Nymphing in Alberta

NYMPHING

The important key here is to understand what a dead drift is. Insect nymphs do not have the ability to swim very fast and are therefore carried along the bottom by the current, so a dead drift replicates this. The next time you see something floating down the river, notice how it is floating. It will be floating along at the same approximate speed as the water. Now envision your flies floating along the bottom of the river. They must be floating along at the same speed as the water, or they will look unnatural to the fish.

A dead drift is achieved by casting up river and as your line and indicator is floating downstream you must put a mend in the line. A mend is basically achieved by putting a belly in the line in the opposite direction than what the current is naturally forming. For example if you see a belly forming downstream during your drift, you will need to pick up the fly line a flip a belly upstream. All this does is to take the drag off the line so that the flies are not being pulled through the water and are drifting freely.

Now while you’re doing all this, you must keep an eye on your indicator. If you see it stop or twitch it is time to set the hook. Setting the hook is something that some do well and others struggle with. Ninety nine percent of the time the fish will be facing upstream, therefore you must set by lifting your rod with an up and downstream motion. Since this is in the opposite direction the fish are facing you will have a much better hooking angle. You can also increase the time to pick up the line when setting by pulling or stripping on the line that is in your hand. You do not need to set the hook hard, but rather fast and smooth. As soon as you feel resistance on the other end stop your setting motion or you will break off the fish and the jerk will be on the wrong end. If you have a successful hookup let the fish run and get all the excess line your reel. I see so many fishermen that have $300 reels with smooth drags, but fail to use them. They think stripping the fish back to them is the way to fight the fish. Believe me, the drag on the reel is a lot smoother than what you can achieve by pinching the line between your fingers.

I hope this information helps some of the beginners and first timers to Alberta.