There are plenty of trout in your local trout stream – they’re just not always rising. That’s where nymph fishing really comes into its own. It might not have the glamour of a dry fly, but it consistently puts fish in the net – especially if you approach it with a bit of thought and care.
Here’s a practical look at how to get more from your nymph fishing, whatever kind of water you’re fishing.
1. Match the Tactic to the Water
Not all stretches call for the same method. Fast, broken water calls for a short line approach with good contact. Slower, steadier glides often need a lighter touch – perhaps a single nymph under a dry or an indicator, with finer tippet and a bit of stealth.
Let the water tell you what to do – not the setup you happened to start with.
Check out the Indicators to help you stay connected and spot subtle takes.
2. Get the Depth Right
Lots of what trout feed on is drifting near the bottom. If your nymphs aren’t getting down fast enough, you’ll simply be fishing over the fish. Use Tungsten Beaded Nymphs, and short, controlled drifts to stay in the zone.
Too shallow and you’ll miss them. Too deep and you’ll be snagging every third cast. The sweet spot is somewhere in between – and it changes stretch to stretch.
3. Fish the Near Water First
A common mistake is to wade straight in and cast far. But many fish hold close to the bank, especially in areas with broken surface water, overhanging cover, or subtle current seams. Fish the water near you first with tight drifts and high rod control. You’ll be surprised what’s lying right under your nose.
4. Fish the Overlooked Water
Everyone fishes the obvious bits – big pools, smooth glides, textbook runs. But trout often hold in the places people skip: narrow seams, shallow riffles, midstream pockets. These fish may be less pressured and more willing to feed.
Our Beadhead Olive Spider and Beadhead Orange Spider are perfect for picking out fish in this kind of water.
5. Know When to Move
Successful anglers cover ground. If you’ve made a few good drifts through a lie and nothing’s happened, don’t waste half an hour trying every fly in your box. Move to the next bit of water and keep learning. Nymphing is a numbers game – you need to fish where the fish are feeding.
6. Strike at Anything Suspicious
Takes can be subtle – a twitch, a pause, a movement of the sighter. Often it doesn’t look like much. If in doubt, lift the rod. The worst that can happen is you recast. The best? You’re into a fish.
Want to Learn More?
We teach all of this in our Free Online River Fly Fishing Course, filmed in 4K on real UK rivers. It’s full of no-nonsense advice to help you get better results on the water – whether you’re just starting out or refining your technique.
Need the right flies? Our Tungsten Beaded Nymphs are designed by UK fly fishers, for UK rivers.
Or pop into the shop for a chat – we’re always happy to help.
