Fly choice

[jaybp30]

I wanted to see what people thought about this. I got out to a smallish unnamed river yesterday and didn't see any bugs around. I started with a small BH bugger, tried nymphs (BH PT, BH Hare's ear), a grey ghost and probably a couple others I am forgetting now. I was using a pretty soft 4 weight so roll casting is tough, especially with bigger flies. I didn't have a hit (although my buddy on a spinning rod missed three) so I kept changing. What do others do in this situation? Do you stick with one pattern longer or switch it up. There were a lot of pockets of almost still, deep water so I wanted to switch to a sink tip but then the next hole was shallower faster water I wanted to nymph. I didn't have a ton of time so I stuck with the floating line (see other post) and tried heavier streamers to get down. I just never felt in a groove, constantly changing. I think I should have stuck with either a PH nymph or the buggers. Any opinions?

[The Fisherman]

It's hard to say without seeing the water, but generally speaking, you can't go wrong this time of year fishing slow and deep with a nymph or a streamer.

[BRK TRT]

Those beadheads should work fine, as the Fisherman said, fish them slow.

[Jon]

I think (because I don't know) that it depends on the stream in question. There are fewer fish looking up this time of year, so I'm inclined to stay with the same fly - say a big weighted nymph or streamer - and spend more time covering water than changing flies/techniques.

I also like to change retrieve: mostly slow, but don't be afraid to do a little stripping. These are hungry times for trout, and movement will often provoke a take.

Tight lines.

Jon

[jaybp30]

do you even strip a nymph? I always want to try it (sometimes do) but have never seen a fish take a stripped nymph.

[Jon]

do you even strip a nymph? I always want to try it (sometimes do) but have never seen a fish take a stripped nymph.

Yes. But perhaps I'd do so more slowly than I would a larger streamer, simply to retain good depth. As a personal rule, I prefer to give some movement to my sub-surface flies in anything but fast water. I think the real things move also! Most of all I like to vary the pace. Perhaps it makes a difference, I really don't know!

Jon

[Z Fisher]

Ditto on the above advice. I also would try fishing a double nymph rig. Something in the 12-14 range as an attractor (e.g. Zug Bug, Prince, Hares Ear) and then a smaller dropper in the 16-18+ range (e.g. BHPT, Copper John). Fish it slow and deep.

I also add some movement, especially when the rig starts to swing in the current below you. Don't be afraid to raise the rod tip a few inches and then back down. That up and down motion can provoke a strike.

[The Fisherman]

Regarding stripping a nymph, I can't tell you how many times I've caught fish while wading upstream dragging my nymph rig behind me.

As Don Butler says, "I love stupid trout."