Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Discus tips on techniques, styles and tactics here
Post Reply
Nztayls
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:11 am

Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by Nztayls » Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:12 pm

During a recent trip to Turangi I spent an enjoyable evening in TALTAC listening to a group of guys discussing how lethal euro-nymphing was and talking about the success they were having on a some of the local rivers. Seeing as I woke up to a flooded Tongariro the next morning I decided I would give it a shot up the Hinemaia. I was familiar in theory with the tecnhique (I even bought a book on it in 2010!) but never really gave it a crack. I picked up a specialist leader from a local tackle store, got a quick low down on what to do, and headed up the river. I hooked three fish in quick succession, loosing all three not long after hook up. I am also guessing I missed a number of takes as well.

But what it did confirm to me was how effective this is (I just need to practice more on setting the hook!). And it would probably be helped if I had the right gear. I was just using what I had on me - a Scott Radian 6wt - and was struggling to turn the leader over or get the rod tip high enough to stop the leader drawing on the surface. So I've managed to pick up a very cheap Airflow SLN rod designed for the purpose, and I'm going to give this more attention.

Question I have is - what is the more effective method? I understand one method sees you essentially using a very long leader with a coloured section on it which acts as your strike indicator with essentially no fly line out the end off the rod. So in effect the fly line is playing no part whatsoever in the fishing (apart from meeting the legal requirements in Taupo, which says fly fishing means a fly rod, fly line, and fly reel).

The other method sees you use a fly line with a brightly coloured looped end which the leader is attached to - and you essentially hole all the fly line off the water and use the coloured loop as the indicator.

What are peoples preferred method (or are there others?). Like most of these techniques that are developed overseas, they tend to become modified to deal with our somewhat larger fish - so I am keen for any tips.

Cheers!



SuperJack.10
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:06 pm
Location: Wellington

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by SuperJack.10 » Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:48 pm

The problem with having fly line out of the tip of the rod is that the weight of it will "sag" the leader and drag it towards you, so it will be much harder to fish at any distance. So I prefer your first option - the long leader one. In saying that, I'm no expert. Hope that makes sense.



Boisker
Posts: 255
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 8:28 pm

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by Boisker » Sun Jul 30, 2017 1:55 am

I've not done a huge amount of French/euro/long leader nymphing, but I did find my radian to stiff for casting 9m nylon leaders, you really need a 'softer' rod; I bought a hanak (I'm based in the UK though, so no doubt easier to come across).
If you get good at it, as a technique it is deadly. You are really looking at a fishing distance of 30' though, so probably not applicable to many NZ streams... casting to singular, very large fish in clear water.
On rivers with higher fish numbers it could be great; I didn't fish the Mataura when in NZ last Feb, but did walk a stretch... long nymphing would have worked a treat on the stretch I walked.



MOtrout
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 2:29 pm

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by MOtrout » Thu Aug 17, 2017 3:33 pm

"Euro" rods are generally designed in the 2-4 wt. range because they are really only "casting" the leader itself. Many "euro" anglers use the tension of the downstream drift of the flies to load the long (10-11 feet) rod and then essentially "flip" the flies upstream to the desired location for the next drift. Experts can be very precise with fly placement despite the very long (20 feet or more) leaders that are involved and the technique is, without a doubt, very effective. It becomes particularly useful when a section of river holds heavily-pressured fish that are holding near the bottom and the angler must have total control over depth and strike detection. For these reasons, it is the preferred method for most fly fishing competitions where anglers fish a designated section of water for a specified time and each section is fished repeatedly by subsequent competitors throughout the duration of the competition.

You can euro-nymph with many different rods, but several manufacturers have designed special tools for the job. Sage makes the ESN line of euro rods. Cortland also has some very good ones that are worth a look and used by a number of competitors I've met. Generally, euro rods are soft in the tip, but stout enough further down the blank to handle large fish with authority.



Sagecaster
Posts: 14
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 3:57 pm

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by Sagecaster » Thu Aug 09, 2018 4:50 pm

I use a Hanak Champion #4/5 Czech Nymphing rod, 6 pieces, which can be configured into a multi length combo from 9' to 9'6" or 10' or 10'6".
A lot of guys just use about 30' of straight 20lb Maxima camo mono looped to the fly line, then tied to a 9' tapered leader, a 2 colour sighter, then a tippet ring to which the tippet is attached.
I lashed out & purchased a Hanak 30' tapered leader in camo colour, to which my sighter is tied with a 5 turn uni knot, & a tippet ring attached to the end of the sighter. If I ever have to renew this set-up, i'd save some money & just use the mono as my main leader with a 9' tapered leader attached. Although the full 30' taper does make for easy casting.
That's my set-up. Others will differ. Stick to what works for you........Scotty.



Boisker
Posts: 255
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 8:28 pm

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by Boisker » Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:42 am

Having just seen Chris Dore flag a euro nymph day with Johnny Gummer thought I’d raise this thread back up... have more people been getting into ‘euro/tight line’ nymph fishing over in NZ?
I had a couple of hits from a google search... but was wondering if anyone on the forum had fished this style much in NZ?



Chris Dore
Posts: 85
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 6:02 pm
Location: Queenstown, NZ
Contact:

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by Chris Dore » Tue Dec 28, 2021 1:21 pm

Hey guys. Sorry, I dont check in a lot but saw this. I wrote a pratty detailed response to a number of Questions and comments above this morning at 5am but hit the wrong tab and lost it. So heres a video response made today on the river that I hope answers a lot of the questions.

https://youtu.be/jlIyNGD5pQk

Cheers, Chris.


Chris Dore
Queenstown
www.chrisdore.com

mmunio3
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:25 pm

Re: Setup for Euro Nymphing - Whats the better method

Post by mmunio3 » Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:29 pm

Thanks For Video Chris

https://youtu.be/jlIyNGD5pQk



Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests