Thanks so much for these videos - you have helped me so much getting back into fishing and specifically starting fly fishing. Went from often being skunked to regular double digit hauls. The information on reading the water and conditions is invaluable. The GoPro footage was excellent when I could see your line to get a better view of the drift - ever thought of using an all high vis sighter material leader for the videos? Really appreciate you sharing your time and incredible knowledge. Kia ora from NZ
Hi Matt, The leader I used for the floated sighter was an all high vis material. Unfortunately, the sighter is a lot harder to pick up on camera than it is to see with the naked eye.
Devin, would you say that early as winter sets in, you’re euro Nymphing and then possibly switching to dry-droppers more in the late winter as more midges emerge? I’ve experienced this over the years here in Colorado. As the winter weather steadies in the 20s, midges will bring the fish up more. Great video and good work my friend
For me it's more of a water type switch than anything. I can fish all of my rigs shallower or deeper as needed but I prefer dry dropper/floated sighter rigs in smoother water and an off the water Euro nymph presentation in more complicated and/or choppy water.
Nice video. Could you show your nymph setup in subsequent videos? Just want to get a feel for how far apart to place them and where you place your split shots. Thanks.
Erwin, I don't have any split shot on the line. I only fish with tungsten beads, which is why I described the size of the beads on my flies in the video. You can find all the rigging information in our Modern Nymphing series on Vimeo. I also have leader descriptions in the video links below. th-cam.com/video/GTcJcPMyBkk/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/xp3hug9oQOo/w-d-xo.html
Devin, thanks for all the content you create. Euro nymphing here in Wisconsin absolutely crushes fish. My question is how do you manage carrying multiple rods ? Rigged? Unrigged in tubes?
Cole, I plan on doing a video for this topic this summer. In the meantime, you'll see in this video that I have a second rod stuck up in the air. It's placed in my waders with the straps of my chest pack keeping it in check. I tilt it to the side I'm not casting on. If it's smaller water I usually just place it on the bank. There is also a product called the Opros 3rd hand rod holder that we sell in the shop that works well.
What reel are you using? The one with the lever in front of the reel. Is that an auto retrieve? My Dad grew up fishing autos and I would love to get him one that isn’t 50 years old. Great video! Everything I know about euro I’ve leaned from your DVD’s and TH-cam channel. Still a noob but your techniques have caught me lots of fish here in Colorado. Thanks!
Hi Brett, Glad you enjoyed the video and that our content has helped you. I was using a Peux Fulgor, which is a semi automatic fly reel. We have the Peux and several other semi automatic options in our shop. www.tacticalflyfisher.com/fly-fishing/reels/semi-automatic-fly-reels/
Devin - first off, thanks for all of the education and techniques in your videos. They're so helpful.... Quick question on your gear. I've been considering changing up from my sling pack to your Umpqua chest pack option. Been concerned about how it may interfere while fighting / landing fish and if you ever feel constrained with so much in front of your hands/chest? Thanks Rob
Rob, It's not an issue for me. Just make sure when you set it up that you don't have a bunch of stuff dangling off it, so it doesn't catch line but it's not an issue for me overall.
I was surprised by the mop fly choice in winter and that it briefly worked. I assume you switched back to the Hare's Ear Blow Torch as it was more productive?
The Mop is a pattern I usually try at least once a day regardless of the season. I did change back in this video but I tried it later in the day as well and I caught a lot of fish on it.
What is the best tactic to euro fish in creek water that is low, clear, and NOT moving? I find it very hard to euro cast in stream water that is not really moving fast at all. How do I approach this with a euro-rod technique? All of the videos I see for "slow water" is actully moving quite fast as compared to where I am trying to leverage euro- tactics.
Bob, check out our dry dropper, floating the sighter, and tips for low water video. th-cam.com/video/5IYWti8okLQ/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/xp3hug9oQOo/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/c8hqn8NBcaI/w-d-xo.html
Great video. I liked the go pro angle better to be able to see the drift. As a newbie I think my drift is too fast and this angle was great. Also, is a hairs ear hollow torch the same pattern but with hares ear dubbing instead of peacock
Chris, Leading flies too fast is a common problem among anglers I see Euro Nymphing. The Hare's Ear Blowtorch is basically my Crossover Nymph without the coq de Leon in the tail. You can see the tutorial at this link th-cam.com/video/udEZsDblpq4/w-d-xo.html
It's not much of a problem with a Euro nymphing setup since the leader is rarely on the water. If I do have ice buildup, I just put the rod under the water and shake it a little bit for 10-20 seconds. The ice generally will melt out of the guides and I can get back to fishing.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 thats some serious skill pulling out bigger fish lile that. Competitions makes you improve a lot... Thanks for your reply... Cheers 🍻
It's placed in my waders with the straps of my chest pack keeping it in check. I tilt it to the side I'm not casting on. If it's smaller water, I usually just place it on the bank.
