it easy: so many techniques, and so many different adjustments I had to make; at times nymph fishing was a struggle, and yet It found it gratifying when I caught some big trout.

I couldn't, however, do it alone. I read and studied some very good books on nymph fishing. Next season I'll read some more.

Randy Kadish

[Joni]

Originally Posted by randyflycaster

This past trout season I concentrated on becoming a better nymph fisherman.
I didn't find it easy: so many techniques, and so many different adjustments I had to make; at times nymph fishing was a struggle, and yet It found it gratifying when I caught some big trout.

I couldn't, however, do it alone. I read and studied some very good books on nymph fishing. Next season I'll read some more.

Randy Kadish

Anyone can dry fly fish. Don't get me wrong I love it, probably my favorite type of fishing. Right fly, right spot, and wait. I remember once out on Strawberry, there were swirls all over the place (early morning) from fish rising for drys and emergers. I had my 3wt (what was I thinking) on my boat loaded up with an Elk Hair caddis. For fun, I tossed out the Elk Hair. It was so kewl, cause I watched the swirls move closer and closer to my fly them Bamb! FISH ON! I had 6X tippet on my 3wt from fishing the small stream that comes out of the Berry. Anyone that has ever fished the Berry can tell you these fish DO NOT come willingly. In fact some of the best fighting fish I have come across. For 20 minutes I played this big boy till he finally didn't want to play no more and swam under a branch. Needless to say, everyone switched to dries after watching me.
But, back to the point, you are right, there is a lot more to nymphing, but once you get it down it is a lot of fun and you do get the big ones.

[slatedrake]

Congrats on your first fish caught nymphing! You know trout feed on nymphs and larva more than any other time of the mayfly/caddis life cycle. Most people go to the stream and think about what type of dry fly they should use. When I go to the stream I think of what type of nymph to put on. Unless the trout are rising of course.

Weight is very important. If I need more weight than a bead head or weighted nymph can provide, I like to use the lead strips that look like match sticks. You can smooth down the ends so they don't get hung up as much as split shot and if you need to remove some its easy to do. Just remember, if your not getting hung up from time to time your not nymphing!

The Hares Ear nymph is great to use in these parts. No question about it. But tying on the correct pattern is just as important in nymphing as it is in dry fly fishing. I use a stream screen to determine what I should be using in any particular stream. I have the instructions on how to build one at my site SlateDrake.com . Good luck!

Originally Posted by Surfin the Susquehanna

I went out again today..... Something great happened on about my 3rd cast... I was not paying attention to what was behind me and I got my 2 nymph rid stuck in a tree, after I spent 10 minutes rigging the thing at the car before I got to the stream. I was so mad I almost went home right then. At the time I didn't think it was great, I thought it was horrid...(Read on) The line broke right at the blood knot. So I clipped the line just above the knot and tied on some new tippet. I didn't feel like going through the hassle of tying the multi fly rig again so I just put a single hares ear bead head and added 2 tiny shots. First cast I ran it by a rock into a little hole and saw 2 fish dart at it. The indicator dunked, I set the hook, and HOORAY!!! I finally caught a trout on a nymph. I moved up to the next pool and Bang.. another fish. Maybe the 2 nymph rig is way too advanced for a beginner. Maybe it was just a coincidence? All I know is I caught 3 fish today, and also had 2 get off just before the net. All were on that single hares ear nymph.

George, I too will now fish single nymphs.