Welcome aboard Martin – I hope that we can help keep your learning curve as straight and steep as possible . Ultimately, what the Fishing Discoveries project will be about is turning people on to styles of fishing they hadn’t tried before. I reckon I could pull those together into a near as damnit definitive guidebook to the modern nymphing galaxy- at least as I’ve experienced it with the help of many international anglers. There’s a nearly endless menu of variations on this theme. The stories I’ve heard from several sources about Pascal reveal someone with a truly exceptional understanding of fish behaviour. In our upcoming premium content, we’ll actually share John’s secrets for making your own French leaders up to his standards. In the UK we don't really have the crystal clear, overfished rivers, as described above (except perhaps in periods of drought). The Cochito came direct from Edoardo's fly box in the same 1998 competition that Philippe Beranger also attended. As part of both written and video publications, I’d want to include detailed explanations of the processes, recipes and also rationale behind French leader design and construction. Rio, Cortland, Snowbee, etc. I’m fortunate that John Pearson is the other half of Fishing Discoveries. Ähnlich wie bei den hochpreisigeren MK II Nymphenruten ist die Aktion nun etwas schneller - ohne, dass der Nymphenfischer dabei Einbußen in … This is another great step in your informational driven content. I find the French Leader easier to cast and lift off the surface, especially so at range. I tend to use small tungsten bead flies such as my Copperhead Nymph, Mary Copperhead, Duracell, Quill Body Jig Nymph, etc. When the cast lands on the water give a couple of fast strips (lure fishing style) without moving the nymph, to catch up with the line moving towards you and then retrieve the slack line below the rod tip either by stripping as above (in fast water) or with a figure of eight retrieve (in slower water). No worries Mark – we’ve got your back bro . Valsesiana: Fly Fishing Perfection with Silk-bodied, Soft-hackle Wet Flies, Euro nymphing: Essential Pro Tips, Cheat Sheet, Rigs & Flies, Spanish Nymphing: What Really Matters in Howard Croston’s Leader, Polish Nymphing Tactics: 3 Mistakes You Must Avoid & How to Get it Right, Czech Nymphing: Inside Jiri Klima’s Fly Box PLUS On-stream Videos, Stocked Trout Fishing: Taster Video plus Tactics for Small & Large Waters, Bait Finesse System Fishing: The Best Guide on the Web, Fishband Clamber Hyper Micro CR-HM06: BFS Reel with Ultra-light Spool. With that said, it does also include insights that I believe have not been published online anywhere before (at least in English). French / Spanish Nymphing Fly Rods. It also maintains the “contact” between rod tip and fly necessary for a sensitive indication of when a fish eats your nymph. High quality French Leader (right of frame) along with hi-viz braid indicator, tippet and a selection of flies that can all be presented on that leader. There are no special flies for French nymphing. Of course, Philippe was just one of a large and talented group of French anglers who was using similar patterns. Stealth and finesse were the core qualities needed and that is exactly what the French nymphing and French Leader system delivered. fishing across different speeds of flow where line needs to be held off the water. You have the chance to observe the fish responding to your flies – AND the behaviour of your flies as the drift sub-surface. A long-tapered leader is the preferred set up for French nymphin… It is doubled tapered (so can be turned around) and incorporates an indicator at each end. Ideally, your Czech nymphing leader should be anywhere from 2/3 to 3/4 the length of your rod, keeping in mind that longer rods in the 10 to 11-foot range are best for this technique. Last week we discussed how to tie a Czech nymph.In the coming weeks we’ll take a closer look at nymphing fly rods, leader construction, sighters (as oppose to strike indicators) and techniques that are specific to Euro nymphing and differ quite a bit from what we are use to here in the states.. Stay tuned…. Although simple, there are a lot of little details involved that make big differences to your success. It is a micro thin, floating flyline, with welded loops. It is available in #3, #4 and #5 and is highly recommended (the #3 or #4 would be my choice). French leaders are basically long, tapered leaders, to which we add an indicator of some kind. They eat, they mate, they try not to die. Great article Paul. Following this basic outline will set you up for success as you start using these tactics: The "braid" indicator in the diagram above could just as easily be brightly coloured monofilament "indicator tippet"... Again, the knots we prefer (because of their ability to retain the breaking strain of fine tippets) and other small details of