Dead Drift Technique by Brett Fogle

Dead Drift Technique by Brett Fogle

The dead drift method of fly fishing with nymphs is the most
effective method an angler can use. Remember, nymphs are
generally at the mercy of the rivers current, and get carried
wherever the current happens to take them. An angler who can
simulate this helplessness of the nymph will be able to
consistently take trout.

There are basically three different ways to accomplish a dead
drift of a nymph. Each of these is covered below.

Dead Drift Method : Quartering for Wade Anglers

This is the easier of the two different dead drift nymph fly
fishing methods for an wade angler to use. Basically, this method
is not much different than dry fly fishing. Simply cast your
nymph across AND upstream. Retrieve any excess line, throwing
upstream mends as needed to allow the nymph to dead drift for as
long as possible (you do not want to drag the nymph across the
current). The mends also allow the nymph to sink to the proper
depth as well.

Dead Drift Method : Direct Upstream for Wade Anglers

This is the most effective, and most difficult, of all nymph fly
fishing techniques. It is also similar to dry fly fishing when
you cast your fly directly upstream of where you happen to be.

This method is simply done but very difficult in practice
beginners can expect to lose many a fish. To do this method,
simply cast your nymph directly upstream (and in the same current
seam, if possible) from where you are standing in the water. As
the nymph makes its way back down towards you, retrieve in all
excess fly linestriking the balance between allowing the nymph
to have a perfectly drag free float while at the same time not
having to much line out (which will prevent proper hook set).

Strikes on a nymph fished in this manner can occur anytime since
the nymph is floating drag free. Always follow the strike
indicator using this method, setting the hook immediately
whenever you see the strike indicator stop momentarily in the
water or suddenly change direction. With practice, youll get a
feel for what differentiates a rock strike from a trout
strike.

Also, dont be in to big a hurry to pick up the nymph. You can
let it float right down almost to your feet (within 5-10 feet),
assuming you didnt make too much of a commotion during your
wading (thus scaring away all the fish near you). Remember, trout
will be facing against the current waiting for their food to
arriveand youll be downstream from them. Thus, they wont see
you unless you make lots of noise to let them know that you are
there.

The other reason you want the nymph to continue floating towards
you is because you want to nymph to come up from the bottom of
the river a bitwhich simulates an emerging insect. As the
nymph gets closer to you, simply raise the rod tip a bit. This
will bring the nymph off the bottom of the river and put it in a
gradual, but still downstream, incline towards the surface.

Once you pick up the fly, you will then want to wade just a bit
to your right or left, then make another cast, allowing the nymph
to dead drift through another spot in the river that is just a
bit away from where your nymph previously floated through. By
doing things this way, you can cover a lot of water in a hurry
in a very effective manner.
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Gear Needed for Fishing with Nymphs by Brett Fogle

Gear Needed for Fishing with Nymphs by Brett Fogle

Now that weve covered what nymph fly fishing is all about, lets
next take a look at what sort of fly fishing gear you're going to
need to do it. While nymph fly fishing uses pretty much the same
gear you use when dry fly fishing, there is a few small items
that any successfully nymph fisherman will want to have. These
items are strike indicators, some small weights, and a good pair
of fly fishing sunglasses.

Strike Indicators for Nymph Fishing

First, you will need some strike indicators. Strike indicators
are generally bright orange, ungodly looking things that get put
on your leader well above the fly or on the fly line itself, at
the junction of the fly line and leader. These strike indicators
are what you look at when nymph fishingnot the fly itself.
With practice and patience, youll eventually be able to tell
when unnatural movements occur in the strike indicatorwhich
most likely indicates that a fish just took your nymph fly
imitation.

Exactly where to put the strike indicator is a matter of some
debate, but ultimately boils down to what you are fly fishing for
and where you are doing it. Wary Brown Trout in heavily fished
waters, like the Missouri River, are not likely to be real wild
about seeing a bright orange object just a few feet above the
fly. On the other hand, more gullible trout or trout that receive
less fly fishing pressure could probably care less about it. In
short, use your judgment, erring on the side of caution (placing
the strike indicator as far away from the fly as possible, for
your abilities).

Small Weights for Nymph Fishing

The second thing youll need for many rivers will be some small
weights to add to your fly line or leader. In many, if not most
nymph fly fishing situations, a floating line is still used.
However, to get the fly down to the depth you want it to go will
require weighting it (at least in faster water).

This is best done with the newer twist on non-toxic weights
that are now available. Using these types of weights, an angler
can put on as much or as little weight as needed to bring the fly
down to depth, while at the same time preventing the fish from
inhaling toxic lead (which can kill them).

Should you plan on fishing in really deep or fast rivers where
even a weighted leader will not get the fly down to depth fast
enough, then you will also want to look at investing in a
sink-tip fly line. Sink-tip fly lines have the tip of the fly
line weighted to sink, thus allowing it to sink the nymph fly
more quickly.

Fly Fishing Sunglasses for Nymph Fishing

Another item of heavy importance is a good pair of polarized
sunglasses. Its absolutely imperative that you be able to see
the strike indicator, and polarized sunglasses are very effective
for this.


About the Author
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Who else wants to pull in a bounty of big fish - Every time!
Here's how to AMAZE your friends (and maybe even make them
a little bit jealous) In 'Fly Fishing Secrets' we show you how.
To get your hands on these amazing insider secrets, Click Here:

http://www.fly-fishing-scerets.com