Five Helpful Tips For Better Success With A Nymph

I often here people say that they do not like to nymph fish, that they prefer to dry fly fish. I agree that it is AWESOME to catch a lot of fish on dries; however 85% or more of a trout’s diet is what it finds under the surface of the water to eat. I feel that most people do not like to nymph fish because they are not successful with it. Here are five tipes to help you become a better nymph fisherman.

1. Add a lot more weight. Most anglers thank that a small shot or a bead head is often enough weight. This will rarely sink more than a few inches in the turbulent current found in most rivers. For instance, last week on a trip we were fishing a number 4 shot above two tungsten bead nymphs and a number 6 shot in between the nymphs.
2. Add weight between your flies. If you fish two nymphs and the lead fly is not weighted, be sure to add weight in front of it and between the flies. If you do not add any weight, the lighter fly will oftentimes get washed ahead of the weighted fly and a fish can eat it without ever stopping the drift. With weight in front of the second fly, it seldom gets washed ahead of the first fly and you will miss fewer strikes.
3. Watch for the strike. If you try and fish without an indicator, you will feel only about 1 out of every hundred fish that strike your fly. You need to have a way to visualize your strike. Most commonly used are strike indicators. However the really good fishermen have learned to watch their line or the knots on a knotted leader just as if it were an indicator for a strike.
4. Set the hook. When I am guiding I am amazed by the number of fishermen that tell me it was the bottom when their indicator bobbles. Sure sometimes it is, but I see countless times on a trip that I know it was a fish and when I yell “set” the client says no it was the bottom. Usually when you hook the bottom it does not turn loose until you force it to do so.
5. Wait on your cast. The other factor a lot of people do not like is that they tangle up a lot more with nymphs. This is due to the weight of the flies that you are throwing. You have to make your self slow down and wait on your back cast.

Beginner Fly Tying with Lou Barlow
Jan 6, 13, 20, & 27 Cost $25
Feb 3, 10, 17, & 24 Cost $25

Tying Streamers For Trout with Kevin Howell
Sat Jan 8th at 8:30AM to 4PM
Cost $30 with a limit of 10 people

Rod Building with Kevin Howell
Cost $50 You will be required to bring a blank, reel seat, & guides.

Tying Midges & Micro Flies with Landon Lipke
Jan 19, 26 Cost $25
Feb 2, 9 Cost $25

For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com or give us a call at 888.861.0111

Tying the Amex Czech Nymph from scumliner productions on Vimeo.

As we change into a fall fishing pattern there are several things that fishermen can do to increase there catch through out the day. That may be slightly different than the techniques that they were using for summer time fish.

Fishing is good throughout the day, you do not have to fish early or late. Trout will feed all day as they are trying to feed up for the winter, and for spawning in late November in our part of the country.

Terrestrials are a very good fly to use in the fall. However fishing an ant or beetle or hopper in the early morning when it is cool and they are not as active is probably not going to produce as many fish as if you fished the same fly later in the day.

Go big or go home, large trout especially browns like to make a good meal out of eating smaller fish this is especially true in the fall a large trout is capable of eating another trout half his size. So fish large streamers yes even in clear water for larger browns and rainbows.

Fishing dark colored mayfly nymphs and caddis pupas in the morning are a good choice. Then transition to the dries as the day warms up.

Do not be afraid to impair action to your fly until the water gets below 50 degrees. Fall trout tend to more aggressive, so skating flies, stripping flies, or adding some type of movement to your fly may result in more aggressive strikes.

Sampler Class    September 24th 2-3 hours   $20 per person

One day Emerger Class    August 21st  $150 per person

Two Day Predator School   September 25-26  $325 per person

FREE BEGINNERS CLASS    August 27th   1 hour   5:30pm – 6:30pm

For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

Join DRO in one of the most popular fly fishing schools in Western NorthCarolina.  In this school, participants will learn everything from casting techniques, knot tying, gear, and basic fly selections.  The second day is spent on the river with guides from DRO learning water safety, mending, and other techniques that can only be demonstrated on the water.  After lunch on day 2. you will break up into groups and enjoy an afternoon of guided fishing practicing what you have learned.   Cost is $325 per person. For more information or to sign up call 1( 888) 861.0111.

Class Dates: April 24th – 25th at 8am

How to tie the Yellow Mayfly from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Richard Strauss has made his challenge by posting this Rainbow from the Davidson River.

Beginning Fly Tying  $40 per person   

Dates:  January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th.  From 6pm- 8pm.  

Join Instructors Bill Strickland & Lou Barlow for our beginners course in fly tying. This class is designed to get you up and started tying basic fly patterns or use this as a refresher course if you have not tied in several years.  The class will cover majority of all the tools used for tying and will teach you the basic flies to tie such as the Elk Hair Caddis, San Juan Worms, Egg Patterns, WoolyBuggers, etc.  We will supply all the tools and materials while in the class and also provide each person with a DRO fly tying manual.  If interested please email Bill Strickland at bstrickland@davidsonflyfishing.com.

Bass Flies   $35 per person

Dates: February 10th, 17th.  From 6pm – 8 pm

Join Instructor Walker Parrott as he shows you how to tie basic and advanced flies for catching big bass this summer.  This class is recommended for those individuals who have some fly tying skills.  Flies will include Clouser Minnows, Poppers, Sliders, and various other flies.  For more information please contact Walker at Walker@davidsonflyfishing.com

Southern Appalachian Trout Flies   $40 per person

Dates: January 23rd

Learn to tie local flies with one of the Masters in the Industry. Kevin Howell will teach you how to tie some of the traditional Southern Appalachian Flies such as the Yallar Hammer, Sheepfly, Secret Weapon, as well as a few other mountain trout flies. Previous tying experience is preferred.  Contact Kevin Howell for further information at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

Rod Building  $ 75 per person

Dates: January 5th, 19th, 26th….. February 2nd

This class will teach individuals how to build their own graphite fly rod.  You will cover all aspects of building a rod from selecting materials and handles to wrapping guides and epoxying the rod.  DRO will supply all glues,epoxy,and rod driers.  Student swill need to provide 1″ roll of masking tape, a 1/4″ chain saw file, and a pair of sharp fine point scissors.  You will also receive a how to manual for rod building and 15% discount for all material ordered through DRO.  For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com