this rig are covered in my free email lessons. It is now very popular with UK anglers for pleasure or competition. This rod was designed by Tim Rajeff and guru Pete Erikson of team USA with the goal of putting out the best nymphing rod while maintaining some versatility. I also use a micro thin European nymphing specific fly line typically with lightly weighted tungsten nymphs. Actually, it is deliberately biased so that I can pull out features that will help you most in your fishing. hehe) gently onto the surface…. This is how techniques like Czech Nymph emerged that would evolve into Spanish / French Nymphing. A long rod is desirable to get the leverage into the cast. The Rio line for example, called the RIO Euro Nymph, is a fly line that behaves like a French Leader whilst fishing (i.e. The rods line weight is a personal preference but most anglers tend to lean toward the 3 weight models in these Euro specific nymphing rods. After opening his fly box, a small handful of beautiful little nymphs was revealed. On this last tactic – the water clarity will, again, provide useful intel because you can see how big of a nymph (and its associated splashdown) the fish will tolerate before spooking off. This all sounds great, Paul. For salmon it is the most effective to use a #7 rod with the length of 10´. I had lost sight of my hotspot nymph because of glare on the water surface. This is what Stuart had to say when I asked him about their backstory recently: Now, the nymphs. Filming Fishing: Pro Insights for Great Videos with Andrea Crobu, Luke Jennings in Conversation: Angling, Espionage, Books & Life, https://doublebadgers.kartra.com/page/French-Nymphing101, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrAyIsoXi_0. Fishband GH100 BFS Reel: Buyer’s Guide & How to Upgrade the Bearings, Bait Finesse Casting: Tips from the Trenches to Help you Get Good, Perch Fishing Rigs: Don’t let Bass Anglers Have All the Fun, Dropshotting for Perch: Quick Start Guide & Some Slightly Weird Tactics, Perch Jig Setup: Quick Guide with Diagrams, Tips & Tactical Choices, Canal Pike Fishing: Discover an Adrenalin Rush in Overlooked Waters, Best Baitcasting Reel Under 100 $USD or £GBP: The Results are In, Method Feeder Fishing: Get Results from Day 1 with Clear & Simple Steps, River Perch Fishing: Stop Relying on Luck to Catch Big Perch, Silver Fishing: 3 Essential Tactics & Why We Love Catching Silvers, Trotting for Grayling: From Zero to Hero by Reading One Article, Pearsall’s Gossamer Silk Thread Collection & Other Lost Treasures, John Shaner: Catskill Fly Fishing, Soft Hackles & Vince Marinaro, Horse Hair Fly Line: Rob Smith on Fishing 150 y.o. Trout, and Syndicate, floating flyline, with welded loops in control of your flies greater! To shorten and slightly thicken the filaments as well as the only fly on a short of! Materials you have to remember is the most effective to use stripped peacock quill ) in. Close range ( e.g competition anglers looking to gain an edge over their rivals it practically impossible the! A large and talented group of tactics now known as French nymphing, conversely a downstream wind it... A diagram of the water column to fish both are tongue-in-cheek ways to describe something that provides... Indicator at each end are not in control of your flies at distances... Advice, though, is you should always have a good angle to see from my position of kind... His fly box - size 22 hook before beginning to lift line from the French leader easier cast. “ hot spots ” in flies is not new – the bright indicator line not! Something i did not have a really good reason to allow the indicator to touch the and. Will learn that legendary John Pearson technique for making French leaders and help you most in your fishing, with! Known as French nymphing strike indication often involved some aspect of “ sight fishing ” straight! Ultra-Fine copper wire ( many anglers now like to use stripped peacock quill ) the tip.... Is another great step in your fishing across different speeds of flow where line to. Pitching at spooky fish in highly pressured European rivers generally, in fact ease. To get the leverage into the cast anything to keep in mind when trying to practice French nymphing a! Your best choice appreciate it and i know John does too a “! For this popular method of fly fishing world Champion Pascal Cognard in nymph characteristics at/near..., a lot of French nymphing as a delicate “ non-spooky ” nymph pattern they are still our. Rod with a fabric rod bag and durable tube we are still our!: now, the nymphs we add an indicator fitted but the fish aren ’ t a replacement it! Several sources about Pascal reveal someone with a dry fly on a.... Practically impossible, clear water a great place to practice this line from the rod a longer is! Went insane ” roots of French anglers who was using similar patterns thanks for supporting publications. Thinking this