AnsweredNymph fly fishing for Steelhead

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PGHfisher
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2013/09/18 17:25:35 (permalink)

Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead

Hello all!
 
I’m new to fly fishing, especially for Steelhead.  I have my 9’-7wt rig ready to go, and 2 fly boxes full of great flies.  As a noob to fly fishing I’m trying to gather how to tie a nymph on the leader.  When you see a pic of a nymph fly it’s always shown with the hook pointed down.  When I tie the fly on the leader it seems like the nymph flips over.
 
1)      Is there a specific way to tie the nymph to the leader?
2)      Is it ok for the nymph to turn upside down?
 
Hopefully my questions and situation are clear enough for your help!
 
I greatly appreciate it!
 
FISHON!
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    FiveMilePete
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 00:55:52 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby PGHfisher 2013/09/19 07:44:11
    Use an Orvis Knot or Davy knot for nymphs, and a nonslip loop knot for streamers.  And you tie nymphs to tippet, not leader, unless your leader is a full tapered leader. Tippet for steelhead can range from 4 to 8 lb. test, depending on water conditions.  I usually stick with 5 or 6 lb. Ultragreen.
     
    You can Google how to tie those knots. Also look at Double Davy.
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    FiveMilePete
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 02:27:13 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby PGHfisher 2013/09/19 09:04:18
    http://www.pechetruite.com/Noeuds/Davy-knot.htm
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    PGHfisher
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 07:47:35 (permalink)
    FiveMilePete
    Use an Orvis Knot or Davy knot for nymphs, and a nonslip loop knot for streamers.  And you tie nymphs to tippet, not leader, unless your leader is a full tapered leader. Tippet for steelhead can range from 4 to 8 lb. test, depending on water conditions.  I usually stick with 5 or 6 lb. Ultragreen.
     
    You can Google how to tie those knots. Also look at Double Davy.


    Thank you for the knot suggestions, I will look into them!
     
    Correct me if I’m wrong, isn’t the end of a tapered leader actually a piece of tippet?  When I get a new tapered leader I don’t need to attach a new piece of tippet until I used the section provided with the tapered leader, right?
     
    Thanks for your help!
     
    FISHON!
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    Cold
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 08:44:20 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby PGHfisher 2013/09/19 09:25:33
    1) Any normal fishing knot will work.  Everyone has their favorites, just use one you have confidence in.  I use an imp. clinch for most of my flies.  Non-slip loop for bigger streamers.
     
    2) Yes, it'll get turned every which way in the current.  Real nymphs get tossed around in the current too.  
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    PGHfisher
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 09:25:52 (permalink)
    Cold
    1) Any normal fishing knot will work.  Everyone has their favorites, just use one you have confidence in.  I use an imp. clinch for most of my flies.  Non-slip loop for bigger streamers.
     
    2) Yes, it'll get turned every which way in the current.  Real nymphs get tossed around in the current too.  


    Thanks for the info!
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    Jna0903
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 09:39:41 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby PGHfisher 2013/09/19 10:58:34
    Hey pghfisher, I usually buy a cheaper 3x mono leader and tie a very small swivel to the end of my leader and then fluorocarbon on the other end. That way you can cut off old and replace quickly on the stream.
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    PGHfisher
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 10:58:24 (permalink)
    Jna0903
    Hey pghfisher, I usually buy a cheaper 3x mono leader and tie a very small swivel to the end of my leader and then fluorocarbon on the other end. That way you can cut off old and replace quickly on the stream.

    Thanks! I seen these things called tippet rings. Kind of the same concept, just small and extremely light weight.  I’ll have to give them a go.
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    Jna0903
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 11:07:04 (permalink)
    Yea that sounds good, I learn that from Jeff blood, I met him up walnut one morning and that's what he does
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    PGHfisher
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 11:12:01 (permalink)
    Jna0903
    Yea that sounds good, I learn that from Jeff blood, I met him up walnut one morning and that's what he does

    Nice! Any luck today, I'm probably going to head up in a couple weekends.
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    FiveMilePete
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 11:21:31 (permalink)
    Jna0903
    Hey pghfisher, I usually buy a cheaper 3x mono leader and tie a very small swivel to the end of my leader and then fluorocarbon on the other end. That way you can cut off old and replace quickly on the stream.