Hey Devin nice video, I have a question regarding euro nymph rods. What would you say the max bead size is for a 2wt euro rod on a double nymph rig ? I know some people fish a 2.8 as the point fly and a 2.3 as the dropper, I’m just wondering what the maximum is before the rod starts to cast inaccurately because of slow recovery. Would you say the 3wt is more of a “do it all” type of rod as opposed to the 2wt?
Nathaniel, it depends a lot on the individual models of rods you are talking about. Some 2 weights are close to other companies’ 3 weights and vice versa. With that said, none of the bead sizes you mention are beyond the ability of most two weights. I find that 3.8 mm flies or mops that soak up a lot of water are where things tend to get tough.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 for example the Thomas and Thomas 2wt… could you throw a 3.5mm fly with an additional lighter fly on the dropper like a 2.3mm? Or is that rod more suited for single nymphs once you get around 3.3-3.5.
It's largely a personal preference thing. While the Red Dart has a similar color scheme, there aren't any fluorescent materials on the fly so the hot spot effects aren't as prominent. I've fished both a lot in the past and have preferred the Blowtorch.
With the floated sighter rig I was making longish 25-30' casts and then retrieving slack. With a 21-22' leader and a tuck cast, I probably had 1-4' of line out the rod tip on my longer casts.
@@joeborgione5477 That's pretty typical for a lot of new Euro nymphers and many never move past it. Learning to make longer drifts where necessary and manage the accompanying slack is a critical skill to open up new water and for being able to nymph with less weight and smaller flies.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 I Search a rod for euro nymphing but for cast in all river small and big river, but i fish in france and the fish is 10" maximum , you think with the 10'9 3 wt she's bent on small fish like that ?
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 OK and which one bent more and made more sensation the Dimondback 10' 1wt our t&t 2wt? The diamondback is false with the weight but I've never tried this 2 rods
@@axelg4263 The 10' 2 weight Contact II is an incredible rod for smaller fish and rivers. It would be my first pick but the Diamondback 10' 1 weight is also very good and would be a great choice if you are looking to save a bit of money.
Another nice video- thank you Devin. I purchased the Sempre leader from your shop and it’s working great form me -any plans of getting Penze &Michele leader material in the near future/ heard that is another excellent material for micro leaders?
Pezon Michel has not replied to any of my correspondence. Either way, the packaging and spools are identical and I'm pretty sure that the Sempe is the same material.
In every video, there is always a new tit-bit of information that I can use to improve my game so thanks. However, I do have some confusion about rod position and my position relative to the fish once the fish is on. In your three Modern Nymphing videos, you consistently emphasize the need to have the rod at a right angle so that the butt protects the tippet. In addition, we are also told we need to ensure the fish is upstream and if necessary we should move downstream to keep the fish above us. Yet in this video, on several occasions when fish, and some were large, were on, your rod was pointing to the sky and the fish was skirting across the top of the water surface. Also, several fish were allowed to go downstream and you made no attempt to reposition yourself. Please address my confusion. Cheers.
Alan, I maintain those positions until I'm about to net the fish but at a certain point the rod does need to be lifted to get the fish' head up and into the net. And once the fish is showing signs of tiring, skating them on the surface can be easier than repositioning them if they still are downstream but you have to read the way the fish is fighting to do that reliably. I also didn't move to chase fish in this video because I didn't have a cameraman to follow me and I knew I would be out of the frame if I went downstream. Lastly, the wide angle of the gopro lens distorts the rod angle when it's close to the camera so that may have skewed how the angle appeared.
Have you heard of Patagonia? or perhaps New Zealand? Assuming you are in the northern hemisphere, you could set yourself a reminder to watch the video in 6 months.
Thanks for sharing, your videos take some beating.
Quality content.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for these videos - you have helped me so much getting back into fishing and specifically starting fly fishing. Went from often being skunked to regular double digit hauls. The information on reading the water and conditions is invaluable. The GoPro footage was excellent when I could see your line to get a better view of the drift - ever thought of using an all high vis sighter material leader for the videos? Really appreciate you sharing your time and incredible knowledge. Kia ora from NZ
Hi Matt,
The leader I used for the floated sighter was an all high vis material. Unfortunately, the sighter is a lot harder to pick up on camera than it is to see with the naked eye.
Super informative and helpful video!
Thanks Preston
Another very nice video!
Thanks
Cool video, thanks. What reel are u using?
Nice video! I really liked the GoPro footage. I could make out your line very clearly in most of the scenes.
Glad you enjoyed it Todd.
Thanks for the video Devin! Love the channel and the online store.
Thanks Dan
Great job Devin!!
