Colorado River Monsters (fishing)

Euro Nymphing is ruining Fly Fishing

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I'm new enough to fly fishing I'm not really sure what the difference in euro nymphing is, or really what nymphing is. i looked it up on a couple different sites and it sounds like the main thing is to keep tension on your line? then you rely on feel rather than sight?

This is from Orvis' website
"By definition, fly fishing uses the weight of the line to cast a fly. But with Euro-nymphing, that’s not always the case. Instead, Euro-anglers use the heft of their nymph (usually weighted) to propel the fly to the target. To make this easy to do, they use long leaders made up in different ways."

So does traditional fly fishing not use weights on their line? Or that is just nymphing in general?

Fly fishing is such a detailed sport

 

I'm no Euro rig expert either, but what I understand it uses more specialized equipment so no traditional fly casting/ Dry fly fishing, just short flicks which really is all you need for most CO "rivers".

You can nymph fish (Basically your "lure" is under water) with both, Fly Fishing you use split shot to get the Fly down deep quickly. Euro uses flies with Tungsten in them to provide the weight.

 

It's all about tension on the line.

With a traditional bobber rig, it can be difficult to read strikes if there's no tension between the fly and the bobber. Which is really easy to do in varying currents and depths. With a euro dork setup, you should always have tension between your rod and the fly, making it much easier to read strikes.

IMO, a good tight-line nympher will always out fish a bobber rig.


Too bad I suck at both. Most of my nymping is done on a dropper. I have a cheap euro setup, which I need to force myself to use more. I do enjoy it under the right circumstances, and don't have anything against it. Just don't be an elitist jerk, which I'm guessing is what that article is about.

 

It doesn't need to be. People way overcomplicate it, and like anything, get caught up in the gear.


I spent months fishing the summer before last, and did almost all of it with only an altoids tin size fly box, one spool of tippet, and a lanyard with a hemostat, floatant, and a nipper.

I have about 6 fly patterns I'm confident in and know how to fish, and rarely use any others.


IMO - less gear = more fun. And don't take it too seriously.

 

So much this, It took me a few years to get back to this.

I think if I carry Dry Flys & a Streamer (I have caught exactly 1 fish with a streamer, I need to figure that out) I have maybe 10 fly "types" in same size fly box. This can change river to river & season to season but I have a core group of flies I always have.

I do keep my whole horde of flies in a plastic box in the truck just in case...

 

Good grief... this thread needs a bump.

A few weeks ago, I visited Cheesman Canyon for the first time. Most fish were feeding underwater (and my drift game is weak, still) but found one that was sipping on the surface, so after a bunch of drifts with a two dry rig, I got it to take my blue dun colored dry in size 20.

 

How crowded was it?

 

Euro-nymphing - Direct connection to the fly for a closer and more sensitive experience. You fish by feel of the fly and line instead of visually via bobber. Short quick drifts. Usually more heavier and attactor patterns. The thought is that we get more bites than we think and the tight direct connection from the tip to the fly via a tight line lets you feel these takes. You can also steer your fly underwater with the tight line. fly > tight line > rod tip > butt

Traditional Nymphing - You are fishing visually via bobber. Usually sizable drifts. Belly in line between bobber and tip & drag of the bobber and splitshot puts on the fly desensitizes the strike detection and creates latency. fly > line > splitshot > line > bobber > line > rod tip > butt

Both have their place and prevail in specific situations. Thats my 2cents anyway.

 

Beautiful fish and a beautiful piece of water!

 

I think I got to the parking lot after 1000 and there was still room. I did skip a couple of sections due to someone already in it. It wasn't that bad.

Now, I went back this past Wednesday with the amazing weather and I'd say there were more folks there. I hiked in at least a mile and a half and still found people. I think I had only one large chunk of time where I didn't see someone else. I got over halfway through, so next time I'll probably go park at the reservoir and hike down to pick back up. If this is what it's like during the week, I can't imagine what the weekend looks like... no thank you.

Obligatory pics, to include a BWO midge fly that landed on my glasses when I was hiking out:

 

I took my grandkids fishing at Manitou Lake on Wed and we took a drive through Deckers afterwards, about 2 pm. For a Wed it was what I would consider crowded. Like you said.. Weekends, no thank you!

 

I dont fish deckers anymore.. crowds are not why i get on the water. Its basically like snowboarding in resorts now.. chaos

 

just got my primary rod back from farbank (sage) for repairs.. sent off in early February. Expectations were 3-4 months and its about mid 3 months turnaround time. My issue was the second section from the bottom splintered. It appears they have replaced all 3 sections (not including butt section) with brand new ones. all-in-all, i paid $50 plus shipping to them. wanted to share my experience incase someone else has a broken sage rod.

time to get on the water!

 

I have gotten out a couple of times but pretty slow, flows were also up late last week.

 

Over a week ago on a weekday, did the hike into upper Cheesman Canyon. What I didn't do was research how long the hike was just to get to the water (which wasn't that bad), and pack my reel (this one hurt). I figured out the reel once I got to the trailhead... at least I didn't hike in thinking my pack had everything (as it was suppose to). I had a cheap, "truck" rod with line I hate but I made it work.

Caught three all on my blue dun dry fly I tie. And, I caught the biggest rainbow trout I've ever caught. It had that "football" shape to it, which was awesome since that was a first, too. I couldn't get my hand around it well enough to control it and get a good pic, so a net shot will do.

I definitely will go back, as I saw way less fishermen in that stretch than at the lower portion. I imagine the hike in keeps some away.

Was planning to hike into my last stopping point then work my way back upstream, but I spied this spot and the plan changed. How many fish do you see?:

 

Nice to finally get back out.

 

Nice fish! Cheeseman canyon was my getaway during Covid, but havent been back in a yr or two. Agree that the further up you go, the better.

 

Agreed, deckers is even crowded on many weekdays now.

 

Great day in cheeseman last Friday!!!