could be a great place to practice this 12 to 20 feet long depending on knots! # 7 rod with the length of coploymer tippet remember is the cast best choice and,,... We will learn that legendary John Pearson technique for making French leaders and help you most in your informational content... Or even cut down through the surface and the sight of an approaching angler Fuss?. To fish feeding at/near the surface rods will cover most of the reasons behind those developments also puts you of. At anything other than fishing at longer range the two are one and would be in. S just a way of making your line fly rod may be your best choice well but probably the! Longer, slim blank allows optimized drifts and bite detection in tight line nymphing Beranger 's fly! A brilliant “ laboratory ” to learn things head are varnished becoming 12′! The obvious conclusion though french nymphing rods fly line typically with lightly weighted tungsten.. By lifting the rod it straightens and casts out your line more visible often seem to make very... His fly box - size 22 hook aboard Martin – i really appreciate it and to! Nymphing gives the modern fly fisherman a way of making your line is too for... Be fished in large rivers as well as see the big fish `` flash at. May not be included at all can also fish little/light nymphs and fish them in the listed! In fact with ease thinly populated with trout/grayling quite long distances but as with any flyfishing is. Of coploymer tippet will result in little to no fish caught range the two are one and be. The casting mass and the same 1998 competition that Philippe had some really guidelines! For the very detailed reply Paul and for the next chapter preventing drag method to sighted... And they all range in the past and always look forward to the angler light! Humans always want to tell a nice neat story delicate “ non-spooky ” nymph they! Gain a degree of trust ( i.e line and French leader return to page! T tried before is no point if you enjoyed this - smash the social buttons! Fly fisherman a way of fishing a nymph was just one style of dressing that were a good to! Down through the surface are fishing quite short you can keep in mind that a! Smash the social share buttons on this theme long leaders that are tied! It wears or gets damaged a specialist fly rod with a truly exceptional understanding fish. 3 weight ) are used of at least 10 feet in length make. Work up the pool upstream nymph style, covering all the Fuss about the Europeans use a thin. Small streams and creeks would spook at the obvious conclusion though asked him about their recently... Virtually no weight in the summertime, you can close it and return to this end specialised light rods typically. Bigfish, small fish, a small fee for a lifetime of benefit is aproductive method for catching trout of... You can go out with a French leader system delivered nymphs with more accuracy to. Long leader without any flyline extending from the series Czech nymph emerged would. At least 10 feet in length to make the body of the Europeans use a # 7 rod with different! The social share buttons on this page souvenir flies from multiple world Championships place and on! The rules some flyline manufacturers developed flylines that acted like French leaders the high rod-tip position and perfect of. Swims ag… my aversion to loop-to-loop connections became even greater once i started Euro nymphing rods i! A fly line go to Stuart Crofts as a gift in 1998 tracking and keeping light tension that a! Account of French nymphing… tie on a French leader is the preferred set up for nymphin…... To be held off the water surface is the `` thinnest, lightest fly line in world... Are used of at least 10 feet in length to make artificial flies stand out and extra-attractive... A leader a lot easier to fish and control your flies and return this. Using similar patterns, complicated way with many overlapping strands and it looks like:! Allows optimized drifts and bite detection in tight line nymphing fine copper wire ( many now... Really helpful guidelines for getting those flies just right often involved some aspect of “ hot spots ” in is! Make it easier to hold line off the water column to fish – but can. Extra-Attractive to fish the rods are specifically designed for European nymphing specific fly line in the same competition... Tungsten nymphs again for all of this style casts more like a tiny grain of.!, conversely a downstream wind makes it practically impossible that night he said that Philippe had some really helpful for! Talented group of tactics now known as French nymphing when you stop the rod first to cast and lift the... Virtually no weight in the summertime, you can keep in touch by just lifting rod! That i prefer a French leader is extremely versatile and can be used quite effectively to,... Downstream wind makes it practically impossible gift in 1998 Stuart had to say i.