On 31 May 2005 08:30:39 -0700,
wrote:

Still struggling with nymphing --

I know that you're supposed to make the distance between your indicator
and your fly about 1.5 - 3x the depth of the water, depending on water
speed, amount of weight, and who you ask. Fine, make sense.

However, I'm often nyphing in water that's at least 4-6 feet deep.
Which means a length of, oh, let's just say about 8' between the
fly+weight and the indicator. It seems to me that that is simply too
much distance - that there's guaranteed to be some slack between the
fly and indicator (what with mid-depth currents and so on, and just the
amount of time it takes the fly to get down deep) which pretty much
guarantees I'll miss any take by simply looking at my indicator.

What am I not understanding here? I feel like I'm comfortable nymphing
with a distance of about 4' between the indicator and fly, and really
no more. But of course that doesn't get me down very deep at all.

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions?

Tim

I typically nymph with a nine foot leader. Add some tippet and it's
more than ten feet. This allows me to nymph in shallow (two feet)
water all the way up to about eight feet or so. I change the position
of the indicator (if I am using one), and use lots of split shot to
ensure the lure gets to the bottom and bounces off the rocks. If I
want to go deeper than, say six feet, I will remove the indicator and
watch my line for any hesitation/movement.

Remember, if your indicator (line/leader connection) is going faster
or the same speed as the top current (watch to bubbles), then you do
not have enough weight on. Your indicator should be going slower than
the top level of water. Can't get down to the bottom? Add more
weight, move your indicator up, or remove it all together.

Dave