Upstream Nymphing

Upstream Nymphing

It is always useful to acquire a skill that will help you catch fish on a variety of occasions when the dry fly is not quite as effective as the fish have become a little more astute. You can see the fish taking just below the surface indicated by a bulge at the surface or flash of white or silver. You have tried every dry in your box without success another method is called for?
Many purist fly fisherman dispel this method as it does to some degree mimic the course tack-tick of float trotting (The sight bob, fluorescent putty or dry fly taking the place of the float). I have used this method many times during the summer and brighter winter months when the grayling and trout have been feeding in mid water picking off the various bugs that in habit the weeded areas between the glides across the river. It also comes in valuable when even the lightest of Czech Nymphing rigs is snagging the bottom or surrounding weeds.

The tackle.

This is much the same, as you would use for the dry fly. An 8-10 foot rod weight 4-6 is ideal using a double taper fly line (DRY) with 4-6 foot of mono or fluorocarbon tippet (length dependent on the depth of water fished). If you use a weight forward line then you may need to use a tapered floating leader to help aid fly presentation.
The profile of a double taper line does not require a tapered leader.
Again the reel is a personal choice. Just use one that is balanced to your rod.

The tippet is rigged in the following way. I tend to use a large dry sedge, for the indicator. Florescent putty may be used but I find it can cause casting problems and frustration, as sometimes the fish will take the site indicator. If vision is difficult use a brightly coloured dry fly that is easy to pick out on the waters surface, but is buoyant enough to support the suspended nymphs. The one or two suspended nymphs should be equally spaced the middle fly attached via a dropper 3-4 inches long. See figure 1.

The technique is similar to casting a dry fly upstream. Locate your intended quarry or likely lie. Cast the rig upstream at least ten foot above the target area. The nymphs will need time to sink into the mid water where the fish are feeding. Watch the top fly for any sudden movement this could be a take. If it is pulled under then it's probably a take. Success to all fly-fishing is the art of mending your line so to keep in contact with the fly. Upstream Nymphing is no different! As the current brings the team of fly's back downstream the fly line needs to be gathered to allow the angler to strike at the moment the fish takes. If there is slack between you and the team then the fish will have most likely had time to eject the fly from its mouth before you have had time to set the hook. Lifting the rod at the same time allows the nymphs/spiders to rise in a natural emerging way as if ready to hatch. This method can be quite tiring work if the flow is fast. The team can also be allowed to travel past the angler downstream the angler feeding and mending the line, which he had beforehand gathered. At the end of the run downstream allow the nymphs to rise to the surface before re-casting. Its at this time many takes will come as a fish may have followed the nymphs downstream seizing them before they reach the surface to emerge!

Nymph sizes/spider patterns

I use predominantly size 10-16 nymphs the bottom nymph being heavier (gold head or lead under body) to take the team down. Smaller nymphs can be used but difficulty may be experienced getting the smaller nymphs to sink. I have seen many fly anglers using lead shot to get the right sinking weight.

(Shock horror the purists squeal)

Above fly ideal for sight bob. I have seen them constructed in various colours bright pink orange yellow.

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