Detecting the take (euro nymphing)

Wasatchangler

Wasatchangler

Steelhead
For the past two seasons, euro style nymphing has replaced the majority of my indicator fishing. It tends to engage me a bit more for some reason and also seems to be easier on my back. I’m using a 10ft 3wt Echo Carbon XL with a mono rig type leader. I like this setup because I can quickly switch over to a traditional leader and fish a dry fly relatively well. However when nymphing I have the suspicion that I am missing subtle takes. I would estimate that over 90% of the fish I hook, I sense by watching the sighter. Rarely do I ever feel the take. How does this compare to those of you out there fishing other rods? Is this typical or is it the result of not using the right tool for the job? User error? I admittedly am not a gifted tight line angler but I feel like my technique is reasonably sound and am in contact with my flies much of the time. Appreciate any thoughts this community has.
 
Wasatchangler said:
I would estimate that over 90% of the fish I hook, I sense by watching the sighter. Rarely do I ever feel the take. How does this compare to those of you out there fishing other rods?
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I see a good percentage of the eats I get as well. I feel the fly tick the bottom better with a Shadow II than I did with the Carbon XL.
 
disclaimer - not a euro fisher....with that said, an acquaintance I run into most days at the gym during the off-season is a local guide and die-hard euro nympher on a river we both fish...when discussing euro techniques, he stated he instructs customers to hold the line off the rod instead of pinching it against the rod, claims that technique telegraphs faint takes more clearly.
 
SurfnFish said:
disclaimer - not a euro fisher....with that said, an acquaintance I run into most days at the gym during the off-season is a local guide and die-hard euro nympher on a river we both fish...when discussing euro techniques, he stated he instructs customers to hold the line off the rod instead of pinching it against the rod, claims that technique telegraphs faint takes more clearly.
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This is helpful. I usually think about feeling the take in the rod rather than in the line. I definitely get lazy at times and will pinch the line against the rod while only using one hand. I do notice using my off hand to manage the line tends to offer more adjustment and keeps me in better contact.
 
If I'm fishing a short line, more true euro, circle casts, ect., it's one hand mono pinched to grip with index finger, thumb on top. I feel I have the best control of the line and drift that way. When doing longer tightlining, casting, lobing, overhead, I'll use two hands, with the off hand controlling the line.
Either way if it's not a solid take I'll notice the sighter pause, dip, whatever, before I feel it.
 
I've been euronymphing for about 15 years....I was taught the technique in 2009 by Bret Bishop, a member of the US Fly Fishing Team. While things have changed a lot since then with new gear, I still use those same old techniques. I agree with Wasatchangler, I probable detect about 90% of the takes by watching the sighter rather than by feel. Oh, and BTW, I use 3 wt or 4 wt 9 ft bamboo for my euronymphing.
 
I am not sure who can detect bottom or anything else, especially fishing flies with 2mm or 2.3mm tungsten.

I also pinch leader with my finger, watch the sighter to straighten or rod tip to bend. What others on Internet talking (feeling bounces etc.) never materialize for me. It is different if you fish 5mm tungsten bead fly. It is dredging floor or sighter is mostly fully stretched. I don't like it at all.

After several years of use euro only, I scaled down and use it to point when fish starts rising, then I pack it away and switch to dry fly fishing. Second closest to dry fly fishing is swinging flies with trout spey, then streamer fishing. Euro is at the bottom of the list. In some areas I don't euro anymore.

On BC side of Skagit or East Kootenays I stopped carrying euro at all. It is almost not ethical. Cutthroat doesn't even have chance. There is almost no challenge. I did it few times fishing behind my friend, who is die hard dry fly fishermen. He would catch one, I will catch 7. He would have 3 and I will have 27. So I stopped ...

Now on our summer trips together we daily cover few miles, with 5-6-7 fish each. It is exciting.
 
