Tip of the Week: Speed and Depth with Nymphing

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80 PERCENT OF A TROUT'S DIET IS UNDERWATER.  Take that in folks!  If you want to consistently catch fish on the river, you better learn how to nymph.  When nymphing, we must concentrate on two major criteria... depth and speed.

Depth: fish will be holding and feeding at a certain depth. Many times this will be at or near the bottom of the riverbed. If you don’t get your nymphs down at that depth, you won’t give your shot at getting many fish. We need to think about the weight of the flies that we are fishing so we can get to the correct depth, we also need to think about how we are managing our line and mending it to get our nymphs near the fish as long in the drift as possible.

Speed: fish will hold in different speeds of water, depending on the time of year and what bugs they are eating. We also need to work our flies through the water at a certain speed to allow us to get to the fish. If we are fishing a set up, that brings our flies too quickly through the water, we lose the chance at the fish. Again, line management, mending, and tight-line nymphing gives you the best shot at those fish.

Summary: 

It's always critical to pay attention to speed and depth when targeting trout.  However, when nymphing we must hunt for fish in the correct speed and depth AND work our flies at the right speed and depth.  We teach all of these skills in more in every single FISHALONG ADVENTURE COURSE. 

UPCOMING COURSES TO HIGHLIGHT 

ENTIRE COURSE CALENDAR HERE 

It's FULL-ON Spring friends!  The weather is warming and the birds are chirping.  We are seeing consistent dry fly activity most afternoons and we have a few hatches happening now.  Spring, with the whole season ahead of us, is the BEST time to sign-up for one of our tuition programs and truly learn how to be a self-guided angler.  Our University of Fly Fishing is the most unique, comprehensive fly fishing education available.    

Spring is a great time to learn a new technique.  Interested in learning how to Trout Spey or Euro nymph?  Our Intro and Fishalongs will get you dialed in! With current flows, now is a perfect time to float the Yakima in a personal watercraft!  You can learn how to best use a PWC in one of our PWC Fishalongs!  They are one of my favorite classes to teach!  

• April 26th             Fly Fishing 101/201
• April 27th             Fly Fishing 301
• April 29-May 3     Boat Rowing Courses
• May 3rd                Personal Watercraft Fishalong
• May 3rd                Yakima River Fishalong