Category: Euro Nymphing

Euro nymphing has become an extremely popular tactic in mainstream fly fishing the past decade. Once considered primarily a competitive angling technique, every day fly fishers all over the world are now effectively using this approach. Euro nymphing calls for the use of heavily weighted flies instead of split shots. Indicators are replaced by a sighter that is built into the leader. A light, level tippet below the sighter delivers the weighted flies to the trout below the surface. The heavily weighted flies slice through the water column allowing the angler to skillfully dead drift them through the “strike zone.”

Euro nymphing is most effective when anglers use a tuck cast to accurately deliver the flies to spots that will get them drifting in a single seam. The tuck cast results in the flies hitting the water ahead of the leader and line. When done correctly, the tuck cast helps give the flies momentum upon entry helping them to sink faster. Keeping the leader and line off the water helps the angler to stay in contact with the weighted flies. This is also referred to as “tight lining.” The sighter is build into the leader and becomes part of the tight line system. Anglers learn to read the sighter to monitor their drift and detect strikes. Euro nymphing is a deadly method that can drastically improve catch rates.