I had the opportunity to visit quite a bit with Eric Stoup from Pennsylvania. Eric is a guide, author and speaker of high order. Eric and I spent a lot of time discussing nymphing techniques. He nymph fly fishes without an indicator. During our discussions I decided I would give his methods a try.
I always have felt that the more versatile a fly fisher you can be the better. So, armed with a leader that Eric designs and builds himself, a picture in my mind of how to rig bugs and weight, and a 9′ 5weight TFO, I hit the river.
Right away I realized how helpful an indicator is. So lost without it. I caught fish, some by accident, others on purpose, but an indicator for tailwater fish is a great tool. Tailwater fish have a tendency to take bugs gently. It was hard to detect a strike. I’m not saying Eric’s methods don’t work, on the contrary they do, but I’d have to log in many more hours to feel proficient. Funny, that’s the way I learned to nymph.
I think that the simple fact that I worked on that method for a half day, I became a better fly fisher. I had to really tighten up the drift, had to “feel” the fish, and had to be more attentive to everything. I certainly employ it again sometime, and I can envision it being a go-to method of nymphing on a few waters I fish like Clear Creek and the Middle Fork. It’s fun.
Eric’s method works. To learn how to employ it you can buy a copy of his first book, Common Sense Fly Fishing: 7 Simple Lessons to Catch More Trout.
Pictured is a Cuttbow I picked up nymphing sans indicator. I “felt” this fish eat.
Stay tuned- next week I will post a video on long line mending.
Fear No Water!
Duane
