Cold weather has finally arrived in Pennsylvania. The remnants of Hurricane Nichole provided a much-needed bump to water levels in mid-November. Currently, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, our wild brown trout have realized the
Category: Euro Nymphing Flies
Euro nymphing flies are a style of nymphs designed to have a higher sink rate than traditional nymphs. It is important to incorporate weight into the flies when Euro nymphing because they take the place of split shots or any other type of weight on the leader. Euro nymphing flies or “euro nymphs” are generally tied on jig hooks and weighted with lead wire and/or tungsten beads.
Tactical Flies
Euro nymphs are more tactical than imitative. They are heavily weighted so that the angler can stay in direct contact with them during the drift. Euro nymphs are tied in a variety of weights to allow the angler to make quick adjustments do changing water types. Adjustments are important because when a nymph is too heavy, it will drag on the bottom and interfere with the drift. If nymphs are too light for the water type, they may not get down to the fish in the strike zone.
Confidence Patterns
Euro nymphs are often simple patterns such as Walt’s worms, frenchies, and perdigons. Just about any nymph pattern can be tied in the euro style. Many anglers consider rely on “confidence patterns” Having confidence in your patterns when nymphing is important. When anglers have confidence in their flies, they can focus more on their drifts.
Natural Drifts
Getting natural drifts consistently is more important than trying to pick the right fly. Trout are opportunists. They often do not have time to inspect their food. They can spot drag in a nymph much faster than they can see any detail of the pattern. Often anglers will carry the same pattern in a variety of weights. So it becomes important to be able to organize euro nymphs by weight. Having a system helps anglers make easy adjustments to changing water types, depths, and current speeds.
Video Post: How a Jig Streamer Saved the Day
I didn’t get to the river planning to use a jig streamer. That’s the thing about fly fishing. Rarely, do things go as planned. The night before I tied up several euro style nymphs I
Rainbow Warrior to the Rescue: How to Tie & Fish this Flashy Little Imitation
The Rainbow Warrior has rescued me from getting skunked on many days on the water. It’s one of those flies that I save for times when nothing else is working. Lance Egan is the originator
How to Make a Walt’s Worm Sexy
The Walt’s Worm may be the homeliest fly in your box. Dress it up with a little tinsel, and you can make it…well, sexy. When it comes to simplicity, the Walt’s Worm is in a
Video Post: An Easy Way to Set Up a Box of Euro Nymphs
“Euro nymphs” are not altogether different from traditional nymphing flies. The name “Euro Nymph” really refers to a style of nymphs that feature heavy tungsten beads and tied on a jig style hook. For example,
How to Tie the Olive & Black Perdigon
Perdigons are more tactical than imitative, They do not contain any bulk, which helps them race to the bottom in fast water types. Perdigons represent a variety of aquatic insects. European competition anglers developed them
The Perdigon is the Sports Car of Euro Nymphs
Like European sports cars, the perdigon is sleek and stylish. It performs like nothing else in your fly box (or your garage). When you hit the gas, your streamlined perdigon will accelerate to the bottom
Egan’s Thread Frenchie is the Ultimate Confidence Fly
The Ultimate Confidence Fly I love Lance Egan’s Thread Frenchie because it is quick and easy to tie. More importantly, it is one of the most effective patterns in my box. For me, the thread
Euro Nymphing Flies: How to Weight & Organize for Easy Adjustments
This post was created to help readers develop a system to weight and organize euro nymphing flies.