    I've tried this and broken the swivels.  Tying a new 3 ft section of fluoro or mono tippet with a surgeon knot is pretty quick.  I buy the cheaper tapered leaders, then cut the tippet section off for the 9 fters, or just add the tippet for a 7.5 ft. leader. I want the last section to be 10 to 12 lb. test.  If I'm out of leaders, I just use a 20 lb test ultragreen, then a section of 12 pound, about 3.5 ft. each. Surgeon knot, then add tippet, usually 5 lb Ultragreen.
     
    You're usually not really casting, so you could just use one test, I suppose. I'd use the 12 lb. if doing that.
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    Jna0903
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 12:06:48 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2013/09/19 12:16:38
    Not today, maybe Monday or Tuesday after the rain
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    FiveMilePete
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 12:23:16 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby PGHfisher 2013/09/19 12:53:59
    PGHfisher
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    1) Any normal fishing knot will work.  Everyone has their favorites, just use one you have confidence in.  I use an imp. clinch for most of my flies.  Non-slip loop for bigger streamers.
     
    2) Yes, it'll get turned every which way in the current.  Real nymphs get tossed around in the current too.  


    Thanks for the info!


    I used the improved clinch for many, many years.  Now use the Double Davy almost all the time.  It's much stronger, easier to tie, and smaller.  I use the nonslip loop for streamers.  If
    you look at the link above, you can see why the knot is so strong.  Orvis is close, but the Davy is easier to tie, especially when it's cold. 
    #13
    Cold
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 12:43:17 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2013/09/19 21:09:52
    I'm not doubting that it works, but I have no reason to switch, when I can tie an imp. clinch behind my back, in the dark, drunk...in seconds...and it does everything I expect it to do.
     
    I actually prefer the palomar for strength, but it's a pain with tiny hook eyes, or especially large or small hooks/flies.
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    Porktown
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 14:11:08 (permalink)
    I think the first leaders where made this way.  You better be sure of your knot tying ability.  They aren't going to work as well as store bought, but they work.  I tried doing this about 10 years ago, and had the worst day on the Erie tribs ever.  I had 5-6 of the knots let out on me.  I'm guessing the swivels would work for steelhead or anything besides dry flies.  The knotted ones will work for dry flies, as they don't sink, the swivels would sink your dry.
    post edited by Porktown - 2013/09/19 14:12:27
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/09/19 15:21:35 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2013/09/19 21:11:12
    Knotted leaders are still very popular today...among experienced fly fishermen, probably more popular than the knotless tapered leaders.  This is because it allows you to customize your leader, and assuming you carry the spools with you, to repair, or even create a leader streamside.
     
    For the PA tribs it doesn't really matter, as you're just looking for something to get you from fly line to tippet, but in situations where turnover and presentation are critical, most of the experienced fly anglers I've met prefer their own recipe to whatever was extruded at the factory.
     
    For my non-steelhead fishing, I like furled leaders, but up in Erie, my leader is usually best described as a few feet of some heavy mono, a few feet of some lighter mono, a perfection loop...another perfection loop, and a few feet of fluoro 6#.  Usually I try to keep the total leader length (tippet included) around, but just over, ten feet.  This has nothing to do with the fish, and everything to do with my fly rod being 10' long, and I don't want to wear out the tip of my flyline by keeping it creased over the tip when not in use.
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    Risen Fly
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    Re: Nymph fly fishing for Steelhead 2013/10/11 15:59:32 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2013/10/14 13:16:35
    The more knots or tapers in your leader the more drag it will have on sub surface fishing.  Keep it simple on your nymph leaders.  2-3 sections max.
     
    Think about it... does a solid 15lb section of line make the same drag as a 6lb section?  So whether it's tapered or knotted, isn't that going to effect your drag with them both being on the same line?
     
    I put a butt section to my fly line, a 12-15lb section there, then add tippet.  KISS
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