Split Shot W/nymphs & Wolly buggers

[peconic]

I was wondering every ones thoughts on attaching split shot to the line when using a wolly bugger or nymph?

How far from the fly?
On the Tippet or the Leader?
Do you wrap the line around the split shot or not?

[The Fisherman]

See my response under the Farmington river section.

Yes, split shot are critical in high/fast/cold water to get the fly down to the trout's feeding lane. About 9" from the fly, on the tippet (above a double surgeon's knot so the shot doesn't slide up and down).

Wrapping line around a split shot is asking for frays, IMHO. The knot solves that problem.

Of course, you could always use a big Copper John nymph, which has the sink rate of a boulder, to get your rig down. In the summer, I almost never nymph with weight, unless the water's high.

[The Patriot]

What Fisherman said.....

Even most beadhead or conehead patterns are not heavy enough to get in the zone.

Another option is a sink tip line, which I have done. Especially with a bugger, which can be swung or stripped.

Nymphs however are better dead drifted.

There are some exceptions with nymphs, some of which are more mobile than others, and can "swim", like Baetis nymphs, Isonychia (which can definitely swim), Epeorus, which "hatch" on the bottom and "swim" to the surface with their wings awash, and Stonefly nymphs, which are more active and mobile. Also during an active hatch when nymphs are rising, you can sometimes get away with a swing, and a sink tip can be utilized.

I fished an olive hatch a few Junes back in the Reservation, and nailed a bunch of fish with an olive flashback nymph swung on a sink tip line. I have also caught fish with a small pheasant tail on a sink tip line.

But one would do well to learn to dead drift nymphs with split shot and an indicator.

I just wish I could do it...... :roll: :?

[peconic]

there is my next problem:

What the hell do all thos bugs look like and what are there corresponding flies?

How do you know she to go with an emerger vs. nymph??

[The Patriot]

"What the **** do all those bugs look like and what are there corresponding flies?"

I'm gonna try to keep this brief....try......

There are hatch specific nymphs, which share the same name as the hatch. For example, Hendrickson nymphs, BWO nymphs, Isonychia nymphs....

There are general all around all purpose nymphs, like Pheasant Tails, or Gold Ribbed Hares Ears....

I like fishing Pheasant Tails. Many if not most of the nymphs on the Farmington can be imitated with Pheasant Tails, since they are all pretty dark. Hendricksons, BWO, Vitreous, Sulphurs, Isonychia. The trick is matching size. Any hatch chart will give you that, as well as any fly shop. Stop in and see Grady at Upcountry.

That said, GRHE (Gold Ribbed Hare's Ears) will also do a good job for many of our mayfly hatches.

For BWO I like small olive colored nymphs or pheasant tails.

For Isonychia, I like a few hatch specific patterns, and I also like PT, as well as Prince Nymphs. Size 10 is not too big. Size 12 is also good.

For caddis flies, you've got cased caddis, green caddis larva, and various colored small free dwelling larva. There are some species specific patterns out there that are very realistic. Sometimes all you need is a plain bead head hares ear nymph, not to be confused with a GOLD RIBBED hares ear nymph. Plain hares ears also come in colors.

For stoneflies, you've got a range of sizes, black, brown, and yellow or golden. I have had some success fishing big stonefly nymphs as searching patterns during non hatch periods. They are always around, and they are a big meal, so they're popular with the fish.

Matching nymphs with hatches is not nearly as complex as matching dries. An assortment of PT or GRHE in size 10 thru 20 will cover most hatches. Throw in a few big prince nymphs, stoneflies, and caddis larva (don't get me started on caddis pupa just yet) and you're ready to nymph.


As to when to fish nymphs vs emergers...

This is just me, but I have typically fished nymphs during non hatch periods, or immediately before an expected hatch. Also, I'll tie a bead head PT on a dropper off a dry at the outset of a hatch, or right thru the hatch, if it's working. I fish emergers when there are bugs about and some rising fish.