Thanks Scott
Devin, would you say that early as winter sets in, you’re euro Nymphing and then possibly switching to dry-droppers more in the late winter as more midges emerge? I’ve experienced this over the years here in Colorado. As the winter weather steadies in the 20s, midges will bring the fish up more. Great video and good work my friend
For me it's more of a water type switch than anything. I can fish all of my rigs shallower or deeper as needed but I prefer dry dropper/floated sighter rigs in smoother water and an off the water Euro nymph presentation in more complicated and/or choppy water.
Nice video. Could you show your nymph setup in subsequent videos? Just want to get a feel for how far apart to place them and where you place your split shots. Thanks.
Erwin, I don't have any split shot on the line. I only fish with tungsten beads, which is why I described the size of the beads on my flies in the video. You can find all the rigging information in our Modern Nymphing series on Vimeo. I also have leader descriptions in the video links below.
th-cam.com/video/GTcJcPMyBkk/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/xp3hug9oQOo/w-d-xo.html
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Oh ok. Thanks.
Devin, thanks for all the content you create. Euro nymphing here in Wisconsin absolutely crushes fish.
My question is how do you manage carrying multiple rods ? Rigged? Unrigged in tubes?
Cole, I plan on doing a video for this topic this summer. In the meantime, you'll see in this video that I have a second rod stuck up in the air. It's placed in my waders with the straps of my chest pack keeping it in check. I tilt it to the side I'm not casting on. If it's smaller water I usually just place it on the bank. There is also a product called the Opros 3rd hand rod holder that we sell in the shop that works well.
What reel are you using? The one with the lever in front of the reel. Is that an auto retrieve? My Dad grew up fishing autos and I would love to get him one that isn’t 50 years old. Great video! Everything I know about euro I’ve leaned from your DVD’s and TH-cam channel. Still a noob but your techniques have caught me lots of fish here in Colorado. Thanks!
Hi Brett,
Glad you enjoyed the video and that our content has helped you. I was using a Peux Fulgor, which is a semi automatic fly reel. We have the Peux and several other semi automatic options in our shop. www.tacticalflyfisher.com/fly-fishing/reels/semi-automatic-fly-reels/
Wish you would show a shot of the flies and sizes!
I simply forgot this go around. The blowtorch nymphs were 16s and 14s. The Mop was a 12.
Devin - first off, thanks for all of the education and techniques in your videos. They're so helpful.... Quick question on your gear. I've been considering changing up from my sling pack to your Umpqua chest pack option. Been concerned about how it may interfere while fighting / landing fish and if you ever feel constrained with so much in front of your hands/chest? Thanks Rob
Rob,
It's not an issue for me. Just make sure when you set it up that you don't have a bunch of stuff dangling off it, so it doesn't catch line but it's not an issue for me overall.
I was surprised by the mop fly choice in winter and that it briefly worked. I assume you switched back to the Hare's Ear Blow Torch as it was more productive?
The Mop is a pattern I usually try at least once a day regardless of the season. I did change back in this video but I tried it later in the day as well and I caught a lot of fish on it.
What is the best tactic to euro fish in creek water that is low, clear, and NOT moving? I find it very hard to euro cast in stream water that is not really moving fast at all. How do I approach this with a euro-rod technique? All of the videos I see for "slow water" is actully moving quite fast as compared to where I am trying to leverage euro- tactics.
Bob, check out our dry dropper, floating the sighter, and tips for low water video.
th-cam.com/video/5IYWti8okLQ/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/xp3hug9oQOo/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/c8hqn8NBcaI/w-d-xo.html
Great video. I liked the go pro angle better to be able to see the drift. As a newbie I think my drift is too fast and this angle was great. Also, is a hairs ear hollow torch the same pattern but with hares ear dubbing instead of peacock
Chris, Leading flies too fast is a common problem among anglers I see Euro Nymphing. The Hare's Ear Blowtorch is basically my Crossover Nymph without the coq de Leon in the tail. You can see the tutorial at this link th-cam.com/video/udEZsDblpq4/w-d-xo.html
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 thanks Devin!
How are you keeping the ice from the rod eyes?
It's not much of a problem with a Euro nymphing setup since the leader is rarely on the water. If I do have ice buildup, I just put the rod under the water and shake it a little bit for 10-20 seconds. The ice generally will melt out of the guides and I can get back to fishing.
Just curious. What type of reel is that you are using?
I was using a Peux Fulgor in this video.
Devin, what reel are you using? Looks like some sort of drag trigger?
It's a Peux Fulgor semi-automatic reel. www.tacticalflyfisher.com/peux-fulgor-semi-automatic-fly-reel/
Great as always. Which tippet did you use and what diameter
I was using 6x tippet. I can't remember if it was Cortland Ultra Premium fluoro or Scientific Anglers Absolute Supreme fluoro.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 thats some serious skill pulling out bigger fish lile that. Competitions makes you improve a lot... Thanks for your reply... Cheers 🍻
Great video Devin! How do you stick your second rod in you chest pack?