I still have my 2wt and 1wt. Euro still have place in my fishing. It is great tool and helps not to get skunked (if that bothers you). Almost guarantee catch. Now when our rivers are depleted it makes sense to have euro rod in fishing arsenal.
 
My only experience was last early June on a major cutthroat river.
To high from runoff to wade deep, no rises, to many seams to cast across for dries.
Decided the only way was tight lining which I’ve never practiced. 4 wt, 9’ echo, floating line, 10’ leader, so was doing it close in a seam. Tried several nymphs, settled on a bead head prince.
I could feel it ticking rocks, line held between finger and thumb. No sighter so relied on touch. I caught 6 cutthroats up to 12”. Decided to use indicator, but really the water was to turbulent so took it off.
For 3 days that’s all i fished except for once.
I was catching on the prince by feel, noticed rises to the side of seam. Changed to a dry, caught 2-3 fish, then they stopped, even when I went back to the prince.
Hopefully i can replicate it again this year. I do have some leaders built with a sighter section, but even in turbulent water i can’t keep my eye on it to see.
 
Zoran said:
On BC side of Skagit or East Kootenays I stopped carrying euro at all. It is almost not ethical. Cutthroat doesn't even have chance. There is almost no challenge. I did it few times fishing behind my friend, who is die hard dry fly fishermen. He would catch one, I will catch 7. He would have 3 and I will have 27. So I stopped ...
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Totally agree. There are some situations where it feels unnecessary and a dry/dropper is just going to be more fun despite fewer hookups. I end up euro nymphing quite a bit on the Deschutes when nothing is hatching. It’s a river that humbles me often.

Interesting (and a bit relieving) to hear people’s experiences with the feel vs see thing. I think it has at least persuaded me not to rush out and upgrade my rod just yet. I’ll continue to play around with technique.
 
If you're waiting to feel the take, you're missing most fish. I keep my sight on the sighter. Any movement and a quick hook set. I also am not dredging either. One overused saying is " hook sets are free", which is true.
 
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Euro Nymphing Explained | How To Tutorials and Gear | Nomad Anglers

A basic explanation of euro nymphing and answers to the most common questions about euro nymphing. Euro nymphing leader diagrams, euro nymph fly patterns and tutorials, Euro nymphing rod recommendations and reviews, euro nymphing classes and events, and other euro nymphing resources.
nomadanglers.com nomadanglers.com

Not endorsing this site, but the page seems to accurately cover the basics. Would be interested in others opinions and other sites or resources. Seems straightforward to me! I've used a red piece of butt section on my streamer line with an integrated 4' sink tip so I can see it better and even do a figure 8 if I see a fish or more than one following my streamer! Fun way to fish while moving from spot to spot on a float!
 
For me it's a combo. I like to fish heavy, so I'm often tight to the flies. So I guess a lot of feel.......but I also often set the hook without really knowing why, other then I know I should......I read someone saying that before when I was first starting to "euro" nymph. Forgot who now .....but I get it now. It's one of those things where after 10,000 casts you just kind of have the "feel" for it
 
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Still using one of these as a sighter. I love to see it stop or make an erratic, abnormal, move! Also inexpensive and waaaaay less leader/tippet, etc.
 
clarkman said:
If you're waiting to feel the take, you're missing most fish. I keep my sight on the sighter. Any movement and a quick hook set. I also am not dredging either. One overused saying is " hook sets are free", which is true.
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It's been decades since I've done any trout nymphing. Well before this Euro stuff and not much even back then. High stick salmon is another matter, so this discussion makes me wonder how many I'm missing. You know exactly where/when/what so I'd be very interested to hear your take applied to this.
 
SilverFly said:
It's been decades since I've done any trout nymphing. Well before this Euro stuff and not much even back then. High stick salmon is another matter, so this discussion makes me wonder how many I'm missing. You know exactly where/when/what so I'd be very interested to hear your take applied to this.
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Only way to truly test that would be for me to go there. 😆
 
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