Deciding what to fish and when to fish it is part of the excitement and satisfaction of fly fishing. You have to be a bit of a detective. You observe what is happening, are there bugs, what are they, what time of day is it, what are the conditions, is a hatch expected, are fish rising, what type of riseforms...... and you put together what you know and what you see and you try to solve the puzzle. You learn by reading, from boards like this, from shops, from other anglers, and most of all, from experience.

A great book on hatches and insect behavior, and how it relates to fish is Thomas Ames New England Hatch Guide. Grady has it at Upcountry.

Flyfishing is a lifetime of learning.

Enjoy!

Jim

[Housy Dave]

I'm gonna try to keep this brief

:lol: 500 words later.....Sorry, just couldn't help myself!


FWIW, I like the shot about 12" above the first fly and also always put it above a knot. I would advise carrying two different sizes of shot (a large size and a small size). I carry BB and 6. It allows a little more fine tuning based on depth and current speed. For slower shallower water I really like the micro-shot.

[peconic]

I was using shot last night and nobody told me how it changes the cast.

[The Patriot]

"500 words later..."

Did ya count 'em.....? :twisted:

[The Patriot]

You don't really "cast" split shot.... you LOB IT.... no false casts...

[peconic]

Oh NOW you tell me!!

I am getting out of work early today and hopefully i can get up to UpCountry and get a quick tutorial on Nymphing!

[jhicks]

Oh NOW you tell me!!

I am getting out of work early today and hopefully i can get up to UpCountry and get a quick tutorial on Nymphing!

I'm guessing that you have either a few missing flies or a sore spot on the back of your head from the shot hitting you. :P

[peconic]

Nah, but i had one heck of an ugly side arm cast to keep from getting all banged up. Next time i will just put on my hockey helmet!

[The Fisherman]

you'll get the hang of it. Remember to let the rod loading do the work, or you'll have a sore arm the next day. Start with short line nymphing (just tippet, leader, and 3 feet or so of line out from the rod tip) to get the feel for it, then gradually extend the line out. You can false cast with weight (I do it every now and then) but it takes practice. Better to wait until the end of the drift, feel the rod load, then shoot the line back upriver.

Don't give up! You're going to catch A LOT more fish once you learn to nymph.

[The Patriot]

Don't give up! You're going to catch A LOT more fish once you learn to nymph.

LIES!! ALL LIES!!! :evil:

:wink:

Everyone keeps telling me this, and I keep nymphing, and I catch NOTHING!!

NOTHING!!!! :evil:

:x :? :oops: :(

:cry: :cry:

(Actually, I've caught 4 fish this year subsurface; and they were my biggest so far. A 15 inch brown on a green caddis larva, a 12 inch bow on a white zonker, and 14 inch bow on an egg, and a 17 inch brown on a pheasant tail. But it's a hell of a lot of work, and I'm not getting fish after fish doin' this! :? )

From your mouth to god's ears my friend..... :roll:

I'm workin' at this, I'm puttin' my time in, there better be a payoff pretty soon, or I'm gonna adopt my mentor's motto.... "the fish have got to meet me half way!" :P

Sit on the bank, sip some bourbon out the flask, puff a cigar, and wait for the hatch..... :wink: :lol:

[The Fisherman]

Well, one of these days we'll have to meet up and let me see what you're doing right or wrong, and/or let you see what I'm doing. Sometimes seeing someone else in action can be helpful.

Another helpful hint for nymphing is to think like a trout. In other words, if I were a trout feeding subsurface, where would I be? Then go fish there.

Granted, these were dumb planted hatchery trout in low water, but I got about 2 million fish last Friday at the Salmon River (CT), all on nymphs.

P.S. I must also emphasize that I am not an expert, and know I still have much to learn. :lol:

[Todd K]

The rainbow in the wallpaper dowloads section was caught on a Wollybugger with a spit shot a foot and half up the line.