It's placed in my waders with the straps of my chest pack keeping it in check. I tilt it to the side I'm not casting on. If it's smaller water, I usually just place it on the bank.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Great! Thank you
Is this a Utah stream?
Not a Utah stream.
Hey Devin nice video, I have a question regarding euro nymph rods. What would you say the max bead size is for a 2wt euro rod on a double nymph rig ? I know some people fish a 2.8 as the point fly and a 2.3 as the dropper, I’m just wondering what the maximum is before the rod starts to cast inaccurately because of slow recovery. Would you say the 3wt is more of a “do it all” type of rod as opposed to the 2wt?
Nathaniel, it depends a lot on the individual models of rods you are talking about. Some 2 weights are close to other companies’ 3 weights and vice versa. With that said, none of the bead sizes you mention are beyond the ability of most two weights. I find that 3.8 mm flies or mops that soak up a lot of water are where things tend to get tough.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 for example the Thomas and Thomas 2wt… could you throw a 3.5mm fly with an additional lighter fly on the dropper like a 2.3mm? Or is that rod more suited for single nymphs once you get around 3.3-3.5.
@@nathanielchoate69 There's no reason you couldn't throw that type of rig, though the 1093 would do it better in the case of the T and T.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 okay thanks
What causes you to tie on a Blowtorch vs. a Red Dart? Don't both flies kinda flick the same switch for the trout?
It's largely a personal preference thing. While the Red Dart has a similar color scheme, there aren't any fluorescent materials on the fly so the hot spot effects aren't as prominent. I've fished both a lot in the past and have preferred the Blowtorch.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 cool, thanks
How much actual line do you typically have out? You mention rather than lifting the rod you get your sighted off the water with your left hand.
With the floated sighter rig I was making longish 25-30' casts and then retrieving slack. With a 21-22' leader and a tuck cast, I probably had 1-4' of line out the rod tip on my longer casts.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 thanks- as a newbie to euro nymphing, My cast are considerably shorter: I don’t have any line past about the first ferrule.
@@joeborgione5477 That's pretty typical for a lot of new Euro nymphers and many never move past it. Learning to make longer drifts where necessary and manage the accompanying slack is a critical skill to open up new water and for being able to nymph with less weight and smaller flies.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 thanks! It just takes time I guess. As long as you make videos, I’ll keep watching!
that's the 10'9 #3wt ?
Yes
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 I Search a rod for euro nymphing but for cast in all river small and big river, but i fish in france and the fish is 10" maximum , you think with the 10'9 3 wt she's bent on small fish like that ?
@@axelg4263 You would probably be better off with the 10' 9" 2 weight for that size of fish.
@@tacticalflyfisher3817 OK and which one bent more and made more sensation the Dimondback 10' 1wt our t&t 2wt?
The diamondback is false with the weight but I've never tried this 2 rods
@@axelg4263 The 10' 2 weight Contact II is an incredible rod for smaller fish and rivers. It would be my first pick but the Diamondback 10' 1 weight is also very good and would be a great choice if you are looking to save a bit of money.
Another nice video- thank you Devin.
I purchased the Sempre leader from your shop and it’s working great form me -any plans of getting Penze &Michele leader material in the near future/ heard that is another excellent material for micro leaders?
Pezon Michel has not replied to any of my correspondence. Either way, the packaging and spools are identical and I'm pretty sure that the Sempe is the same material.
In every video, there is always a new tit-bit of information that I can use to improve my game so thanks. However, I do have some confusion about rod position and my position relative to the fish once the fish is on. In your three Modern Nymphing videos, you consistently emphasize the need to have the rod at a right angle so that the butt protects the tippet. In addition, we are also told we need to ensure the fish is upstream and if necessary we should move downstream to keep the fish above us. Yet in this video, on several occasions when fish, and some were large, were on, your rod was pointing to the sky and the fish was skirting across the top of the water surface. Also, several fish were allowed to go downstream and you made no attempt to reposition yourself. Please address my confusion. Cheers.
Alan,
I maintain those positions until I'm about to net the fish but at a certain point the rod does need to be lifted to get the fish' head up and into the net. And once the fish is showing signs of tiring, skating them on the surface can be easier than repositioning them if they still are downstream but you have to read the way the fish is fighting to do that reliably. I also didn't move to chase fish in this video because I didn't have a cameraman to follow me and I knew I would be out of the frame if I went downstream. Lastly, the wide angle of the gopro lens distorts the rod angle when it's close to the camera so that may have skewed how the angle appeared.
Thanks makes sense
A little late with this one. It is spring isn’t it?
Ahh yes, thanks for the calendar lesson.
Have you heard of Patagonia? or perhaps New Zealand? Assuming you are in the northern hemisphere, you could set yourself a reminder to watch the video in 6 months.